Kilmer Applauds Designation of Pacific Northwest Tech Hub to Drive Innovation in Mass Timber
As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce identifies regional centers primed for innovation and job creation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), applauded the Biden-Harris administration’s designation, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub (“PNW Tech Hub”) in Oregon and Washington as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in regions across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors.
“The designation of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub underscores the unmatched potential of our region in pioneering sustainable solutions,” said Rep. Kilmer. “By leveraging the expertise of folks in our communities, academia, and local industry, we’re positioning mass timber – including cross-laminated timber – at the forefront of construction innovation while also creating jobs, bolstering national security, and reaffirming our region’s commitment to a greener, more affordable future for all Americans.”
The PNW Tech Hub, a consortium led by Oregon State University, will build off the region’s wood products research and development expertise and density of architectural, engineering, and construction firms, to position mass timber as a viable and sustainable construction alternative. This, in turn, will lower the construction industry’s carbon footprint while increasing housing affordability.
This designation is part of the first phase of the novel Tech Hubs program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, that will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aim to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. The designation is an endorsement of the region’s strategy to supercharge their respective technological industry to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security. Designated Tech Hubs are now eligible to apply for the next phase of the Tech Hubs Program which will invest between $50-$75 million in each of 5-10 Designated Hubs.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st-century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future—and their good-paying jobs—start, grow, and remain in the United States.”
“These outstanding consortia exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “As each region develops its own strategy to catalyze innovation and job creation, the entire nation grows more secure and more competitive.”
For a full list of Tech Hubs, visit TechHubs.gov.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
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