Heinrich, Luján Welcome $1 Million For New Mexico State University To Support Clean Energy Technology Development, Jobs In New Mexico
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University (NMSU) will receive $1 million in new funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage the growth of new high-tech jobs in New Mexico. The award is part of DOE’s Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC).
“Clean energy market forces – and the economic opportunities that come with them – are here. It’s time to ensure that New Mexico is best positioned to dive right in,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to support this DOE funding and the collaboration between NMSU, our national laboratories, and economic hubs so that New Mexico’s innovate pipeline can take ideas for clean energy solutions and make them a marketable reality that supports local economies and grows job opportunities throughout the state. I will continue fighting for the federal funding that strengthens these collaborations and boosts New Mexico’s status as a premier center of excellence for clean energy technology.”
“New Mexicans know that acting on climate can open enormous economic opportunities for our state. The Arrowhead Center at NMSU is turning those opportunities into reality by leveraging public-private partnerships to provide businesses with the tools they need to advance clean energy and create good-paying jobs,” said Luján. “I’m pleased to see NMSU recognized for its leadership in supporting businesses and entrepreneurs, and I look forward to working with our congressional delegation to bring additional federal investments to our state.”
The project, New Mexico Clean Energy Resilience and Growth (NM CERG) Cluster at Arrowhead Center at NMSU, is in collaboration with the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Arrowhead is NMSU’s technology transfer office, entrepreneurship center and economic development engine, providing education and support to startup businesses across New Mexico. Startup accelerators, mentor networks, and funding and technical assistance programs form the basis of this support. NMEDD will provide support with cluster expansion and promotions, while LANL and SNL will provide New Mexico CERG participants access to lab expertise, facilities, and technical programming.
EPIC is a $10 million funding opportunity created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions to underscore the importance of regional clusters, which increase productivity of area companies, drive the direction and pace of innovation, and stimulate the formation of new businesses, further reinforcing the cluster itself. For a full list of EPIC awardees, visit the Office of Technology Transitions’ website.
