HELENA — The federal government has announced over $500 million in grants to support “tech hubs” across the country, including one in western Montana.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration revealed that the Headwaters Tech Hub is expected to receive around $41 million, with the final grant amount to be confirmed in the coming months.
The Headwaters Hub, led by Accelerate Montana, is based in Missoula and Bozeman, with involvement from Kalispell and Butte. The hub’s focus is on the “smart photonic sensing” industry, which aids in automated monitoring systems for various applications such as agriculture, construction, disaster prevention, and defense.
Montana officials highlight that the state currently has over 1,000 jobs in the photonics sector, a number that could grow to 6,000 within a decade. The grant will be utilized for workforce training, expanding educational offerings in related fields, attracting Native and rural students, and supporting testing of these technologies.
The Tech Hub program was established by the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act to promote innovation and jobs in high-tech sectors. Last year, the Biden administration announced the first 32 hubs, including Headwaters. This latest funding round will support 12 of those hubs.
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester, who backed the CHIPS and Science Act in Congress, both expressed their support for the grant announcement, emphasizing the importance of technological innovation and job creation in Montana.
