The Biden Administration has awarded Maine a $22 million grant for the state’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub.
In October of 2023, the organization was designed as one of thirty-one Federal “Tech Hubs,” opening the door for additional funding opportunities going forward.
According to Gov. Janet Mills (D), the Tech Hub was designed to “accelerate development of new materials and products derived from wood that can bolster critical industries like housing, eliminate the use of toxic materials, and replace imported plastics and other materials derived from fossil fuels.”
This latest round of funding builds upon around $1 million worth of grants that have previously been awarded to the Tech Hub.
The $22 million investment from the federal government will go toward two projects that are said to be “focused on driving commercialization and innovation in Maine’s forest bioproducts sector that will bring cutting edge products to the global market.”
The University of Maine explains that “forest bioproducts” are “fuels, chemicals, raw materials made from resources often called ‘biomass,’ or “organic matter available on a renewable basis.”
The institution goes on to suggest that using biomass in the manufacture of bioproducts “provides an alternative to the use of petroleum and petrochemicals.”
Maine was one of just six Tech Hubs to be awarded grants as a result of new funding given to the Tech Hubs Program under the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Using the $22 million awarded this week, Maine’s Tech Hub will pursue two distinct initiatives.
First, the Tech Hub will work to “bridge” the “forest bioproducts technological innovations” with “commercialization resources and partnerships” to help bring this technology “to market at a globally competitive scale.”
Second, they will use these funds to “strengthen a pipeline of innovations, de-risking these innovations with technical assistance.”
Maine’s Congressional delegation has spoken out in support of these new funding for the Tech Hub.
“Maine is a leader in the forest products industry — both here at home and around the globe,” said the Delegation in a press release.
“An investment in our forestry sector is a direct investment into Maine’s economy and future,” the Delegation wrote. “This $22 million award for the Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub will be critical in ensuring we have the tools to strengthen the workforce, spur innovation and further build upon the industry’s success.”
The Delegation had previously written a letter to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development expressing support for Maine’s funding application.
Sen. Susan Collins (R) also sent a follow-up letter of her own advocating for Maine to receive a portion of the federal government’s Tech Hubs grant funding.
“Maine companies are leading the way in manufacturing innovative and environmentally friendly products that are changing how the world builds homes and businesses, and packages products, and more — and in doing so, they’re writing the next great chapter of Maine’s storied forest products industry,” said Gov. Mills in a statement Wednesday.
“This significant federal investment will help Maine cement its growing reputation as a global leader in the advanced manufacturing of forest bioproducts. I thank the Maine Congressional Delegation and the Biden-Harris Administration for their extraordinary support,” she added.
