SC NEXUS Receives $45 Million In Federal Funding

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Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded over $500 million in grant funding to various tech hubs programs across the country, including $45 million for the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS). The EDA funds are designed to scale up the production of critical technologies, create jobs in innovative industries, and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. Of the 31 EDA-designated entities eligible to apply for the funding, SC NEXUS is one of only 12 tech hubs that received part of the grant.

Of the six projects submitted by SC NEXUS for funding consideration, four received funding including:

  • $9.99 million to the Savannah River National Lab to establish a cyber testing range for grid-connected equipment, with both grid operator training and equipment testing benefits.
  • $12.5 million to Clemson University for a project that will upgrade the North Charleston eGRID facility’s power and voltage testing capabilities for grid-connected equipment.
  • $10.2 million to the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation (CIBI), a project led by the University of South Carolina that will establish a stationary battery manufacturing pilot line in Columbia.
  • $12.6 million to the Education and Workforce Center project, led by the SC Technical College System to enhance awareness of South Carolina’s energy-focused industries and job opportunities, identify and develop skills necessary for success in these roles and provide critical support services to ensure advanced energy workers have access to these opportunities.

SC NEXUS is a public and private consortium led by the S.C. Department of Commerce and comprised of over 50 universities, technical colleges, state agencies, economic development alliances, community organizations, nonprofits, and private companies, including electric utilities. More information on SC Nexus and the federal grant funding can be found here.