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May 13, 2025

Coalitions of Business and Non-Profit Leaders Release Letters Calling on Congress to Make FY 2026 Appropriations To Bipartisan Regional Technology Innovation and Workforce Development Programs

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 13, 2025

Press Contact:

Molly Dillon

molly.dillon@americaachieves.org 

Today, coalitions of business leaders and economic organizations have come together to release two community-sign on letters that call for robust appropriations for the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program and the recently re-authorized Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s Workforce Training Grants and State Grant Pilot Program.

Employers currently project millions of unfilled positions in sectors critical to economic and national security – including energy, healthcare, skilled trades, and emerging technologies. In response, the signatories of both letters agree that if fully funded, the strong, bipartisan-supported initiatives have the potential to not only address workforce preparedness and worker shortages, but also strengthen local economies, empower workers, and enhance America’s national security and global leadership in innovation. The dozens of signatories include corporate leaders, local, business-led regional impact groups representing small, medium, and large-sized businesses, as well as other workforce and economic development-related non-profit organizations.

  • The first letter, with more than 40 signatories, requests continued support for the Tech Hubs program to ensure regions across the country can build globally competitive ecosystems in critical technology sectors. Specifically, it calls on Congress to appropriate at least $250 million in FY26 of authorized funding for this critical initiative — in addition to the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) auction proceeds already dedicated to the program, as authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY25. (The legislation allows the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a one-time auction for the AWS-3 spectrum band; a portion of the proceeds have been dedicated to funding Tech Hubs.) The letter also details the strong demand for more Tech Hubs across the country, as well as the program’s importance in advancing U.S. competitiveness and strengthening national security by leading in key technology sectors. The Tech Hubs program was authorized at $10 billion under the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. To date, less than 8% of the authorization has been funded so far. Nearly 400 regions applied in the first round, but only a small percentage of applicants have been awarded implementation grants due to limited appropriations. The full text of the letter can be found here.
  • The second letter, with nearly 30 signatories, urges Congress to fully appropriate the EDA Workforce Training Grants and State Grant Pilot Program at $50 million for FY26, as authorized at the end of last session under the bipartisan EDA reauthorization. These investments will help support employer-driven efforts to close skill gaps and connect more Americans to good jobs in in-demand industries. They are also critical to giving states the flexibility they need to expand access to high-quality, short-term training that leads directly to good jobs, while helping employers fill the good jobs they are currently hiring for. This strengthens regional economies, national economic competitiveness, and national security by building a more resilient, skilled workforce in in-demand sectors. The full text of the letter can be found here.

The full list of signatories is below.

Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs)

EDA Workforce Training Grants & State Grant Pilot Program

America Achieves is a leading nonprofit organization that supports a national network of communities and states that are working to ensure every American has a clear path to a good job with upward mobility.

Molly Dillon

Director of Policy Advocacy

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