Blab Tech
Federal Grant Boosts Idaho-Wyoming Nuclear Supply Chain and Workforce
A $31 million federal award announced on July 21, 2026 will help Idaho and Wyoming build a regional nuclear‑manufacturing network and grow a skilled workforce.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) gave the Intermountain‑West Nuclear Energy Corridor (INEC) Tech Hub a grant that is part of a broader effort to bring more than $40 million to the Idaho‑Wyoming region. The award is matched by the hub’s 45‑plus partners and will fund phased work that accelerates commercialization of next‑generation reactors, strengthens domestic fuel production, expands the nuclear workforce, and builds a more capable regional supplier network.
The INEC Tech Hub is the sole nuclear‑energy‑focused hub among the 31 regional hubs designated by EDA in 2023. It is led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium (IAEC) and includes the University of Wyoming’s Manufacturing Works, Idaho National Laboratory, community colleges, private companies, utilities, and workforce organizations. The grant will support activities that assess regional manufacturing and construction supply chains, document existing capabilities, identify gaps in technical capacity and workforce skills, and help suppliers prepare for advanced reactor development.
Manufacturing Works, the Wyoming Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, will play a key role. Director Rocky Case said the assessment will “evaluate supplier readiness, identify technology, quality, and workforce gaps, and connect companies with technical assistance, training, and other resources.” The project will also help manufacturers understand the quality systems required in the nuclear industry.
To that end, the hub will offer training on ISO 9001, Nuclear Quality Assurance‑1, and other standards that are necessary for suppliers to compete for advanced nuclear projects. Classroom and virtual sessions, hands‑on construction mock‑ups, quality‑assurance practices, and workforce‑development and credentialing efforts are all part of the plan to strengthen regional capacity to fabricate, transport, assemble, inspect, and maintain components and facilities for advanced nuclear energy projects.
The award was announced in a joint statement by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium and Idaho National Laboratory. IAEC’s executive director, Christi Gilchrist, said the funding reflected the strength of the IAEC membership and would support high‑quality jobs, private investment, and long‑term energy security in the region.
IAEC will coordinate the hub’s implementation work in collaboration with partners across Idaho and Wyoming. The strategy aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s broader goals to accelerate advanced nuclear deployment and modernize the domestic supply chain.
This federal grant is part of EDA’s mission to stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed communities. By focusing on advanced nuclear technology, the INEC Tech Hub seeks to position the Intermountain West as a leader in the next phase of nuclear power, while also creating spill‑over benefits for other high‑skill manufacturing sectors.
The award is the first step in a multi‑phase program that will involve detailed supply‑chain assessments, workforce training, and quality‑system upgrades. Partners are preparing to use the funding to build a network of suppliers that can meet the stringent requirements of advanced reactor projects, potentially opening new markets for Wyoming manufacturers.
Success will hinge on local manufacturers’ ability to adapt to nuclear‑specific standards and on the development of a skilled workforce that can support construction and operation of next‑generation reactors. The grant represents a significant federal investment in the region’s nuclear future and a concrete effort to strengthen the domestic supply chain and workforce that will underpin that future.
Progress will be monitored through periodic reporting to EDA and will be shared in the hub’s public updates. The partnership remains committed to transparency and to ensuring that the funding translates into tangible economic and technological gains for Idaho and Wyoming.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) gave the Intermountain‑West Nuclear Energy Corridor (INEC) Tech Hub a grant that is part of a broader effort to bring more than $40 million to the Idaho‑Wyoming region. The award is matched by the hub’s 45‑plus partners and will fund phased work that accelerates commercialization of next‑generation reactors, strengthens domestic fuel production, expands the nuclear workforce, and builds a more capable regional supplier network.
The INEC Tech Hub is the sole nuclear‑energy‑focused hub among the 31 regional hubs designated by EDA in 2023. It is led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium (IAEC) and includes the University of Wyoming’s Manufacturing Works, Idaho National Laboratory, community colleges, private companies, utilities, and workforce organizations. The grant will support activities that assess regional manufacturing and construction supply chains, document existing capabilities, identify gaps in technical capacity and workforce skills, and help suppliers prepare for advanced reactor development.
Manufacturing Works, the Wyoming Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, will play a key role. Director Rocky Case said the assessment will “evaluate supplier readiness, identify technology, quality, and workforce gaps, and connect companies with technical assistance, training, and other resources.” The project will also help manufacturers understand the quality systems required in the nuclear industry.
To that end, the hub will offer training on ISO 9001, Nuclear Quality Assurance‑1, and other standards that are necessary for suppliers to compete for advanced nuclear projects. Classroom and virtual sessions, hands‑on construction mock‑ups, quality‑assurance practices, and workforce‑development and credentialing efforts are all part of the plan to strengthen regional capacity to fabricate, transport, assemble, inspect, and maintain components and facilities for advanced nuclear energy projects.
The award was announced in a joint statement by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium and Idaho National Laboratory. IAEC’s executive director, Christi Gilchrist, said the funding reflected the strength of the IAEC membership and would support high‑quality jobs, private investment, and long‑term energy security in the region.
IAEC will coordinate the hub’s implementation work in collaboration with partners across Idaho and Wyoming. The strategy aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s broader goals to accelerate advanced nuclear deployment and modernize the domestic supply chain.
This federal grant is part of EDA’s mission to stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed communities. By focusing on advanced nuclear technology, the INEC Tech Hub seeks to position the Intermountain West as a leader in the next phase of nuclear power, while also creating spill‑over benefits for other high‑skill manufacturing sectors.
The award is the first step in a multi‑phase program that will involve detailed supply‑chain assessments, workforce training, and quality‑system upgrades. Partners are preparing to use the funding to build a network of suppliers that can meet the stringent requirements of advanced reactor projects, potentially opening new markets for Wyoming manufacturers.
Success will hinge on local manufacturers’ ability to adapt to nuclear‑specific standards and on the development of a skilled workforce that can support construction and operation of next‑generation reactors. The grant represents a significant federal investment in the region’s nuclear future and a concrete effort to strengthen the domestic supply chain and workforce that will underpin that future.
Progress will be monitored through periodic reporting to EDA and will be shared in the hub’s public updates. The partnership remains committed to transparency and to ensuring that the funding translates into tangible economic and technological gains for Idaho and Wyoming.
