The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded $700,000 total to seven Phase 2: Create winners of the Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize Strategies Track. The winners of the Strategies Track will build interest, engagement, and community involvement around clean energy manufacturing by supporting communities that are developing customized roadmaps to bring vibrant manufacturing activity to their region.
Office of Technology Transitions
June 13, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded $700,000 total to seven Phase 2: Create winners of the Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize Strategies Track. The winners of the Strategies Track will build interest, engagement, and community involvement around clean energy manufacturing by supporting communities that are developing customized roadmaps to bring vibrant manufacturing activity to their region.
“The MAKE IT Strategies Track promotes and incentivizes domestic manufacturing for clean energy infrastructure, especially in disadvantaged communities,” said DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan. “The seven selected winners will work to build a strong foundation to allow for manufacturing in their regions, such as working with manufacturers to understand and address facility needs; creating centers of excellence to provide resources to new and existing manufacturers; and developing workforce initiatives that meet the needs of both the community and clean energy manufacturers.”
Each of these seven Phase 2: Create winners was awarded $100,000 for engaging with their communities and regional stakeholders to create compelling concept roadmaps to enhance local clean energy manufacturing and identifying potential manufacturing partners. Their concept roadmaps consider the needs and concerns of their communities and identify unique regional assets and opportunities that can help make the region attractive for manufacturers and their employees.
Developed by the Office of Technology Transitions in partnership with the Offices of Clean Energy Demonstrations and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the MAKE IT Prize is a multiphase, two-track competition aimed at catalyzing domestic manufacturing of critical clean energy technology components. Today’s announcement is the first of two rounds of competition for the MAKE IT Prize Phase 2 of the Strategies track.
Congratulations to the MAKE IT Strategies Track Round 1 Phase 2 winners:
| Team Name | Location | Project Description |
| Advancing Clean Energy Manufacturing | Tulsa, OK | Enhancing domestic clean energy manufacturing and regional quality of life by accelerating local ecosystem growth. |
| Beatrice Nebraska Clean Energy Manufacturing | Beatrice, NE | Leveraging regional infrastructure and implementing workforce development programs to support clean energy manufacturing in Beatrice, NE. |
| Berkshire Clean Tech Initiative (BCTI) | Pittsfield, MA | Creating a roadmap for growing clean tech manufacturing in the Berkshires and supporting start-ups in the clean tech industry. |
| Chicago Grid Mod Manufacturing Initiative | Chicago, IL | Building a grid modernization technology manufacturing cluster roadmap for the Chicago MSA to drive inclusive economic growth. |
| Clean Energy Mfg. Roadmap for a Vibrant NE Ohio | Northeast OH | Leveraging northeast Ohio's manufacturing heritage to attract clean energy manufacturers, fostering innovation and sustainability for a resilient future. |
| Driving Climate Tech Solutions & Job Growth in NY | Long Island, NY | Attracting new manufacturers to expand and relocate in the Long Island, NY region, connecting them to climate tech innovators. |
| NextCorps Rochester Clean Energy Manufacturing Hub | Rochester, NY | Growing the ecosystem capacity for hardware manufacturing to foster clean energy technology-based economic development. |
What’s Next for the MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track
These Phase 2 winners are now eligible to advance to Phase 3: Activate, where they must finalize their roadmap and obtain a commitment from at least one entity interested in establishing a clean energy manufacturing facility in their region to receive $250,000 in cash prizes. Round 2 of the MAKE IT Strategies Track Phase 2 will continue to receive submissions from Phase 1 winners across both rounds until November 1, 2024, and winners from that round will be announced in mid-December 2024.
Learn More
To learn more about the MAKE IT Prize and be notified about future winner announcements, follow the Facilities Track and Strategies Track on HeroX, the official prize platform.
The MAKE IT Prize was developed by the DOE Office of Technology Transitions, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and is funded by the Technology Commercialization Fund through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The prize is administered through the American-Made program, a fast track to clean energy innovation that accelerates the transition from ideas into real-world clean energy solutions.