White Mountain Economic Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE White Mountain Economic Development Awarded MAKE IT Prize Grant from the Department of Energy Phoenix, AZ, 04/12/2024 - White Mountain Economic Development (WMED) is proud to announce that it has been selected as a Phase 1 winner of the Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize: Strategies Track. This prestigious grant, awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE), recognizes WMED's commitment to advancing clean energy manufacturing in collaboration with key partners. The MAKE IT Prize, developed by DOE's Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) in partnership with its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), aims to promote domestic manufacturing of critical energy technology components while engaging communities to catalyze manufacturing activity at the regional level. "We are thrilled to be selected as a winner of the MAKE IT Prize Phase 1 grant," said Russ Yelton, Executive Director of White Mountain Economic Development. "This grant will allow us to further our mission of fostering sustainable economic growth and empowering our partner communities through clean energy initiatives." Through this grant, WMED will collaborate with the cities of St. Johns and Showlow, Northland Pioneer College, Navajo County, and Apache County to develop a roadmap for establishing clean energy manufacturing in the region. The project will focus on identifying potential manufacturers, engaging the community, and creating a strategic plan to support clean energy manufacturing initiatives. "In Phase 1 of the MAKE IT Prize: Strategies Track, we outlined our vision for clean energy manufacturing in our region and developed a comprehensive community engagement plan," explained Donald Laughlin, President and CEO at WMED. "Winning this grant validates our efforts and positions us to compete in Phase 2: Create, where we will further refine our concept roadmap and engage potential manufacturers." WMED and its partners are excited to participate in this groundbreaking initiative, which aligns with the DOE's goal of promoting resilient, secure, and diverse supply chains and domestic manufacturing capabilities to maximize the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy. About White Mountain Economic Development: White Mountain Economic Development (WMED) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable economic growth and empowering communities in eastern Arizona. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, WMED works to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development to create a thriving economy for all residents. #MAKEITPrize #ZeroCarbon #Manufacturing #CleanEnergy #SupplyChain #AmericanMade Contact: Russ Yelton Executive Director White Mountain Economic Development 828.582.6323 [email protected] www.wmedev.org