Department of Defense Approves $30 Million in Grants Under Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program

The Department of Defense announced on Friday the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded six (6) grants totaling approximately $30 million under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program. The Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program makes long-term investments in critical skills, facilities, workforce development, research and development, and small business support in order to strengthen the national security innovation base.

On August 16, 2022, Dr. William A. LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, designated six consortia as Defense Manufacturing Communities and instructed the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to invite them to submit grant applications based upon the competitiveness of their respective scopes and funding in response to the May 20, 2022, Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The awards derive from Fiscal Year 2022 appropriated funding and leverage an additional $9,570,929 million in non-Federal funds for a total investment of $39,314,390. 

“The Department needs to implement a whole-of-nation manufacturing strategy by collaborating with public, private, and academic partners,” LaPlante said. “These Defense Manufacturing Consortia will do just that by working to accelerate the development of critical minerals, help to build up the nation’s shipbuilding workforce, enhance cybersecurity efforts, increase energy storage technologies, and accelerate microelectronic and semiconductor processes – all national security priorities.”

“A resilient and advanced manufacturing base is critical to our mission of defending this nation and protecting our people,” added LaPlante.  “In addition to enhancing our domestic supply chains and reducing our dependence on foreign materials, building strong manufacturing partnerships bolsters innovation and competition and generates a skilled and diverse talent pipeline.”

For a full list of the grantees, visit https://oldcc.gov/defense-manufacturing-community-support-program.