The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded $8.9 million through its SCALE program to 18 organizations in 17 states. The two-year grants will help small manufacturers address supply constraints, grow production, and enter strategically important supply chains.
Amprius received a U.S. Department of War grant of up to $75 million to retrofit an existing U.S. electric-vehicle battery line for high-energy-density cells intended for unmanned aircraft systems. The company says completion is planned for early 2028; most award funding remains subject to future appropriations and milestone acceptance.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission approved $611,862 in matching grants for a woody-biomass utilization project and a field-ready direct-ethanol fuel-cell demonstration. The state said the projects build on its agriculture, energy, and manufacturing base.
Louisiana Innovation secured $1.5 million annually for five years from NIST to expand Louisiana Innovation Labs through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. With required state and partner matches, the statewide advanced-manufacturing initiative represents more than $15 million of total investment.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority approved $1.8 million in tax credits for Pratt Industries' planned first Iowa manufacturing facility in Bondurant. The $97.6 million corrugated-packaging project includes more than $80 million of manufacturing equipment and is expected to create 105 jobs.