Current initiatives
To build Nevada’s circular lithium battery and critical materials economy, the state needs a skilled workforce, aligned training, strong partnerships, and support for innovation. Nevada Tech Hub drives this progress through initiatives that strengthen workforce pipelines, deepen industry collaboration, and expand Tribal engagement, including the Native Nations Center.
Workforce development initiatives
The Nevada Tech Hub is proactively addressing the demand for highly technical jobs in the growing lithium battery and critical minerals industry by collaborating with industry, workforce development, and higher education partners to fund and create relevant training and career pathways. Since receiving award funding, Nevada Tech Hub has distributed $17.6M across 24 projects aimed to strengthen Nevada’s position in the national lithium battery and critical materials supply chain.
To ensure the educational opportunities align with industry needs, Nevada Tech Hub with its grant dollars from the EDA, has funded the development and expansion of related programs, internships and apprenticeships. When it comes to assistance in navigating career pathways and promoting opportunities for employment, Nevada Tech Hub is working with partners to hire necessary staff, provide outreach, offer support services and promote these opportunities to those looking for a career or career change.
- Great Basin College was awarded $2.38 million to support the college’s new Industrial Tech Center in Winnemucca. The new facility provides a space for necessary programs that will fill the need for trained workers in the lithium battery and critical minerals economy. Opened in August 2025, the Industrial Tech Center is anticipated, through spring of 2029, to train and credential approximately 250 new diesel technologists, industrial maintenance technologists, electrical systems technologists, and instrumentation technologists for careers in the lithium battery supply chain. GBC also received funding to integrate EV credentialing into their Diesel Technology curriculum, ensuring graduates are prepared for an industry that relies on both internal combustion and electrified platforms.
- Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) received $497,420 to support the Individual Career Mapping (ICM) 3D Classroom Project, which uses virtual reality and immersive training to provide career exploration, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and industry-recognized credentials with hands-on, industry-led training.
- Nevada Department of Corrections was awarded $415,070 to expand re-entry programs for offenders, with career education and training specific to the lithium battery and critical minerals industry.
- NevadaWorks, the local workforce development board for northern Nevada, was awarded $2.8 million to lead efforts aligning workforce initiatives with industry needs, including hiring a lead career navigator to head up the work in the lithium battery space. NevadaWorks was awarded an additional $215,000 to head up a statewide marketing campaign promoting Nevada’s jobs in the clean energy industry.
- Northern Nevada Building & Construction Trades Council received $1.5 million to expand apprenticeship program capacity by adding key leadership positions including a director of recruitment and a building trades recruiter. These roles will strengthen apprenticeship recruitment and connect more Nevadans to careers.
- Northern Nevada Central Labor Council and Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program were awarded $2.4 million to provide additional critical support services to apprentices in need, including financial assistance for boots, tools, equipment and transportation, as well as food and vouchers for housing and utilities.
- Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN) was awarded $219,999 to expand the Nevada P-20 to Workforce Research Data System (NPWR), unlocking new avenues of research, improving performance reporting, and strengthening the link between workforce programs and long-term outcomes.
- Tahoe Discovery Lab received $436,760 to implement new lab-intensive battery training courses at the University of Nevada Lake Tahoe Campus. Launching in Fall 2026, these courses will be open to students, community and industry partners and will focus on battery testing, battery manufacturing and analytical characterization. Funding includes the purchase of necessary equipment such as analytical instrumentation and a glove box system for safe handling and equipment testing.
- Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) was awarded $1.8 million to expand its Advanced Manufacturing program, including the launch of a new Skilled Machine Technician registered apprenticeship program, featuring a 12-credit curriculum designed in direct collaboration with local industry partners. The funding also supports expanded faculty and lab staff, the purchase of advanced training equipment, and provides for participant support including registration and instructional materials. An additional $58,000 will allow TMCC to create a new Engineering Technologist education pathway, preparing students for high-demand roles in engineering and production.
- University of Nevada Career Studio received $180,000 to develop and expand internship programs with partners in the lithium battery and critical materials industry.
- University of Nevada College of Business was awarded $25,000 to support the development of a Workforce Readiness Bootcamp, offering students and recent graduates a dedicated, weeklong course to develop soft skills and emotional intelligence skills, something commonly identified by industry partners as a skillset that was lacking in new hires.
- University of Nevada College of Engineering, Crystallizer Fabrication was awarded $96,983. As domestic lithium production scales, crystallization has emerged as a critical enabling technology, but the specialized expertise required for crystallizer design, scale-up, and operation remains in short supply. Crystallization is a core unit operation for major producers including Lithium Americas, American Battery Technology Company, and Albemarle, making the skills gap a constraint on regional growth. To help address this, the College of Engineering will integrate a new batch crystallizer into the CHE 442 Unit Operations Lab, providing access to equipment for companies, scientists, and students to gain hands-on experience with industrial crystallization systems.
- University of Nevada College of Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Inert Atmosphere Characterization Infrastructure received $356,000 to commission a new inert-atmosphere capability for characterization of battery materials. Filling a regional gap, this infrastructure will reduce turnaround time and outsourcing costs, as well as enable more accurate understanding of battery material characteristics. The infrastructure will be accessible to students, researchers, and companies.
- University of Nevada College of Engineering received $384,546 to create the Nevada Summer Engineering Academy, an all-new, weeklong program that gives 30 incoming sophomore engineering students hands-on learning opportunities in Nevada’s fast-growing lithium and critical minerals space. The program offers two tracks – Nanofabrication and Robotics – allowing selected students to dive deep into these focus areas while living on campus for the week.
- Western Nevada College (WNC) was awarded $1.8 million to support a specialized training program to prepare workers for battery disassembly and recycling processes. This program, in collaboration with a strategic industry partner, will address Nevada’s growing demand for skilled labor in the lithium battery recycling sector.
Mining & Critical Minerals
- Metallurgists
- Industrial Hygienists
- Reliability Engineers/Technicians
- Electricians
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Deisel Mechanics
- Maintenance Technicians
- Process Engineers
Processing & Refining
- Processing operators
- Chemical technicians
- Industrial maintenance technicians
- Lab analysts
Advanced Manufacturing Jobs
- Battery assembly technicians
- Robotics & automation specialists
- CNC machinists & tool programmers
- Production supervisors
- Battery cell manufacturing technicians
- Quality and test engineers
- Systems design engineers
Supply Chain & Logistics
- Materials Planners & analysts
- Logistics coordinators
Recycling
- Battery recycling technicians
- Chemical recovery operators
- Environmental compliance officers
Research & Development
- Battery engineers
- Materials scientists
- Energy storage analysts
- Research technicians
- Materials planners & analysts
- Logistics coordinators
Industry Report
The Nevada Tech Hub is funding several initiatives that advance the state’s lithium battery and critical minerals economy, from mineral exploration to advancing battery cell prototypes. Each project below aims to contribute to a stronger circular economy within the state.
- Dragonfly Energy, a Reno-based lithium battery manufacturer, was awarded $805,875 to strengthen Nevada’s advanced battery manufacturing capability by upgrading and modernizing its production systems, boosting the company’s efficiency, and supporting workforce development. Funding will allow the purchase of equipment to produce, validate and test cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells.
- Echo Elements was awarded $327,000 in funding. A Reno-based energy startup, Echo Elements received funding to establish a pilot-scale facility demonstrating its proprietary, water-free, low-temperature molten salt electrochemical process for direct elemental recovery of critical minerals from batteries and other secondary sources.
- Manufacture Nevada received $199,120 to provide dedicated expertise to help Nevada Tech Hub companies secure resources needed to succeed and expand, including finding domestic suppliers of equipment and materials.
- Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology was awarded $140,000 to fund an assessment of Nevada’s historical and active mining sites to identify and quantify concentrations of target critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, and others in mine tailings or retrievable as by-products of existing mining operations. These critical minerals are often present in current mining operations but historically, due to their value or quantity, may not have justified the cost of a complete mining operation on their own.
- Redwood Materials received $440,890 to support a state-wide lithium battery recycling initiative. A collaboration with Washoe County, the project includes the deployment of 20 lithium battery-specific smart bins and a public education campaign to encourage responsible battery disposal, reduce landfill contamination, and lower the risk of battery-related fires in homes and businesses.
Indigenous relations
The Nevada Native Nations Center, located in the Office of Indigenous Relations, was developed under Nevada Tech Hub to ensure collaboration and inclusion for Nevada’s Tribal communities. The Center is comprised of five components that focuses on supporting Tribal communities, culture, and pathways for success.
The Nevada Native Nations Center, located in the Office of Indigenous Relations, was developed under Nevada Tech Hub to ensure collaboration and inclusion for Nevada’s Tribal communities. The Center is comprised of five components to help ensure Nevada’s Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities can equitably access economic, workforce and educational opportunities that strengthen Tribal participation and support the overall economic success of the Nevada Tech Hub region
- Tribal Students LEAD (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Dream) Program – Tribal recruitment efforts rooted to support Native students and families by connecting them to resources like the Native American Fee Waiver and programs like the LEAD (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Dream) Program, advancing a Tribal youth workforce pipeline by increasing access to higher education, leadership development, and STEM/STEAM-related career pathways.
- Tribal Academy – The Tribal Academy focuses retention by assisting college students throughout their educational journeys. Through structured mentorship, culturally responsive advising and career-focused support, the Academy prepares students for professional roles that contribute to Tribal and regional economic development.
- Nevada Tribal Leadership Development Program – The Tribal Leadership Development Program is designed for elected and appointed representatives and organizational leaders of Nevada’s various tribal councils and tribal communities. The program focuses on strengthening leadership, management skills and building relationships to create a lasting community of practice.
- Tribal Government and Governance Workshops - In partnership with the University Center for Economic Development the office delivers workshops based on the specific needs of Tribal communities. These workshops provide practical tools, knowledge and connections that support Tribal governments’ ability to plan for, manage and participate in economic development opportunities.
- Tribal Consultation – Tribal consultation is a federal mandate and a critical component of responsible and efficient development. The office supports strengthening ongoing consultation efforts to better understand Tribal priorities and address potential cultural, environmental and social considerations that may arise among Tribal Nations, public agencies, private industry and community-based organizations.
If your Tribal Community is interested in potential workshop, please email Daphne Hooper, daphnehooper@unr.edu.
Optimizing the supply chain
The Nevada Tech Hub is working with the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Business to assess Nevada’s lithium supply chain, pinpointing gaps and identify targeted solutions to secure domestic products and materials for Nevada’s Lithium Loop.
Search the Small Business Administration Make Onshoring Great Again portal to identify domestic manufacturers and producers.
Manufacture Nevada works side-by-side with Nevada Tech Hub consortium members, connecting them to a comprehensive network of resources, experts, and solutions that help their businesses succeed and grow. Nevada businesses can achieve greater operational efficiency, reduce costs, and build a more resilient and responsive supply chain. Contact Manufacture Nevada for more information.
Nevada Tech Hub, with University of Nevada College of Business, completed and published a supply chain study in October 2025. The study, “A Meta-Analysis of the Critical Mineral Supply Chain in the United States and Opportunities for Nevada in the Lithium Loop,” identifies key supply chain gaps and opportunities for Nevada. The Year 2 supply chain report will be available in the Fall of 2026.
Annual Report
Nevada Tech Hub is driving collaboration among industry, education, workforce, and community partners to strengthen America’s critical minerals and lithium battery supply chain. This annual report highlights the collective advancements, collaborations and investments over the past year that are shaping Nevada’s future.
Nevada Tech Hub works closely and stays in constant communication with consortium members, government and other stakeholders to ensure collaboration, identify areas of opportunity and move projects forward that advance progress toward closing the Lithium Loop. To get in the loop, sign up for Nevada Tech Hub e-newsletter.