“President Biden is investing in the workforce and factories that made our country a global manufacturing powerhouse,” says U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “Building the cars of the future also necessitates helping the communities challenged by the transition away from the internal combustion engine.”

According to Granholm, this program will “expand manufacturing of light-, medium-,and heavy-duty electrified vehicles and components and support commercial facilities including those for vehicle assembly, component assembly and related vehicle part manufacturing.  The program aims to support a just transition for workers and communities in the transition to electrified transportation, with particular attention to communities supporting facilities with longer histories in automotive manufacturing.”

Depending on their capital needs, manufacturers can apply to receive assistance via financial grants through DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains or preferable debt financing through DOE’s Loan Program Office. Preference will be given to projects that commit to pay high wages for production workers and maintain collective bargaining agreements.