REBECCA – ENERGY TECH HUB: INITIAL COMMITED CONSORTIUM MEMBERS

Our initiatives are strengthened through strategic collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders spanning academia, government, industry, research and development, and regional economic development organizations. These partnerships are pivotal in advancing innovation, workforce development, and economic growth across the region.

Academic Institutions

We are proud to engage with leading educational institutions that contribute to workforce training, research, and community advancement:

• Bluegrass Community and Technical College – Provides skilled workforce training aligned with REBECCA’s manufacturing and energy sector needs.

• Hazard Community and Technical College – Supports local talent pipelines through specialized programs in advanced energy and materials.

• Western Kentucky University (WKU) – Contributes research, faculty expertise, and STEM education aligned with REBECCA’s innovation goals.

• Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) – Delivers industry-ready training and credentials that feed directly into REBECCA’s workforce strategy.

Government Entities

Our work is supported by a network of government agencies and leadership that provide critical policy guidance, infrastructure, and workforce alignment:

• Hazard Chamber of Commerce – Supports REBECCA’s regional outreach and small business engagement in Eastern Kentucky.

• Office of the Mayor, City of Hazard – Provides local leadership and policy alignment for community-driven innovation.

• Transit Authority of River City (TARC) – Enhances transportation infrastructure critical to workforce access and clean mobility pilots.

• Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (KWIB) – Aligns REBECCA’s efforts with statewide workforce development priorities.

• Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA) – Integrates REBECCA’s strategy into long-term regional planning and investment.

• Kentuckiana Works – Supports regional talent development and training initiatives linked to REBECCA’s industry needs.

• Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability – Partners on clean energy, circular economy, and low-carbon urban solutions.

• Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) – Drives job placement and reskilling efforts in Appalachia.

• Indiana Economic Development Council - Provides high-level policy support and statewide coordination for REBECCA’s mission.

• Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky – Provides high-level policy support and statewide coordination for REBECCA’s mission.

Industry Partners

Our industry partners bring forward domain expertise, innovation capacity, and operational scale in manufacturing, energy, and advanced materials:

• GE Appliances – Connects REBECCA with smart manufacturing and home energy innovation pathways.

• Clariant – Provides specialty chemical expertise to scale innovations in materials and circular chemistry.

• Holley – Brings automotive performance technology to bear on clean mobility and advanced manufacturing.

• Kentucky River Properties – Supports sustainable land use and site development for energy infrastructure.

• BlueOval SK – Advances battery manufacturing scale and workforce training as a key anchor in the energy transition.

• CSI Solar – Brings clean energy expertise and innovation to REBECCA’s renewable deployment strategies.

• Amatrol – Supplies advanced training systems that power REBECCA’s technical education programs.

• AESC – Offers applied engineering services that drive prototyping and system-level integration.

Research & Innovation Companies

We collaborate with high-impact R&D firms that are advancing breakthrough technologies across energy, materials science, and advanced manufacturing:

• Lumina Materials – Produces next-gen optoelectronic and energy-harvesting materials.

• Blue Grass Chemical – Delivers materials processing capabilities aligned with REBECCA’s advanced chemistry needs.

• Zro Waste – Innovates in circular economy systems for waste-to-value applications.

• DTI Films – Specializes in high-performance polymer films for energy and electronics sectors.

• McCrorey Digital, LLC – Provides digital design tools and prototyping for energy tech innovation.

• HyperIon – Accelerates battery and hydrogen storage R&D critical to energy resilience.

• SoFab Inks – Develops printable electronics and nanomaterials for advanced devices.

• Panda Industries – Powers innovation in sustainable manufacturing and additive technologies.

• Hexalayer – Builds next-gen materials for thermal, electronic, and mechanical performance.

• ORB Technologies – Offers scalable solutions for smart grid and power electronics integration.

• PCC Hydrogen – Advances hydrogen production pathways aligned with REBECCA’s decarbonization goals.

• Advanced Energy Materials (ADEM) – Develops catalytic and membrane materials for clean energy systems.

• Engi-Mat – Specializes in nanomaterials and catalyst development for decarbonization.

• Power Techs – Provides grid management and energy optimization tools.

• Bioproducts LLC – Focuses on bio-based material solutions for circular manufacturing.

• Amplify Startups – Connects REBECCA technologies with market pathways through startup acceleration.

• Bluecole Biofuels – Develops sustainable fuels from biomass and waste sources.

• Lectrodryer – Supports clean hydrogen and industrial drying technologies for energy systems.

• Green Technologies – Offers eco-friendly solutions for waste and emissions reduction.

• Bert Thin Films – Innovates in ultrathin materials for microelectronics and batteries.

• Thermisoln – Specializes in advanced thermal management solutions.

• SES Technologies – Develops cutting-edge electronic systems for energy monitoring.

• iforce Innovation – Bridges public and private sector R&D for real-world impact.

• FreshFry – Reclaims waste streams through food-tech innovation, contributing to REBECCA’s circular economy goals.

• AHEAD Consortium – Provides policy and research infrastructure to support equitable energy transition strategies.

Regional Economic Development Stakeholders

These regional partners are instrumental in shaping and accelerating local economic strategies, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth:

• Battery Innovation Center – Accelerates battery research, validation, and commercialization in the REBECCA ecosystem.

• One East Kentucky – Drives economic growth in Appalachian counties through targeted industry recruitment.

• Kentucky MBDA – Advanced Manufacturing Center – Supports minority-owned businesses in advanced manufacturing sectors.

• Accelerate for America – Connects national policy innovation with grassroots regional implementation.

• Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) – Champions place-based development and innovation in Eastern Kentucky.

• Southern Indiana Works – Aligns cross-border workforce and skills development with REBECCA initiatives.

• One Southern Indiana (1SI) – Engages southern Indiana’s business community in collaborative innovation.

• Metals Innovation Institute (MI2) – Brings deep expertise in metals R&D and advanced processing to REBECCA’s manufacturing pillar.