WARREN, Ohio – Brite Energy Innovators and Team NEO will share a $250,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy intended to help develop and attract clean energy business and technology to northeastern Ohio.
“We’ve been partnering with Team NEO for about two years,” said Rick Stockburger, president and CEO of Brite. The effort had earlier yielded a Phase I grant for $50,000 and a Phase II grant of $100,000, he said.
Key to winning the award is the Clean Energy Manufacturing Supply Chain Roadmap developed by Brite and Team NEO as part of the Smart Manufacturing Cluster of Northeast Ohio platform. The partnership secured its award through the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies – or Make It – program to accelerate U.S. clean energy manufacturing.
Stockburger said the funding will help Brite continue its work with energy startup companies and bring them to commercial viability, and to work closely with Team NEO and JobsOhio’s newest designation, Lake to River Economic Development.
“Brite is dedicated to advancing the clean energy economy, and the roadmap we collaboratively developed is more than a plan – it’s a bold commitment to ensure Northeast Ohio is well positioned to take a leading role in the future of clean energy in the U.S.,” Stockburger said.
He points to successful Brite portfolio companies such as Petra Power, an energy company that last year moved into its own space in Solon. “The funding will help us continue doing more of that work,” Stockburger said.
The winning project was coordinated by Sophia Long, industry programs manager at Team NEO. The roadmap charts a strategic path forward for the region and embodies a commitment to inclusivity, collaboration and shared prosperity, Team NEO said in a statement.
By aligning the roadmap’s objectives with the needs and aspirations of the community, the region positions itself as a national leader in clean energy innovation, driving sustainable growth while ensuring that all residents share in its success, the organization said in a press release.
This vision emphasizes collaborations among industry, government and educational institutions to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities in areas such as renewable energy systems, energy storage and electric vehicle components, Team NEO said.
“Collectively, we are shaping for the region a future driven by innovation, opportunity, and sustainability,” said Steve Fritsch, Team NEO’s vice president of industry advancement and engagement. “We’re incredibly proud of our team’s work with Brite, as well as numerous other companies and organizations that supported this effort. This recognition from the Department of Energy reinforces Team NEO’s pivotal role in advancing the region’s competitiveness and resilience.”