Nevada Tech Hub is fueling the growth of Nevada’s lithium battery and critical materials economy by investing in the workforce that powers it. To meet rising demand for skilled trades, Nevada Tech Hub has awarded $3.9 million to expand apprenticeship programs, boost outreach and provide vital support for workers through partnerships with the Northern Nevada Building & Construction Trades Council Development Corporation and the Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program.
NNBCTC Dev. Corp. supports approximately 4,900 apprentices with 98 percent employed. This number is expected to rise sharply in the coming years as more projects are announced and infrastructure is needed. At Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass project alone there are 518 union members on-site including 58 apprentices. To help meet this demand, Nevada Tech Hub has awarded $1,512,500 to expand NNBCTC Dev. Corp. program capacity for training electricians, plumbers, sheet metal workers as well as other trades. The funding also supports marketing efforts to increase recruitment and retention. Over the next five years, this initiative aims to place at least 100 new apprentices annually, building an expansive workforce to power Nevada’s advanced energy future.
Northern Nevada MAP received $2,424,400 to strengthen critical support services to apprentices. This funding removes barriers to success by ensuring workers have access to essentials like boots, tools, transportation, food and utility assistance. MAP will expand staffing for workforce support and basic needs, including leadership development, food pantry management and case management for challenges, such as mental health, childcare and family stability. These resources help apprentices stay on track and thrive in their careers.
“As the lithium and critical materials economy continues to grow, this partnership with Nevada Tech Hub allows us to create a positive impact today while also ensuring there is long-term workforce availability down the road,” said Rob Benner, secretary treasurer for NNBCTC Dev. Corp. “This funding allows us to expand our reach and strengthen existing partnerships across the lithium loop ecosystem.”
NNBCTC Dev. Corp. was established in 1978 and is focused on training, supporting and advancing the men and women who build Northern Nevada. The organization facilitates and promotes workforce training programs, provides a highly skilled workforce to local construction companies, partners with local leaders and organizations to improve Northern Nevada communities, and promotes economic development in Northern Nevada. Northern Nevada MAP was founded in 2022 with the mission to improve the quality of life for workers and their families by providing access to services to meet their immediate needs, empowering members of organized labor to improve the community.
Nevada Tech Hub, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as one of 31 Tech Hubs nationally, was awarded $21 million to advance Nevada’s lithium battery and electric vehicle materials economy primarily through workforce development initiatives. In 2025, Nevada Tech Hub has distributed over $15.5 million to fund 17 projects that accelerate innovation in lithium battery development, critical minerals and building a domestic supply chain.
For more information on Nevada Tech Hub, visit unr.edu. For more information on BCTNN, visit bctnn.org. For more information on the Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program, visit nnvmap.org.
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university that is committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, the University serves 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive, doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, it has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting its student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities has been invested on campus since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Wolf Pack Athletics, maintains a statewide outreach mission and presence through programs such as the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Through a commitment to world-improving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world.
Nevada Tech Hub is a consortium of governmental, industry, educational and nonprofit organizations all aligning toward a common goal: to leverage Nevada’s rich natural resources and develop a full-spectrum lithium economy within the state. The Nevada Tech Hub is one of 31 Tech Hub designees nationally. The program invests in regional partnerships to grow critical industries, strengthen national securitya nd create high-quality jobs. Nevada Tech Hub is focused on building a complete “Lithium Loop” — a closed-loop lithium economy that includes extraction, processing, battery manufacturing and recycling. Nevada Tech Hub is working to make Nevada a global leader in critical minerals and electric vehicle materials. By using the state’s natural resources, supporting innovation, and bringing people and organizations together, the effort supports both national strength and a sustainable future. For more information, visit unr.edu/tech-hub.
