Specifically, the states that have qualified for the funding are Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois. The program is coordinated by the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) of the US Department of Energy. The agency says the aim of the grants is to support small and medium-sized suppliers in switching to e-mobility components and thus help “to preserve well-paying, unionized jobs in traditional automotive communities,” according to an official statement. Specifically, companies that are preparing for the transition to electric, hybrid or fuel cell vehicles are eligible for the grants.
The $50 million for the suppliers is part of the large, $2 billion funding program to convert US automobile production, which is financed by the Inflation Reduction Act. The states have had time since April to apply for the grants. The prerequisite was that at least 0.5 percent of the state’s employees must work in the automobile industry and the grant eligibility must be for at least $4 million. The six states mentioned above qualified under these premises. The funding is distributed as follows:
| US state | Financial support |
|---|---|
