THIS EDA ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE AWARD TO MHUB WILL SUPPORT THE GRANTEE'S PURCHASE OF NEW PROTOTYPING EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING CAPABILITIES TO FILL EXISTING GAPS IN THE REGIONAL TECH INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM. COOK COUNTY?S ELEVATED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND OTHER ECONOMIC CHALLENGES REQUIRE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND NEW BUSINESS START-UPS TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY THE REGIONAL ECONOMY. THE EDA-FUNDED EQUIPMENT AND TESTING LABS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR MHUB USERS TO TEST THEIR IDEAS AND BRING NEW PRODUCTS TO MARKET FASTER. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO HELP CREATE 50 NEW JOBS AND GENERATE $15 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT.