Project Grant ED24HDQ0G0407

PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ENSURE A COORDINATED APPROACH TO INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN DEFENSE, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND DISASTER PREVENTION THAT ADVANCES THE REGION?S SHARED GOAL OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN PHOTONIC REMOTE SENSING AND AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES WITH BUILT-IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING CAPABILITIES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ESTABLISH A ROBUST CONSORTIUM GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, HIRE THE HEADWATERS TECH HUB (HTH) OFFICE STAFF, STAND UP HTH-WIDE ADVISORY AND/OR WORKING GROUPS, INCLUDING DEFENSE AND RESILIENCY TECHNOLOGIES GROUPS. GUIDE AND TRACK CURRENT AND FUTURE HTH COMPONENT PROJECTS THROUGH PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND ADVISORY SUPPORT WHILE MAINTAINING GOOD STANDING WITH REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE. CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE HTH TRIBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, DEVELOP LOCAL OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT NETWORKS WITH SUPPORT OF THE SUBAWARDEE ORGANIZATIONS WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS, CONDUCT PERIODIC FORMAL AND FREQUENT INFORMAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH THESE COMMUNITIES, ESTABLISH HUB-WIDE ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION PORTALS. SUPPORT FINAL-STAGE TESTING OF TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH CREATING TESTBEDS IN RUGGED TERRAIN, PRECISION AGRICULTURE, AND ROADWAYS. BUILD PHOTONICS SECTOR BY INCREASING POST-GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES IN RELATED FIELDS AND UTILIZING SKILL-BASED TRAINING FOR WORKFORCE PLACEMENT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: SUSTAIN THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES DESIGNED THROUGH THIS PROJECT TO CATALYZE REGIONAL COHESION, PROMOTE INCLUSION OF TRIBAL AND RURAL POPULATIONS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AND AMPLIFY THE SUCCESSES AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PURSUIT OF THE TECH HUB?S NATIONAL AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF LEADERSHIP IN SMART PHOTONICS SENSING APPLICATIONS. INCREASE OF ECOSYSTEM FOOTPRINT THROUGH JOB AND ECONOMICS IMPACTS WHILE GENERATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE TECH HUB WILL USE THIS AWARD TO MAINTAIN AND GROW ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANCHOR COMMUNITIES IN BOZEMAN, BUTTE, AND MISSOULA VIA PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS (EDOS). THE TECH HUB WILL WORK IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE MONTANA OFFICE OF INDIANS AFFAIRS AND THE STATE TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PRIORITIES AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUPPORT THE HTH OFFICE IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND POLICY SUPPORT ACTIVITIES. ATTRACTS BUSINESS TO THE STATE AND GROWING INTERNATIONAL TRADE WITH STAFF SERVING AS LIAISONS TO THE REST OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.