What is the difference between the critical minerals programs at DOE OCED and DOE LPO?

OCED (Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations) issues grants and cooperative agreements for R&D and demonstration-scale projects. LPO (now Office of Energy Dominance Financing) issues loans and loan guarantees for commercial-scale projects that are technically proven but need federal credit support because private financing is unavailable on acceptable terms. A company might receive an OCED grant for a pilot plant, then an LPO loan to build the commercial facility.

Are rare earth grants available to foreign companies operating in the U.S.?

Generally yes for grants, with restrictions. Companies organized under U.S. law and operating in the U.S. are eligible regardless of ultimate parent ownership, with two exceptions: entities on OFAC sanctions lists are barred, and DOE has discretion to deny awards to entities with substantial foreign government ownership from countries of concern (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea). Australian, Canadian, Japanese, and European parent companies with U.S. subsidiaries have routinely received DOE grants and LPO loans.

Can I apply for a DOE critical minerals grant without a commercial mine or processing facility?

Yes. DE-FOA-0003105 (Critical Materials Innovation) and NSF programs fund early-stage research that does not require existing infrastructure. ARPA-E programs fund lab-scale and proof-of-concept work. The larger FOAs (REE Demonstration, Mines and Metals) require demonstration-scale capability and typically 50 percent cost share, which effectively requires a company at the project development stage.

What is the CHIPS Act connection to rare earth grants?

The CHIPS Act funds semiconductor supply chain security, which includes gallium, germanium, indium, and high-purity silicon — all critical minerals. CHIPS Incentives grants are available to materials suppliers (not just chip fabs) that have a direct supply relationship with a CHIPS-funded fabrication facility. The CHIPS NIST Manufacturing USA Institute also funds compound semiconductor materials research. This is the most direct path for rare earth and specialty mineral processors to access CHIPS funding.

How does the IRA 45X credit work for a lithium mining company?

Section 45X provides a 10 percent production tax credit on the production costs of eligible critical minerals. For a lithium company, the credit applies to the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate from domestic extraction and processing. The credit has no expiration date under current law. Companies with insufficient tax liability can monetize the credit through direct pay (if the entity is tax-exempt, a cooperative, or in the first five years of production) or by transferring the credit to a third party in exchange for cash at a negotiated discount (typically 90–95 cents per dollar of credit value).

What state has the best incentive package for a critical minerals processing facility?

Nevada has the most developed critical minerals incentive stack: Modified Business Tax abatements, sales tax abatements on capital equipment, and real property tax abatements can reduce the total state tax burden by 70 to 90 percent for qualifying projects over 10 years. Nevada also has existing lithium project infrastructure (Thacker Pass, Rhyolite Ridge) that creates workforce and supply chain precedents. Wyoming is developing rare earth processing incentives and has lower land costs. Alaska has the largest undeveloped deposits but higher infrastructure costs. Arizona offers strong R&D credits and university research partnerships.

What is the Earth MRI program and how do exploration companies use it?

The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative funds airborne geophysical surveys and three-dimensional geologic mapping with a critical minerals focus. Data is released publicly at no cost through the USGS National Map. Exploration companies use AEM survey results to identify new drill targets, reduce exploration risk, and support permit applications. Companies cannot apply directly — state geological surveys apply on behalf of their states. Contact your state geological survey to request that your project area be nominated for an Earth MRI survey.

What is DoD looking for in a DPA Title III critical minerals proposal?

DoD prioritizes minerals with direct defense applications and no viable domestic alternative: heavy rare earths (dysprosium, terbium) for permanent magnets, antimony for ammunition and night vision, gallium for radar and electronic warfare, germanium for infrared optics, and cobalt for superalloys and batteries. The strongest proposals demonstrate: (1) a specific defense end-use for the mineral, (2) a path to commercial-scale production within 5 years, (3) meaningful cost-share from private capital, and (4) no viable pathway to domestic supply without government support. DPA does not issue open solicitations — direct engagement with INDPOL is the first step.

What international critical minerals partnerships offer direct funding to U.S. companies?

The most direct funding pathway is the U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Partnership Fund ($500 million, jointly administered by DFC and Australia's Export Finance Australia), which provides blended finance for projects involving both countries. The Minerals Security Partnership Finance Network links 14 countries' development finance institutions and can stack financing from multiple governments on a single project. Canadian companies are eligible as cost-share partners on U.S. DOE grants under CMAP. For smaller projects, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) funds feasibility studies ($500,000 to $2 million) for U.S. companies developing critical minerals projects in MSP partner countries.

What are the biggest critical minerals funding deadlines coming up in 2026?

The two largest pending opportunities are the DOE $500 million Battery Materials Processing FOA and the DOE $50 million Critical Minerals Accelerator FOA, both expected to publish in the first half of 2026 based on Notices of Intent from August 2025. Response windows could be as short as 30 days. The 48C Round 3 application is not yet announced but is expected in 2026. The Section 232 tariff decision on processed critical minerals is due by July 13, 2026, and may significantly change the economics of every domestic critical minerals project. Monitor eere-exchange.energy.gov and Funding Landscape for FOA posting alerts.

Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Grants in 2026: The Complete Federal and State Funding Guide

The Strategic Stakes: Why $40 Billion Is Not Enough

The United States is 100 percent import-dependent on 16 critical minerals and more than 50 percent import-dependent on 54 others. China controls over 90 percent of global rare earth processing, 80 percent of natural graphite production, more than 70 percent of cobalt refining, and effectively all gallium and germanium exports after imposing export controls beginning in 2023 and escalating through 2025. In November 2025, USGS expanded the Critical Minerals List from 50 to 60 minerals, adding copper, silver, uranium, potash, phosphate, metallurgical coal, boron, silicon, rhenium, and lead. Every mineral on that list is now eligible for accelerated permitting under FAST-41, DPA Title III financing, and a growing range of grant, loan, and tax credit programs. The federal response spans at least eight agencies and a dozen distinct funding mechanisms. The challenge for applicants is not finding money — it is knowing which program fits their project stage, entity type, and mineral focus. This guide maps the entire landscape as of March 2026.

DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and OCED Grants

The Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) administers the largest critical minerals grant programs. Four major FOAs have been published since 2024. **DE-FOA-0003587: Rare Earth Elements Demonstration Facility** ($134 million) — This FOA funds full-scale integrated rare earth extraction and separation from unconventional feedstocks: coal mine drainage, acid mine drainage, geothermal brines, electronic waste, and industrial byproducts. The two anticipated awards of $67 to $134 million each are the largest pure REE grants ever issued by the federal government. Applications closed January 20, 2026. Award selections are expected mid-2026. Requirements: minimum 50 percent cost share, mandatory institution of higher education partner, projects must reach commercial scale within five years of award. **DE-FOA-0003583: Mines and Metals Capacity Expansion** ($275 million) — Targets pilot-scale recovery of battery-relevant and defense-relevant critical minerals from existing industrial waste streams: coal combustion residuals, mine tailings, spent catalysts, and slag. Awards are up to $50 million for coal-derived feedstocks and up to $75 million for all other sources. Applications closed January 15, 2026. Eligible minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, rare earths, and 25 others on the 2025 Critical Minerals List. **DE-FOA-0003390: Mine of the Future Proving Ground Initiative** ($80 million) — Four awards of up to $20 million each for field sites testing next-generation underground and surface mining technologies. Focus areas: autonomous drilling, real-time subsurface sensing, selective mining for lower environmental impact, and AI-driven ore sorting. Applications closed January 30, 2026. Eligible entities include mining companies, technology firms, national laboratories, and universities. **DE-FOA-0003105: Critical Materials Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives** ($150 million, rolling) — This ongoing program funds early-stage R&D and applied research across the full critical materials lifecycle: mining, processing, manufacturing, use, and recycling. Awards range from $1 million to $20 million. The January 2025 selection awarded $32.75 million to 12 projects. Additional selections expected in 2026. Eligible applicants: universities, national labs, for-profit companies, nonprofits. Cost share: 20 percent minimum for R&D, 50 percent for demonstration-scale projects.

🔍 Search related opportunities now

critical minerals rare funding→

DOE Loan Programs Office: Project Finance for Commercial-Scale Minerals

The DOE Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly LPO) is the primary federal vehicle for commercial-scale critical minerals project finance. It does not issue grants — it issues loans, loan guarantees, and conditional commitments backed by federal credit. **Active critical minerals loans in the portfolio:** - Lithium Americas / Thacker Pass (Nevada): $2.26 billion loan for the largest lithium mine in North America. First $435 million drawn October 2025. DOE holds a 5 percent equity stake in the project. - Ioneer / Rhyolite Ridge (Nevada): $996 million loan guarantee for lithium-boron production. One of the few combined lithium-boron deposits in the world. - EnergySource Minerals (California): $1.36 billion conditional commitment for the first commercial-scale direct lithium extraction facility in the Salton Sea geothermal field. **Eligibility:** For-profit companies with projects that are commercially viable, technically ready (generally at or beyond feasibility study stage), and unable to obtain conventional financing on acceptable terms. Projects must produce energy-relevant materials that reduce import dependence. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no published deadline. The application process takes six to eighteen months from submission to conditional commitment. Contact: lpo.energy.gov. **New applicants:** OCED announced in early 2026 that it will prioritize applications that demonstrate domestic processing capability for minerals on the expanded 2025 Critical Minerals List, particularly rare earths, gallium, germanium, graphite, and lithium.

CHIPS and Science Act: Critical Minerals for Semiconductor Manufacturing

The CHIPS and Science Act (Public Law 117-167, signed August 2022) does not have a standalone critical minerals program, but it funds critical minerals in two distinct ways that matter for mining, processing, and materials companies. **CHIPS Incentives Office — Materials Supply Chain Grants:** The CHIPS Incentives Program includes funding for semiconductor materials suppliers, not just chip fabricators. Gallium, germanium, indium, and high-purity silicon are all critical to semiconductor manufacturing. The Commerce Department's CHIPS Program Office has approved supplier grants alongside fab awards, with individual amounts up to $75 million for materials and chemicals suppliers. Applicants must demonstrate a direct materials supply relationship with a CHIPS-funded fabrication facility. Contact: chips.commerce.gov. Deadline: rolling. **CHIPS R&D: Materials and Substrates Research Program:** CHIPS allocated $11 billion for R&D programs at NIST and DARPA. NIST's CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute ($285 million) includes a focus on advanced semiconductor materials including compound semiconductors made from gallium nitride, silicon carbide, and indium phosphide — all of which require critical mineral inputs. Awards to research consortia range from $50 million to $150 million. Applications are issued through institute competitions, not standing FOAs. Next competition expected mid-2026. **Who this helps:** Mining and processing companies that can demonstrate a supply relationship with a semiconductor manufacturer will qualify for CHIPS supply chain grants. Processors of gallium, germanium, indium, and high-purity silicon are the clearest fit. Materials scientists researching new semiconductor substrates may qualify for NIST Manufacturing USA Institute awards.

DoD Strategic Materials: DPA Title III and the $7.5 Billion Defense Portfolio

The Department of Defense has the most flexible critical minerals funding authority in the federal government. Under Defense Production Act Title III, DoD can issue grants, loans, purchase commitments, and equity investments without competitive solicitation requirements, moving faster than any civilian agency. **FY2025 and FY2026 authorities:** - $2 billion to expand the National Defense Stockpile (managed by the Defense Logistics Agency) - $5 billion in the Industrial Base Fund for critical materials investments - $1 billion for DPA Title III direct financing through September 2027 **Recent major awards (all DPA Title III unless noted):** - MP Materials (Mountain Pass, CA): $400 million equity + $150 million loan for heavy rare earth separation. Covers neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and holmium — the four rare earths required for high-performance permanent magnets used in F-35 engines, submarines, and missile guidance systems. - Lynas Rare Earths (Seadrift, TX): approximately $258 million for a heavy rare earth separation facility. Project status uncertain pending offtake finalization with DoD. - U.S. Antimony: $245 million for domestic antimony trisulfide production. Antimony is used in night-vision equipment, infrared sensors, and military-grade ammunition. - Global Advanced Metals: $150 million for tantalum and niobium — both used in capacitors, jet engine turbine blades, and nuclear reactors. - IperionX (Virginia): $47.1 million for titanium powder manufacturing using recycled titanium scrap. Titanium is critical for airframes, armor, and naval vessels. - Perpetua Resources (Salmon, ID): $80 million for antimony trisulfide from the Stibnite Gold Project, in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory. - Alaska Range Resources: $43.4 million for military-grade antimony. - Trilogy Metals (Alaska): $35.6 million (10 percent equity stake) in the Upper Kobuk Minerals Projects for copper, cobalt, zinc, and gold. **How to apply for DPA Title III funding:** There is no public solicitation. DoD's Office of Industrial Policy (INDPOL) identifies gaps and contacts companies directly, or companies may approach INDPOL with a proposal. Letters of interest can be submitted to INDPOL at [email protected]. A direct approach with a technical brief, defense relevance summary, and cost-share offer is the standard path.

IRA Critical Minerals Tax Credits: 30D, 45X, and 48C

The Inflation Reduction Act created or expanded three tax credits directly relevant to critical minerals. Unlike grants, these credits are permanent fixtures (or nearly so) of the tax code and can be monetized by entities without sufficient tax liability through IRA's direct-pay and transferability provisions. **Section 45X: Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit** — A 10 percent credit on production costs for eligible critical minerals. The 2025 CHIPS expansions broadened the qualifying minerals list to include all 50 minerals originally on the USGS 2022 list. The credit applies to extraction and processing (not just manufacturing) if the output is a qualifying critical mineral product. There is no sunset date for the minerals credit — it continues indefinitely under current law. Key companies claiming or planning to claim 45X: Lithium Americas, Ioneer, Piedmont Lithium, Redwood Materials, MP Materials. **Section 48C: Advanced Energy Project Credit** — A 30 percent tax credit for qualifying advanced energy manufacturing investments, which includes facilities for processing, refining, or recycling critical minerals; manufacturing components that use critical minerals; and R&D infrastructure. $10 billion was allocated in two rounds. Round 2 awarded approximately $6 billion to 140+ projects in January 2025. A Round 3 has not been announced but is widely expected. Facilities in energy communities (former coal, oil, or gas sites) receive an additional 10 percent bonus credit. Prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements must be met for the full 30 percent rate. **Section 30D: Clean Vehicle Credit with Domestic Content Rules** — While primarily a consumer EV credit, 30D's domestic content requirements for battery materials have created a direct downstream demand signal for domestic critical minerals. To qualify for the full $7,500 credit, an EV's battery components must be assembled in North America and its critical minerals must be extracted or processed in the U.S. or a U.S. FTA partner. This has driven billions in investment from battery materials companies positioning their products as 30D-compliant inputs. Mining and processing companies can use 30D compliance as a commercial offtake anchor for DOE loan applications.

USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative is a multi-year program to modernize geologic mapping and airborne geophysical surveys across the United States, with explicit focus on areas prospective for critical minerals. Earth MRI is not a competitive grant program in the traditional sense — it is a cooperative activity between USGS, state geological surveys, and academic partners. **Funding levels:** Congress appropriated $38 million for Earth MRI in FY2024, with similar amounts expected in FY2025-2026. The program funds: - High-resolution airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic surveys over under-mapped areas - Three-dimensional subsurface geologic mapping in critical minerals provinces - Geochemical sampling and analysis of soils, stream sediments, and mine waste - Rock and mineral characterization for deposit modeling **Priority regions for 2026 Earth MRI surveys:** The southwestern U.S. (lithium, rare earths, copper), the Rocky Mountain corridor (rare earths, vanadium, uranium), Interior Alaska (cobalt, nickel, platinum-group metals), and the Appalachian basin (rare earth elements in coal byproducts). **How private companies benefit:** Earth MRI data is released publicly on the USGS National Map. Exploration companies use AEM survey results to target drill programs. The initiative has already opened new critical minerals targets in Nevada, Wyoming, and Alaska that were invisible to conventional prospecting. Companies cannot apply for Earth MRI directly, but state geological surveys can. Contact your state geological survey if your project area has not been surveyed. Wyoming State Geological Survey, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, and Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys are active Earth MRI partners. **Related USGS programs:** The USGS Mineral Resources Program funds additional research on critical mineral deposits, processing, and supply chain risk. Congressional appropriations for MRP in FY2025 were approximately $78 million.

EPA Critical Minerals Recycling and Circular Economy Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency funds critical minerals through its Solid Waste and Superfund programs, with recycling and end-of-life recovery as the primary focus. EPA's critical minerals grants are smaller than DOE programs but accessible to municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses that DOE programs exclude. **Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants:** IIJA provided $275 million over five years for SWIFR grants. The FY2025 round opened in September 2025 with $55 million available. While not exclusively targeting critical minerals, EPA has prioritized applications that recover lithium, cobalt, nickel, or rare earths from battery waste, electronic waste, and fluorescent lamp recycling. Maximum award: $5 million for nonprofits and local governments; $2 million for tribal governments. Deadline for FY2026 round: expected Q2 2026. Contact: epa.gov/infrastructure/solid-waste-infrastructure-recycling. **Recycling Education and Economic Development (REED) Grants:** $15 million annually for recycling market development and education. Awards up to $500,000. Critical minerals electronics recycling is an eligible focus. Deadline: rolling, with annual priority period in spring. **Superfund Brownfields Critical Minerals Initiative:** EPA's Brownfields program has prioritized critical minerals recovery at contaminated mine sites under a 2025 policy memo. Mine sites with coal waste, mine tailings, or acid drainage may qualify for up to $500,000 in assessment funding and up to $5 million in cleanup funding under the IIJA-funded Brownfields program, with a preference for sites where cleanup also enables critical mineral recovery. Contact: Regional Brownfields coordinators at each EPA region. **R&D Grants (STAR Program):** EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program occasionally funds critical minerals recycling research. Awards range from $100,000 to $1 million. Eligibility: universities and nonprofits. Deadline: announced annually, typically in fall. Check cfda.usgs.gov (now sam.gov) under CFDA 66.509.

NSF Critical Minerals Research Programs

The National Science Foundation is the primary funder of fundamental critical minerals research, particularly for new extraction processes, recycling chemistry, and deposit formation. NSF programs are almost exclusively for universities and research institutions, with some pathways for industry collaboration. **Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS):** NSF's CAS program funds research on critical resource supply chains, including critical minerals. Awards range from $400,000 to $1.5 million over three to four years. Deadline: rolling, with priority review periods in January and July. Eligible: universities, colleges, nonprofits. Industry partnership is encouraged but not required. **Convergence Accelerator — Critical Minerals Track:** NSF's Convergence Accelerator funds use-inspired, translational research on societal challenges. A critical minerals track opened in 2025, funding Phase 1 awards of $750,000 and Phase 2 awards up to $5 million for teams combining mining, chemistry, AI, and social science approaches to the supply chain problem. Next competition expected Q3 2026. Eligible: university-led teams with industry or government co-applicants. **Future Manufacturing Program:** NSF funds manufacturing research with a critical minerals focus under Future Manufacturing. Awards up to $3 million for new processes that reduce energy and waste in critical mineral extraction and processing. Rolling deadline. **EPSCoR Critical Minerals Focus:** NSF's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) has directed funding to states with significant critical mineral resources but historically underfunded research infrastructure: Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Arkansas. EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement awards are up to $20 million over five years and can include critical minerals as a focus area. States apply through their state research offices. **Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC):** The Critical Materials IUCRC, hosted at Ames National Laboratory with academic partners, receives NSF core funding supplemented by industry membership fees ($50,000 per year minimum). Industry members get access to cutting-edge processing research and PhD student recruitment. New industry members can join at any time. Contact: ameslab.gov/cmm.

ARPA-E Critical Minerals Programs

The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy funds high-risk, high-reward critical minerals research through three active programs as of early 2026. **ROCKS ($40 million):** Rare earth and Other Critical materials Knowhow through Sensing — funds new sensing technologies for mineral exploration, including deep subsurface geophysical sensing, geochemical fingerprinting, and AI-driven remote sensing for identifying deposits from surface or aerial data. Awards range from $500,000 to $5 million. Applications accepted on a rolling basis within the active program window. Eligible: universities, companies, national labs. **MAGNITO ($20 million):** Magnetic Materials for Keeping Critical Tech Optimal — funds discovery of new permanent magnet materials that reduce or eliminate dependence on rare earth elements (particularly dysprosium, terbium, and neodymium). Awards up to $3 million. The program targets magnets for EV motors, wind turbines, and defense applications. Eligible: universities, companies, national labs. **TRACE-Ga ($6 million):** Transforming Recovery of American Critical Elements from Gallium-containing streams — funds methods to recover gallium from zinc smelter byproducts, coal fly ash, and bauxite residues. Gallium is on China's export control list and has no U.S. primary production. Awards up to $1.5 million. Eligible: universities, companies. **MINER Program (concluded, but watch for MINER-2):** ARPA-E's original MINER program (Mining INovations for Negative Emissions Resource recovery) funded carbon-sequestering mining processes. MINER concluded in 2023, but ARPA-E is expected to launch MINER-2 in 2026 with a broader critical minerals focus. Watch arpa-e.energy.gov for announcements. **How to apply for ARPA-E:** All ARPA-E programs require a Concept Paper (4–6 pages) before a full application is invited. Concept Papers are evaluated within four to six weeks. The process is faster than DOE Office of Science or OCED: award to project start typically takes four to eight months. ARPA-E program managers are also accessible at technology-to-market conferences and will discuss project fit informally.

State-Level Programs: Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska

Four states with major critical mineral resources have developed state-level programs that complement federal funding and sometimes require state match or co-application. **Nevada** — Nevada hosts the Thacker Pass lithium project, the McDermitt Caldera (lithium-rich), and multiple rare earth deposits. The Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) offers battery and critical minerals projects access to: - Modified Business Tax abatements (up to 75 percent reduction for 10 years) for qualifying manufacturing and processing facilities - Sales and use tax abatements on capital equipment - Real and personal property tax abatements - Transferable tax credits under the Nevada Film Office (can be redirected to battery manufacturing under a 2024 legislative expansion) Nevada also participates in Earth MRI through the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, which offers free geologic consultation to exploration companies. Contact: expand.nevadacommerce.com. **Arizona** — Arizona is a top copper, rhenium, and molybdenum producer and is developing rare earth deposits in the Mohave and Yavapai counties. The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) provides: - Quality Jobs Tax Credit ($9,000 per qualifying job per year for five years) applicable to critical minerals processing - Research and Development Tax Credit (24 percent for in-state R&D) - Arizona Innovation Challenge grants ($150,000 to $500,000 for early-stage technology companies, including critical minerals startups) Arizona also hosts the Center for Critical Minerals at the University of Arizona, which partners with industry on processing R&D. Contact: azcommerce.com. **Wyoming** — Wyoming holds significant rare earth deposits (Bear Lodge, other Laramie Range occurrences), uranium, and vanadium. The Wyoming Business Council offers: - Business Ready Community grants and loans for infrastructure supporting mining and processing (up to $10 million) - Wyoming Innovation Partnership grants for university-industry research ($50,000 to $500,000) - Royalty reductions for new or marginal critical minerals mines on state-owned lands Wyoming's Rare Earth Processing Initiative, announced by Governor Gordon in 2025, is pursuing a state investment in a pilot-scale rare earth separation facility. Status: feasibility study ongoing as of Q1 2026. Contact: wyomingbusiness.org. **Alaska** — Alaska holds the largest known cobalt, rare earth, and platinum-group metal deposits in North America. Major undeveloped projects include Ambler (copper, cobalt, zinc), Bokan Mountain (rare earths), and Pebble (copper, gold, molybdenum). The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is the primary state financing vehicle: - AIDEA can issue revenue bonds, provide direct loans, and take equity positions in resource projects - The Ambler Access Project (industrial road) received $34.6 million in AIDEA funding with federal matching from IIJA - Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative (ACMC): a state-federal partnership between AIDEA, USGS, and AIST to advance feasibility studies for Tier 1 critical mineral deposits DoD's $35.6 million equity investment in Trilogy Metals (Upper Kobuk Minerals Projects) is the largest federal critical minerals investment in Alaska to date. Contact: aidea.org.

International Partnerships: Canada-US and Australia-US Critical Minerals Agreements

The U.S. has signed bilateral critical minerals agreements with Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the EU, plus 11 additional MOUs signed under the Trump administration with Argentina, Ecuador, Morocco, and others. Two partnerships have direct funding implications for U.S. companies. **Canada-US Critical Minerals Action Plan (CMAP):** Signed in 2020 and updated in 2024, CMAP establishes a framework for joint investment in cross-border critical minerals supply chains. The practical implications for funding applicants: - Canadian companies can be cost-share partners on U.S. DOE grants and vice versa - The Joint Action Plan for Critical Minerals Collaboration allows NRCAN (Natural Resources Canada) and DOE to co-fund projects that benefit both countries' supply chains - The First Movers Coalition on Critical Minerals, launched at the 2025 G7, includes U.S. and Canadian offtake commitments for low-carbon critical minerals Canadian companies with U.S. processing operations are eligible for DOE grants and 48C tax credits. U.S. projects sourcing from Canadian mines can cite CMAP compliance in DOE loan applications as evidence of supply chain security. **Australia-US Critical Minerals Partnership:** The 2022 Critical Minerals Partnership Agreement with Australia was expanded in 2025 to include a Joint Investment Framework. Key provisions: - Australian companies can participate as subrecipients on DOE OCED grants (but not as prime recipients) - The U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Partnership Fund, administered jointly by DFC and Australia's Export Finance Australia (EFA), provides up to $500 million in blended finance for projects involving both countries - Australia has committed to a Fast-Track pathway for U.S.-backed companies seeking exploration licenses in Western Australia and Queensland Australia's Lynas Rare Earths (already receiving DoD funding), Vulcan Energy Resources (lithium from geothermal brines, with a U.S. JV), and Iluka Resources (rare earths, with a DoD engagement) are the primary Australian companies active in the U.S. funding space. **The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP):** Launched in 2022 and now including 14 member countries, the MSP coordinates government financial support (loans, guarantees, grants) for critical minerals projects. The MSP Finance Network links DFC, EXIM, USTDA, and their counterparts in partner countries. For applicants, the practical value is that an MSP-backed project can access stacked financing from multiple national governments. Contact: State Department Bureau of Energy Resources at [email protected].

The Critical Minerals Institute and Private Sector Programs

Not all critical minerals funding comes from government. Several private sector programs offer grants, co-investment, and technical support that can bridge the gap between government funding rounds. **Critical Minerals Institute (CMI):** A membership-based research consortium connecting mining companies, technology firms, national laboratories (Ames National Laboratory is the lead), and universities. Industry members ($50,000 per year) receive access to processing R&D, deposit modeling tools, and PhD student networks. The CMI hosts the annual Critical Materials Summit, where DOE program managers present upcoming FOAs. Contact: criticalmaterialsinstitute.org. **Breakthrough Energy Fellows — Critical Minerals Track:** Breakthrough Energy Ventures, backed by Bill Gates and others, added a critical minerals track in 2024. The Fellows program provides up to $1 million in non-dilutive grants plus lab access and mentorship to founders developing new critical minerals processing, recycling, or substitution technologies. Applications open annually in Q1. Eligible: early-stage companies within three years of founding. Contact: breakthroughenergy.org/our-work/fellows. **Congruent Ventures and Prelude Ventures:** Both funds have active critical minerals theses (lithium extraction, rare earth recycling, magnet substitution) and will co-invest alongside federal grants. A DOE award or conditional commitment significantly de-risks investment and shortens due diligence timelines for these funds. **The IQ Carbon and Metals Initiative (ICMI):** A $200 million fund announced in early 2026 by a consortium of institutional investors targeting carbon-footprint-certified critical minerals. ICMI pays a premium over spot for certified low-carbon lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, creating a revenue guarantee that complements DOE and DPA grants. Certifications accepted: ResponsibleMinerals Initiative, Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, and a new ICMI standard expected to publish Q2 2026.

How to Stack Federal Programs: A Practical Guide

The most successful critical minerals projects combine multiple programs. Federal rules on cost sharing, grant stacking, and loan interaction are complex but navigable. **Legal stacking combinations:** - DOE OCED grant (up to 80 percent of project cost) + DOE LPO loan for the remaining capital - DPA Title III equity or loan + 45X production tax credit - Section 48C manufacturing credit + DOE OCED construction grant (the credit is taken on the equity investment; the grant covers different costs) - Earth MRI subsurface data (free public data) reduces exploration risk, which reduces the risk premium on DOE loans - State incentives (Nevada tax abatements, Alaska AIDEA loans) are generally compatible with all federal programs **What cannot be stacked:** - Two DOE grants on the same scope of work - 48C credit and DOE grant on exactly the same capital expenditure line items (overlapping cost basis is disallowed) - Direct EXIM loans and DOE LPO loans on the same project (overlap in federal credit support) **Recommended application sequence for a mining/processing startup:** 1. Apply for NSF or DOE FOA early-stage R&D grants to validate technology ($500,000–$5 million) 2. Use ARPA-E concept paper process (4 weeks to decision) for faster early capital 3. Commission Earth MRI geologic data review with state geological survey 4. Approach DOE LPO for conditional commitment once feasibility is demonstrated 5. File for 48C credit in next available round for facility construction 6. Lock in 45X credit claims in year one of commercial production 7. Contact DPA INDPOL with defense-relevant minerals profile **The critical window in 2026:** The two largest pending DOE FOAs — the $500 million Battery Materials Processing FOA and the $50 million Critical Minerals Accelerator — are expected to publish in 2026. Response windows may be as short as 30 days. Teams that are pre-assembled, cost-share committed, and have existing DOE relationships will have a decisive advantage. Start working the OCED program managers now. Search Funding Landscape to track new FOA postings automatically.