Young, Coons Introduce Bill to Support Startups and Strengthen Regional Innovation

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the Build to Scale Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Build to Scale program through fiscal year 2030.

Build to Scale is a competitive grant program that helps strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by supporting entrepreneurs, technology startups, and organizations that connect startups with the capital, infrastructure, and expertise needed to grow. Since 2014, the program has awarded more than $272 million to 426 projects across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, helping support more than 58,600 jobs and 6,200 startups.

"America's long-term economic strength depends on our ability to turn innovation into opportunity," said Senator Young. "The Build to Scale program helps entrepreneurs, universities, investors, and local organizations work together to develop new technologies, launch businesses, and create good-paying jobs. This legislation will ensure Hoosier innovators and communities across the country have the tools they need to compete in the industries of the future."

"Delaware is a state built on innovation. We know what it takes to turn a good idea into a thriving business: support, investment, and expertise," said Senator Coons. "This bipartisan bill brings those needed pieces to startups and entrepreneurs across the country, so Americans can continue to reach for their dreams, create jobs, and grow our economy."

"Indiana's future competitiveness depends on our ability to help innovators build companies here at home. The Northeast Indiana Innovation Community was proud to be a past recipient of the EDA's Build to Scale program, and we've seen firsthand how it strengthens the partnerships that move new technologies from idea to marketplace. Reauthorizing this bipartisan program will help ensure that communities across Indiana continue to create jobs, attract investment, and compete in an increasingly innovation-driven economy."

- Northeast Indiana Innovation Community

"WHIN's Innovation as a Service program, funded through this EDA grant, has completed 36 projects and has 9 more in progress across 22 Indiana organizations, spanning manufacturers, agricultural operations, and schools, creating or upskilling more than 50 jobs along the way. These sensors are solving real problems: preventing spoiled food during power outages, catching equipment issues before they cause costly downtime, and replacing expensive legacy monitoring systems with more affordable technology. Programs like Build to Scale are exactly what regional innovation networks like WHIN need to keep proving this model works for Hoosier communities and beyond."

- Wabash Heartland Innovation Network

The Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:

• Reauthorize the Build to Scale program through FY2030 at $50 million annually.
• Expand access to capital for entrepreneurs and technology startups seeking to commercialize new ideas and products.
• Increase outreach to rural, trade-impacted, and economically distressed communities to reduce barriers to participation.
• Authorize cost-share waivers for certain economically distressed communities to reduce barriers to participation.
• Strengthen coordination among the Economic Development Administration, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and related federal innovation initiatives.
• Require the Department of Commerce to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity within 90 days of enactment to help accelerate grant availability.

Text of the legislation can be found here.

The Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in May by Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) and Jim Baird (R-IN-4).

Since 2018, Indiana organizations have received more than $4 million in Build to Scale awards to strengthen the state's innovation economy. Recipients include Elevate Ventures, the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Purdue University Northwest, The Dimension Mill, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network.

The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of innovation, research, and economic development organizations, including: SSTI, the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), Cornell University, Georgetown University's Office of Technology Commercialization, the Center on Rural Innovation, US Ignite, Launch Tennessee, JumpStart Inc., Rev1 Ventures, Arch Grants, mHUB, BioSTL, the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the Washington Technology Industry Association, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.