Startup Junkie, a globally recognized entrepreneurial support organization based in Arkansas, has been chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to lead the Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster (LRIC). The LRIC, part of the SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters, aims to bolster national security through a sustainable lithium supply chain, focusing on the Smackover Formation, one of the largest lithium deposits worldwide.
Covering Southern Arkansas, Northeast Texas, Northern Louisiana and Western Mississippi, the LRIC will foster lithium value chain innovation through partnerships, training and access to capital. By collaborating with small businesses, research institutions, scientists and scalable ventures, the initiative aims to drive technological advancement within the lithium industry, empowering rural communities and promoting economic growth.
Jeff Amerine, founder and managing director of Startup Junkie, expressed the organization’s commitment to advancing energy innovation and supporting small business growth through this public-private initiative.
For more on Startup Junkie and LRIC, visit lithiumric.org.
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