The Energy Department and Small Business Administration have established the “Small Business Investment-Company-Energy Initiative” to strengthen domestic supply chains, including through investments in critical minerals. The initiative, according to a joint statement , combines DOE’s “scientific and technical expertise with SBA’s proven Small Business Investment Company Program, which currently has $58 billion in combined portfolio value.” “By partnering with the Small Business Administration, the Energy Department is committing to invest its resources in American small businesses that will create jobs, strengthen our domestic manufacturing base, and unleash American energy production,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization will identify the initiative’s strategy priorities while SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation administers the initiative. It will have four initial investment priorities: critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and advanced materials; American energy production and energy security; artificial intelligence, quantum information science, semiconductors and future computing; and advanced communications, biotechnology and other critical and emerging technologies. According to the initiative’s website , SBIC-E funds “will commit to directing a significant portion of their investments toward DOE priority technology areas, helping expand access to private capital for companies developing technologies essential to America’s energy production, economic competitiveness, and national and economic security.” -- Brett Fortnam ( bfortnam@iwpnews.com )