KC Workforce News: Investment to strengthen America’s supply chains and advanced manufacturing

UMKC recently announced a major award from the National Science Foundation, that will result in innovation and investment in the region.

FEC's President and CEO Clyde McQueen says of the effort, “This project holds great promise for the region’s workforce, and will create pathways for thousands of in-demand, quality careers in sectors that play to the Kansas City region’s economic strengths. Through training and support systems that match the needs of employers and job seekers concurrently, the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine will ensure that opportunity is accessible to the workforce and employers in Greater Kansas City region.”

Read more and go in-depth with the University of Missouri-Kansas City's official announcement:

UMKC-Led Critical Materials Crossroads Engine Selected for $160 Million NSF Award

July 14, 2026 - Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) selected the University of Missouri-Kansas City-led NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine in the Kansas City region to receive up to $160 million in funding, potentially the largest award in Missouri higher education history and one of the nation’s most significant investments in rebuilding America’s domestic critical materials ecosystem.

The award positions the Greater Kansas City region and the broader Missouri-Kansas corridor as a national hub for critical materials innovation, commercialization and workforce development. The initiative is expected to create approximately 10,000 jobs by 2036 across manufacturing, research and development, logistics, engineering, construction and workforce training, according to Missouri Extension. The effort could generate up to $40 billion in economic output and increase the combined Missouri-Kansas GDP by $17 billion over the 10-year period.

The NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine, initiated by the University of Missouri System in 2022, is driven by a coalition of more than 260 partners spanning higher education, industry, entrepreneurship, government and community and workforce development organizations in Missouri and Kansas. The ultimate goal: to help secure the United States’ economic and national security future by reducing dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains for critical materials.

The NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine (Critical Materials Crossroads) will develop the regional ecosystem necessary for increasing production of the metals and advanced materials that manufacturers use in batteries, aircraft engine parts, semiconductors, medical devices and more. The starting materials include concentrated ore and spent materials, recovered domestically and internationally. This effort, led by UMKC, will establish the region as a national hub for critical materials innovation, commercialization and workforce development.

“Critical Materials Crossroads represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen America's economic and national security while positioning the Kansas City region as a global leader in critical materials research and innovation,” UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “This initiative reflects what is possible when a region unites around a bold vision with national impact.”

University of Missouri President Mun Choi added: “This consortium exemplifies the power of the University of Missouri System's four research universities working together to address one of our nation's most pressing strategic challenges. Thanks to the leadership of UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal and Dr. Anthony Caruso and their strong partnerships across industry and government, we are creating a collaborative enterprise that makes a transformative impact for our state and country.”

The University of Missouri System's leadership in critical materials extends beyond the UMKC-led NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine. Collaborator Missouri S&T is internationally recognized for its critical materials research and is also a recipient of a federal Tech Hub award, further strengthening Missouri's role in advancing domestic supply chains and advanced manufacturing.

Anthony Caruso, UMKC vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and founder of Critical Materials Crossroads and UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal.

“This initiative demonstrates what can happen when higher education, industry and government unite behind a shared purpose,” said Todd Graves, chair of the UM Board of Curators. “This significant investment positions Missouri to lead in an area that is vital to our nation's future while creating lasting opportunities for our universities, citizens and economy.”

The Critical Materials Crossroads has garnered bi-state and bipartisan support from top federal and state leaders because of what it means for the United States. Currently, the nation imports most of the critical materials essential to modern life, with China dominating large portions of the global supply chain. Congressional leaders supporting the initiative warned that America’s dependence on foreign adversaries for these materials represent “an active and growing vulnerability to U.S. national security and economic independence.”

The Kansas City region offers strategic advantages unmatched in the United States, including a central geographic location, one of the nation’s most robust rail and river transportation networks, deep manufacturing roots and growing expertise in advanced materials research and engineering.

The Kansas City region’s economic development arms strongly support Critical Materials Crossroads including the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, EnterpriseKC, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Area Development Council and Midwest Area Regional Council.

Anthony Caruso, UMKC vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and founder of Critical Materials Crossroads, said the effort represents years of collaboration focused on solving one of the nation’s most pressing economic and security challenges. Caruso is the principal investigator leading the initiative in partnership with fellow Carnegie R1 research institutions including University of Missouri, Missouri S&T, University of Kansas and Kansas State University.

“For decades, the United States has steadily lost much of the workforce, infrastructure and manufacturing capacity required for critical materials production,” Caruso said. “This investment allows us to rebuild that capability here in America — creating jobs, strengthening our national resilience and ensuring the technologies that power our future can be produced domestically. We are deeply grateful to the National Science Foundation and to the hundreds of partners across Missouri, Kansas and the nation who united behind this vision and are now dedicated to action.”

The NSF announced the newest NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) awards to 12 U.S. teams across 20 states. These NSF Engines will build and scale innovation clusters that aim to accelerate the development of critical technologies, prepare talent for emerging jobs and grow regional economies. Building on decades of NSF investments in foundational research, the NSF Engines partner with the private sector to advance technology deployment and secure America's position at the forefront of science and technology.

“NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “This NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine will be a substantial resource in the Midwest to onshore and sustain production capacity for critical minerals used across the transportation, energy, communication and national security sectors.”

Critical Materials Crossroads and the other awardees will initially receive an award of $15 million over two years. If Critical Materials Crossroads demonstrates progress on well-defined milestones, it will have the potential to eventually receive up to $160 million from NSF over the next decade as it seeks to build an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster in the region. In 2025, NSF selected Critical Materials Crossroads as one of just 15 finalists out of 285 proposals nationwide.

Read what federal, state and city leaders, as well as civic and industry partners, say about the NSF’s selection of the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine: UMKC Website.