DURANGO, CO– Fort Lewis College will play a leading role in the workforce development programming for Elevate Quantum Tech Hub, which secured $127 million in federal and state funding to develop workforce and technologies for the rapidly growing quantum industry in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Elevate Quantum is one of 12 tech hubs nationwide selected by the Federal Government to accelerate advanced technology commercialization and grow the economies in communities across the country. The goal is to advance the U.S.’s global leadership in critical technologies and strengthen our national and economic security.
“Elevate Quantum has the real potential to propel Fort Lewis College and our surrounding community into being a meaningful contributor in the quantum field,” said Jeff Jessing, Ph.D., associate professor of Physics and Engineering at FLC. “I am excited to integrate Quantum Delivered initiatives into our existing outreach, educational, and research goals. There will be a strong synergy with FLC’s existing Nanofabrication Laboratory projects, and this is a huge opportunity to attract more regional high school students to FLC’s high-caliber engineering program.”
This partnership, part of a $40.5 million award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), marks a significant milestone for both the college and Southwest Colorado. The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub, designated by the EDA, has unlocked an additional $84 million in state support and up to $1 billion in private capital.
This substantial investment is set to solidify the Mountain West’s position as the epicenter of quantum technology. It will build upon the region’s leadership in quantum information technology to enable progress in areas such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and healthcare.
Elevate Quantum is a consortium of 120 organizations, including 13 colleges and universities, research institutions, industry firms, and economic development organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Its goal is to ensure that the region remains at the center of the development of quantum technology and helps turn cutting-edge research into world-changing companies.
Workforce Development
FLC’s involvement in this initiative centers around the Quantum Delivered program that will bring quantum technology directly to rural communities, and support educators with tailored curricula and lab manuals.
The Quantum Delivered program—a larger Quantum Learning Lab component—will also house quantum technology equipment and related experiments.
Researchers plan to purchase and outfit a mobile technology lab, allowing rural Colorado and New Mexico communities to get hands-on experience with these advanced technologies, such as quantum interference, a critical aspect of how quantum computers are fabricated and tested.
The program will allow the development of digital courses to accelerate the training of the quantum workforce and bring students from rural communities to the college’s campus, where they will have access to the college’s Nanofabrication labs and faculty.
These resources will be made available to partner institutions, particularly those in more isolated regions, for temporary classroom use.
“Given our reputable faculty leaders and student-centered undergraduate research opportunities, Fort Lewis College is well positioned to sit at the forefront of quantum technology in the Mountain West,” said FLC’s Chief Strategy Officer Alana Romans. “As the bridge between Colorado and New Mexico, FLC is excited to bring quantum education to rural communities and expand access to innovative technologies of the future.”
The impact of this partnership extends far beyond the college campus. By 2030, Elevate Quantum aims to create more than 10,000 new jobs, raise $2 billion in capital for the ecosystem, and generate nearly $20 million in income to build a self-sustaining engine of the quantum economy. This economic boost is expected to impact Southwest Colorado and the broader Mountain West region significantly.
FLC’s involvement in the project builds upon exciting work already underway at the college, including its Nanofabrication Laboratory projects and robust engineering program. This new initiative is poised to enhance these existing efforts and attract more students to the field of quantum technology.
As quantum computing continues to emerge as a transformative technology, Fort Lewis College’s role in the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub ensures that rural communities in the Mountain West will not be left behind. This partnership represents a significant step forward in democratizing access to cutting-edge technology education and positioning Southwest Colorado at the forefront of the quantum industry.
For more information about the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub and the Quantum Delivered program, visit https://www.elevatequantum.org/.