Governor JB Pritzker announced on July 20 that Illinois has secured approximately $30 million in federal funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, a regional coalition led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange that aims to build a domestic quantum manufacturing supply chain.
The EDA award is the latest major federal investment in Illinois’s quantum computing sector and reflects the state’s strategic position as a leader in the emerging technology. The grant will fund multiple interconnected projects across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana to transition Midwest quantum companies to scaled manufacturing and strengthen the domestic supply chain for quantum components and materials.
The $30 million EDA grant unlocks an additional $25 million in matching funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the University of Chicago, Infleqtion, IonQ, IBM, and other private sector partners, bringing the total investment to nearly $55 million. According to the Chicago Quantum Exchange, this combined funding positions the Midwest region to lead the nation in quantum manufacturing and addresses a critical gap in U.S. quantum technology development.
David Awschalom, director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange and principal investigator of The Bloch, stated that the project will “drive US quantum leadership, strengthen national security, and create jobs by eliminating barriers to domestic quantum manufacturing, a challenge that the Midwest is uniquely equipped to address.” Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana rank among the top 10 manufacturing states nationally and possess a diverse industrial base and skilled workforce that can support quantum technology production.
A key component of the grant is funding for the FaQtory, a new supplier building at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park that will co-locate quantum components manufacturers with anchor customers and research institutions. This facility will provide dedicated manufacturing space and accelerate innovation cycles by embedding suppliers directly into the quantum ecosystem. The state of Illinois is contributing approximately $11 million toward the FaQtory’s construction, with the EDA and state funds leveraging previously committed investments in the microelectronics park.
The Bloch was formally designated as a U.S. Tech Hub by the Biden-Harris administration in October 2023, placing it among 31 regions selected nationwide to compete for implementation funding. This July 2026 award represents the first major EDA implementation grant to the Bloch and reflects the hub’s readiness to execute its manufacturing transition strategy. The announcement also aligns with broader federal priorities: in May 2026, the Commerce Department announced a landmark $2 billion federal investment in nine quantum companies, including $1 billion to IBM to establish America’s first purpose-built quantum foundry for advanced superconducting quantum wafers.
According to the Chicago Quantum Exchange, many of the materials, components, and subsystems used in quantum technologies are currently imported from other countries, creating security risks, slowing innovation, and raising production costs. The Bloch’s work is expected to identify and integrate more than 60 regional manufacturers already positioned to enter the quantum supply chain, with projections suggesting hundreds more can be mapped and developed. The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center will lead efforts to provide existing manufacturers with tools, expertise, and customer relationships needed to scale production.
Governor Pritzker has prioritized quantum investment throughout his administration. In February 2024, he proposed $500 million in state capital investments for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, the first-of-its-kind campus dedicated to quantum technology and microelectronics innovation. That commitment, combined with a previous $200 million state investment in the Chicago Quantum Exchange, reflects Illinois’s long-term strategy to establish itself as the global center of quantum technology development and manufacturing.
Sources
- State of Illinois — official announcement of the $30 million EDA grant for The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub and details on state matching funds and the FaQtory construction project
- Chicago Quantum Exchange — reporting on the $55 million total funding package, the composition of matching funds, and the Bloch’s manufacturing transition strategy and supply chain goals
- U.S. Economic Development Administration — confirmation of the $30 million award and broader context on EDA Tech Hubs program and July 2026 funding round
- University of Chicago News — coverage of the announcement and context on prior federal quantum investments, including the May 2026 Commerce Department $2 billion quantum initiative
