ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unused or underused manufacturing facilities located in economically-distressed areas can be revitalized to be prime locations for efficient energy manufacturing, breathing new life into under-resourced communities. Determining the viability of industrial properties, however, is often a significant challenge. To help improve facility evaluations, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), an energy technology program funded by Wells Fargo & Company and coadministered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), has named NextCorps as a winner of the 2026 Channel Partner Strategic Award. NextCorps will use the award funding to identify the existing barriers and resources for conducting site evaluations and recommending facility and utility upgrades. In doing so, the project will directly address IN2’s goals of bridging the gaps that impact the ability to pilot and commercialize new energy technologies.
Now in its tenth cycle, the Strategic Awards program strengthens NLR’s Channel Partner network, which NextCorps has been a part of for two years. This year, IN2 awarded $1 million across five partners to advance technologies that improve energy reliability and sector preparedness. Since 2017, IN2 has distributed more than $10 million through 93 Strategic Awards to strengthen the national energy innovation ecosystem.
The selection committee evaluated applications based on their potential impact within two primary themes: Startup Tools for Adaptation and Pilot Partner Tools for Adoption. Selection criteria prioritized proposals that strengthen startups’ commercial readiness or expand local adoption pathways.
“This year’s awardees are moving beyond theory to solve real gaps in commercialization,” said Sarah Derdowski, IN2 program manager at NLR. “Their initiatives will build the necessary capacity for startups to navigate market complexities while providing the tools municipalities and utilities need to adopt and scale new energy technology.”
NextCorps will partner with the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University (Centrepolis) to conduct research to identify the following:
- Recently completed, current, and possible future industrial development locations
- Barriers and resources for site evaluations and upgrades
- Existing tools and processes that are commonly used
- Tools that might be missing or could be improved for usefulness and wider adoption.
Once the analysis is completed, NextCorps and Centrepolis aim to launch an online platform to catalogue resources and offer case studies to improve tool adoption, usage, and site evaluation practices.
The project will be part of NextCorps’ community-wide initiative to bring together partners that are working to bolster the infrastructure, resources, and workforce for energy manufacturing, and promote growth within energy sectors.
“We’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for startups, project managers, engineers, and designers to assess facility needs for manufacturing energy technologies. By fully understanding what is most useful, and extending access to those tools and knowledge, we can eliminate or significantly reduce the barriers that exist today for testing, adopting, and commercializing more efficient solutions,” said Mike Marvin, program manager at NextCorps.
About NextCorps
NextCorps is a non-profit helping innovative technology companies launch and grow. It supports tech startups and existing manufacturers in building their businesses through a variety of internationally and nationally recognized programs. In addition to its sector-specific startup accelerator programs in optics/photonics/imaging, and B2B SaaS, NextCorps also operates a state-of-the-art tech incubator in Rochester, NY, as well as the region’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center. NextCorps is an affiliate of the University of Rochester. Visit www.NextCorps.org to learn more.
About the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University
The Centrepolis Accelerator is a leading product development and business accelerator based in Southfield, Mich., dedicated to helping hardware and advanced manufacturing companies bring innovative products to market. Through expert-in-residence support, prototyping resources, and strategic partnerships, Centrepolis connects entrepreneurs and established firms with the tools and talent needed to develop, manufacture, and scale products in Michigan.
About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2)
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) is a $56 million dollar program funded by Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation and coadministered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies. IN2 advances and de-risks energy solutions from concept to commercialization. Bridging the gap between high-potential startups and market adopters, IN2 fosters collaboration across a growing ecosystem—convening entrepreneurs, industry partners, and research experts. Through this networked approach, IN2 accelerates real-world implementation and scaling of impactful technologies in the built environment and infrastructure sectors, driving a more resilient, adaptable future. For more information, visit www.in2ecosystem.com.
Media Contact: Holly Barrett, Chief Marketing Officer, NextCorps Holly.barrett@nextcorps.org
