What happens when three states, more than 112+ cross-sector partners, and a shared vision for advanced vehicle manufacturing unite? You get MAGNET, the Mississippi-Alabama-Georgia Network for Evolving Transportation.
Your TL;DR – E.B. Howard Consulting is proud to be at the table as MAGNET‘s external independent evaluation firm. MAGNET is a bold NSF Engines finalist that’s shaping the future of We are proud to be at the table as MAGNET’s external independent evaluation firm. MAGNET is a bold NSF Engines finalist that’s shaping the future of advanced vehicle technology transition, stimulating a regional innovation ecosystem that triggers investment in domestic advanced vehicle manufacturing. Download their just-released one-pager to highlight the vision, momentum, and projected impact of this initiative. 👉 Download the MAGNET One-Pager
MAGNET is a powerhouse collaboration led by The University of Alabama, in partnership with Mississippi State University, the University of Georgia, Southern Company, and a coalition of over 112 partners (and counting). Together, they aim to build a tri-state innovation hub capable of transforming the region into the nation’s leader in advanced mobility, infrastructure, and supply chain resiliency.
As one of only 29 finalists selected for the $160 million NSF Engines Type-2 award, MAGNET is on the verge of a generational investment that could catalyze more than $4 billion in economic development and create up to 122,000 jobs across Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
MAGNET is a tri-state research and innovation hub established by The University of Alabama, Mississippi State University, and the University of Georgia, along with multi-state public utility, Southern Company. It consists of a rapidly growing list of 112 partners from industry, academia, and government, all of which are committed to supporting MAGNETthrough cross-sector collaboration. MAGNET’s Region of Service includes the northern portions of three states and is located in the Battery Belt, as defined by a recent influx of battery production facilities.
https://magnet.ua.edu/
Our approach to evaluation supports bold initiatives like MAGNET by making sure outcomes are clear, measurable, and aligned with federal goals. We specialize in telling the story behind the data, demonstrating real-world impact for federal agencies, stakeholders, and communities alike.
This is why we’re excited to be supporting MAGNET’s NSF Engines proposal. Our evaluation expertise ensures their goals, (e.g., increased advanced automotive manufacturing adoption to regional workforce transformation) can be tracked, tested, and trusted.
We’re also proud to share their newly released one-pager, which outlines:
- The initiative’s tri-state strategy and leadership
- Projected economic impact and ROI
- Key assets like EVOLVE (an advanced adoption and workforce tool)
- The potential for the Southeast to become America’s “Battery Belt”
Without strategic federal investment and robust evaluation, initiatives like MAGNET risk losing traction or failing to capture their full potential. Communities in rural and underleveraged areas may miss out on transformative workforce opportunities, and the Southeast could lose its competitive edge in the advanced mobility race.
The NSF Engines award can bring MAGNET‘s vision to scale. Evaluation, our specialty, is critical to ensuring that scale is sustainable, inclusive, and well-documented.
Being at the table means more than watching it happen. It means measuring what matters, so this moment becomes a movement.
Want to explore how evaluation can elevate your large-scale innovation efforts? Our team is ready to help. We bring over a decade of experience in evaluating federally funded innovation programs. From NSF to NIH, from accelerators to regional economic development hubs, our team helps partners demonstrate impact and secure follow-on funding.
Let’s build the future of mobility—together.
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