Research Funding Creates Jobs Bolsters Local Economies, & Protects our Nation’s Competitiveness Edge
The Ames Regional Economic Alliance is pleased to announce the relaunch of the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition, which currently includes over 70 chambers of commerce and business organizations in over 30 states across the country – and continues to grow every day. The BFRF Coalition represents a united voice of the nation’s business community, advocating to maintain robust research funding levels in the federal budget across both the private and public economic sectors.
A nonpartisan coalition of business organizations from red, blue, and purple states, the BFRF Coalition will engage members of Congress and the Administration to explain how research funding strengthens our nation’s economy and competitiveness. Investments in research lead to major breakthroughs in innovation, new technologies, life-saving medical treatments, and millions of jobs. By continuing to invest in research and development funding, our country will continue to lead the world in science, job creation, medicine, and innovation.
- In 2024, National Institute of Health (NIH) spending extramurally in all 50 states and D.C. supported 407,782 jobs across the country.
- The Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, along with NIH, are the largest supporters of basic research in the United States.
- Over 30 federal agencies supported R&D in FY21.
- In April alone: Iowa State University was awarded more than $2 million from the USDA to carry out six research projects that will help prevent and combat animal disease outbreaks.
“The Alliance is proud to once again join the Business for Federal Research Coalition in our national public policy efforts. Our communities, businesses, and educational institutions receive funding for a variety of important research and development projects that help make our region the cutting edge of innovation in not just the nation but the world. We will continue to help our partners advocate for such support.” said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Alliance.
Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition Members
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Ames Regional Economic Alliance
Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber
Arlington Chamber
Bend Chamber of Commerce (OR)
Boulder Chamber
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Capital Region Chamber of Commerce
Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
ChamberRVA
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
Charles River Regional Chamber
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Cobb Chamber
Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Commerce Lexington, Inc.
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Glendale Chamber
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
Greater Iowa City, Inc.
Greater Kansas City Chamber
Greater Louisville, Inc.
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
Greater Miami Chamber
Greater Oklahoma City
Greater Omaha Chamber
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Greater Rochester Chamber (NY)
Greater Spokane, INC.
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Greater Topeka Partnership
Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Indy Chamber
Lake Champlain Chamber
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (CA).
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Metro Hartford Alliance
Morrisville Chamber of Commerce
New England Council
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Virginia Chamber
One Acadiana
One SouthCoast Chamber
Orlando Economic Partnership
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Portland Metro Chamber (OR)
Quad Cities Chamber
Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce (MN)
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia Chamber
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
About the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition
The Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition advocates for maintaining and increasing research funding in the federal budget and beyond. Founded in 2017 and relaunched in 2025, the BFRF Coalition includes Chambers of Commerce and business organizations from at least 30 states who collectively advocate to protect local and national economies as well as the nation’s global competitiveness with federal research funding. Learn more at researchfunding.org.
