Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Tours NioCorp’s Elk Creek Mine Built to Restore American Supply Chain Dominance

ELK CREEK, NE. - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chairman John Jovanovic visited NioCorp's Elk Creek mine as part of its Factory Floor Fridays initiative. Factory Floor Fridays tell the story of the American Dream through the eyes of the companies and workers building the next generation of American industry, proving with the right tools and support, U.S. innovation can compete and win anywhere in the world.

This October, Chairman Jovanovic joined Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Governor Jim Pillen, Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03), and senior NioCorp leadership for a tour of its Elk Creek mine site. The mine marks a crucial development in securing American supply chains and U.S. energy dominance. When successfully developed, the Elk Creek mine will contribute to domestic production of niobium, scandium, and other rare earth elements used in everyday devices like magnets and fuel cells. During the visit, Jovanovic signed a letter of support alongside Mark Smith, Executive Chairman, President, and CEO of NioCorp Developments, to recognize the significance and the Bank's continued support of the project.

"EXIM is proud to support projects like NioCorp's Elk Creek mine that will unlock domestic mineral resources, create well-paying jobs, and provide an important boost to reindustrializing America," said Chairman Jovanovic.

"Elk Creek is about more than a large critical minerals resource in America's heartland. It's about the Nebraskans and others who will build and operate this mine and processing facility and the American manufacturers who will finally have a reliable domestic source of niobium, scandium, heavy rare earths, and titanium. EXIM's support helps turn a strategic national priority into real American jobs, and we were proud to show Chairman Jovanovic and the EXIM team what this project can do for our nation," said Mark Smith, Executive Chairman, President, and CEO of NioCorp.

"American manufacturers are the backbone of our economic security," Jovanovic added. "Factory Floor Fridays give everyday Americans the opportunity to hear from businesses large and small-which account for nearly 90 percent of our transactions-and ensure they have the financing tools they need to compete, grow, and win in global markets."

When EXIM was founded 92 years ago, its mission was simple: support America's economic recovery from the Great Depression by creating well-paying jobs and rebuilding the nation's manufacturing base. Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is once again a frontline economic tool to revitalize America's economy and define a future led by U.S. innovation.

ABOUT EXIM:

As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.

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