U.S National Science Foundation Selects Critical Materials Crossroads Engine for up to $160 Million; ReElement Technologies Named Industry Partner

Rhea-AI Summary

American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC), through its minority holding in ReElement Technologies, reported that the U.S. National Science Foundation has selected the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium, led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, as a Regional Innovation Engine, making it eligible for up to $160 million in funding over ten years.

ReElement has been named an industry partner and will provide refining and separation expertise, commercial-scale capabilities and industry relationships to support research, workforce development and commercialization for domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains. According to the consortium, the initiative targets $40 billion in total impact, $17 billion in annual state GDP growth, 10,000 jobs and over $2 billion in public-private investment within 10 years. The selection follows ReElement’s prior $25 million Industrial Base Fund investment from the U.S. Department of War and American Resources’ selection for U.S. Department of Energy award negotiations related to critical mineral recovery.

Positive

• NSF Engine designation makes consortium eligible for up to $160 million over 10 years
• ReElement named industry partner, contributing proprietary refining and separation expertise
• Consortium 10-year goals include $40 billion total impact and 10,000 jobs
• ReElement previously received $25 million Industrial Base Fund investment from U.S. Department of War
• American Resources selected for U.S. Department of Energy award negotiations on critical mineral recovery

Negative

• None.

Argus Jul 15 session 29 alerts

-1.62% close to close 1.3x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – AREC

+4.4% Peak Tracked

-19.5% Trough Tracked

$197.90M Market Cap

In the Jul 15 session, AREC declined 1.62%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.4% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -19.5% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 29 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

Against that backdrop, this NSF-related consortium role highlights strategic optionality, but invest...

Analysis

Against that backdrop, this NSF-related consortium role highlights strategic optionality, but investors may still watch execution and the company’s recent filing timeliness as key risks.

Key Figures

NSF funding eligibility: up to $160 million Projected total impact: $40 billion Projected GDP increase: $17 billion annually +5 more

NSF funding eligibility

up to $160 million

Critical Materials Crossroads Regional Innovation Engine over ten years

Projected total impact

$40 billion

CMC projection within 10 years of operation

Projected GDP increase

$17 billion annually

CMC impact on state gross domestic product

Job creation

10,000 jobs

CMC projection (3,500 direct, 6,500 indirect) within 10 years

Direct jobs

3,500 jobs

CMC projected direct employment within 10 years

Indirect jobs

6,500 jobs

CMC projected indirect employment within 10 years

Public-private investment

more than $2 billion

CMC projected public-private investment within 10 years

Industrial Base Fund investment

$25 million

ReElement funding from U.S. Department of War

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 14

5 events

1. Jul 14

   Defense funding award

   24h Move

   +8.1%

   ReElement received a $25 million Industrial Base Fund investment for refining expansion.

2. Jul 09

   DOE award talks

   24h Move

   -0.6%

   Selected by U.S. Department of Energy for award negotiations on coal-based critical minerals.

3. Jul 06

   Conference attendance

   24h Move

   -1.5%

   Announced participation in NAATBatt recycling workshop and panel on innovative recycling.

4. Jun 26

   Index inclusion

   24h Move

   +11.8%

   Set to join the Russell 3000 and Russell Microcap equity indexes after reconstitution.

5. Jun 25

   Industry recognition

   24h Move

   -5.6%

   ReElement joined Global Trusted Tech Network and received a 2025 Trusted Tech award.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

rare earth element, critical mineral, regional innovation engines, gross domestic product

4 terms

rare earth element technical

"a leading U.S. innovator in rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining"

A rare earth element is one of a set of 17 metallic chemical elements used as essential ingredients in many high-tech products, from smartphones and electric motors to wind turbines and defense systems. Investors care because these metals are critical inputs whose limited, geographically concentrated supply and complex extraction processes can drive price swings and create strategic risks or advantages for companies that mine them or depend on them—like a key spice that can make or break a recipe.

critical mineral technical

"rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining"

A critical mineral is a naturally occurring element or metal that is essential for modern technologies—like batteries, electronics, clean energy systems and defense—and whose supply is vulnerable to disruption. Investors care because these minerals act like key building blocks: shortages, geopolitical controls, or production bottlenecks can sharply raise costs, stall product rollouts, change profit forecasts, and prompt government policy or subsidies that affect company valuations.

regional innovation engines regulatory

"selected the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium as one of its Regional Innovation Engines"

Clusters of local assets—like universities, startups, investors, skilled workers, and supportive infrastructure—that work together to create and scale new technologies, businesses, and industries in a particular region. Think of them as economic engines or ecosystems that convert local talent and research into commercial activity; they matter to investors because they concentrate innovation, funding flows, and growth potential in a defined area, which can influence regional market opportunities, valuations, and long-term economic resilience.

gross domestic product financial

"increase the state's gross domestic product by $17 billion annually"

Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country over a set period, usually a quarter or a year. Investors use GDP as a broad gauge of economic health—like a country’s yearly paycheque or scorecard—because faster growth usually supports higher corporate profits, stronger stock markets and rising demand for credit, while slowing or contracting GDP can signal weaker earnings, tighter lending and increased market risk.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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ReElement Technologies serves as an industry partner in the Critical Minerals Crossroads consortium, led by University of Missouri-Kansas City

FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / July 15, 2026 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) ("American Resources") through its minority holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation ("ReElement"), a leading U.S. innovator in rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining, today announced that the National Science Foundation has selected the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium as one of its Regional Innovation Engines, making the consortium eligible for up to $160 million in funding over ten years. The consortium is led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City ("UMKC") and includes ReElement Technologies among its industry collaborators.

ReElement will contribute its proprietary refining and separation expertise, commercial-scale production capabilities and industry relationships to support research, workforce development and commercialization initiatives focused on strengthening domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains.

"The Critical Materials Crossroads initiative brings together the research, industrial, commercial and government partners needed to strengthen America's domestic critical mineral supply chain," said Kirk Taylor, Chief Financial Officer of ReElement Technologies. "As demonstrated through our collaborations with the Department of Energy, Department of War and numerous commercial partners, meaningful progress requires coordinated public-private investment. We are excited to contribute our refining expertise to help accelerate commercialization and domestic production."

Participation in the Critical Materials Crossroads Regional Innovation Engine further expands ReElement's collaboration with leading universities, federal agencies and commercial partners as the Company continues to advance its refining-first, demand-aligned platform for domestic rare earth and critical mineral production.

According to the consortium, within 10 years of operation, the CMC aims to deliver $40 billion in total impact, increase the state's gross domestic product by $17 billion annually, create 10,000 jobs (3,500 direct, 6,500 indirect) and attract more than $2 billion in public-private investment. CMC is building the blueprint to regain national independence over critical mineral supply chains.

This selection follows a series of recent milestones for ReElement and American Resources, including ReElement's $25 million Industrial Base Fund investment from the U.S. Department of War and American Resources' recent selection by the U.S. Department of Energy for award negotiations supporting domestic critical mineral recovery. Together, these initiatives continue to expand the Company's role across the domestic critical mineral ecosystem - from research and commercialization to production and deployment.

About Critical Mineral Crossroads
Critical Materials Crossroads is a regional innovation consortium led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partnership with universities, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations across Kansas and Missouri. The consortium is focused on creating a vertically integrated critical materials ecosystem-spanning research, processing, refining, applied technology development, and workforce training. As one of 15 finalists for the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines competition, Critical Materials Crossroads aims to boost domestic capacity, economic growth, and national security by helping the U.S. onshore critical mineral and rare earth value chains.

About NSF Regional Innovation Engines
Launched by NSF TIP, the NSF Engines program is building and scaling regional innovation ecosystems nationwide. Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology R&D that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.  

About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a portfolio holding of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), is a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements. Its multi-mineral, multi-feedstock platform technology focuses on the refining of recycled material from rare earth permanent magnets and lithium-ion batteries, concentrated ores and brines, as well as coal-based waste streams and byproducts to create a cost effective and environmentally-safe, circular supply chain. ReElement has developed its innovative and scalable "Powered by ReElement" process which collaboratively utilizes its exclusively licensed intellectual property within its partners' material processing flow sheets to more efficiently support the global supply chain's growing demand for magnet and battery-grade products. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC)
American Resources Corporation is a leader in the critical mineral supply chain, developing innovative solutions both upstream and downstream of the refining process. The company and its affiliates focus on the extraction and processing of metallurgical carbon and iron ore, essential ingredients in steelmaking, as well as critical and rare earth minerals for the electrification market and recycled metals.

Leveraging its affiliation and former parent status of ReElement Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements, American Resources is investing in and developing efficient upstream and downstream critical mineral operations. These operations include mining interests in conventional and unconventional sources, recycling, and manufacturing.

American Resources has established a nimble, low-cost business model centered on growth, which provides a significant opportunity to scale its portfolio of assets to meet the growing global infrastructure and electrification markets while also continuing to acquire operations and significantly reduce their legacy industry risks. Its streamlined and efficient operations are able to maximize margins while reducing costs. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation's control. The words "believes", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "seeks", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intends", "estimates", or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.

Company Contact:
Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com

SOURCE: American Resources Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did the NSF award involving Critical Materials Crossroads mean for American Resources (NASDAQ:AREC) in July 2026?

The NSF selected the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium as a Regional Innovation Engine, making it eligible for up to $160 million over ten years. According to American Resources, its minority holding ReElement participates as an industry partner, contributing refining expertise to the critical mineral supply-chain initiative.

How is ReElement Technologies involved in the Critical Materials Crossroads NSF Engine selected in 2026?

ReElement was named an industry partner in the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium, led by UMKC. According to ReElement, it will provide proprietary refining and separation technology, commercial-scale production capabilities and industry relationships to support research, workforce training and commercialization of domestic critical mineral supply chains.

How much funding is the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine eligible for and over what period?

The Critical Materials Crossroads consortium is eligible for up to $160 million in NSF funding over ten years as a Regional Innovation Engine. According to the consortium, this support is intended to build a vertically integrated critical materials ecosystem across Kansas and Missouri.

What economic impact targets has the Critical Materials Crossroads consortium set by 2036?

The consortium aims for $40 billion total impact within 10 years of operation, plus a $17 billion annual increase in state GDP. According to the consortium, it also targets 10,000 jobs and over $2 billion in public-private investment.

How does the NSF Engine selection relate to American Resources’ broader critical minerals strategy (AREC)?

American Resources highlights the NSF Engine selection as complementing ReElement’s refining-first platform and other federal collaborations. According to American Resources, this follows ReElement’s $25 million Industrial Base Fund award and the company’s own DOE award negotiations for domestic critical mineral recovery.

What is the relationship between American Resources (AREC) and ReElement Technologies mentioned in the NSF Engine news?

ReElement Technologies is a portfolio holding and minority-owned company of American Resources. According to American Resources, ReElement provides high-performance refining capacity for rare earth and critical battery elements, supporting the parent’s upstream and downstream critical minerals operations and electrification-focused strategy.