ABTC’s Tonopah satellite office, located on “Main Street” Tonopah, opened in the Spring of 2022 as a home to our Resource team, focused on the Tonopah Flats Lithium Exploration Project.
Nestled in the historic mining town, Tonopah is known for its stargazing, with some of the darkest night skies in the nation, as well as a rich history of mining, dating back to 1900. While gold, silver, copper, and lead were the primary historic metals mined, there is much excitement in the area regarding the discovery of lithium in the region.
In March 2023, ABTC team members met with community members and officials to discuss ABTC’s plans for involvement in the region and the surrounding community, and how we can best support community initiatives. As part of the discussions and community meetings, ABTC met with a member of Tonopah Main Street board, operates under Tonopah Development Corporation, which was established in 2001 and promotes economic growth and vitality. Tonopah Main Street, community-based and volunteer-driven, is working to establish strong public and private partnerships, grow its volunteer base, develop a long-term fundraising strategy, and organize/execute local events and projects.
As part of our U.S. Department of Energy-ABTC funded commercial-scale refinery lithium hydroxide project, we will implement a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, which includes the future potential development of community investment programs such as a microgrants program and a Community Advisory Board. Through community engagement efforts, ABTC plans to create opportunities for people to provide input and learn about ongoing progress of our resources and manufacturing facility.
ABTC Community Relations Liaison, local resident Shirley Perkins, Tonopah Main Street board member, said, “We’re proud to be an active part of this vibrant, promising community.” Perkins says that growth in the area is exponential, and the region is the right place for economic growth and future employment prospects. “As we move to commercialization, we hope we are able to provide stable jobs and further support of community organizations.”
