Washington, DC – Building off a decade-plus of helping the most cutting-edge and ambitious companies succeed by solving major regulatory and public affairs challenges, Tusk Strategies today announced the launch of a new practice area focused on helping companies and states navigate and leverage funding mechanisms created through the CHIPS and Science Act.

The practice group will be led by Managing Director Bernadette Carrillo, who joined the firm earlier this year after most recently serving as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to Secretary Raimondo in the U.S. Department of Commerce. In that role, Carrillo helped build the CHIPS program by advancing legislation on the Hill and through engagement with governors and with respect to how state and local incentives would factor into CHIPS implementation and funding applications.

Prior to her service in that role, Carrillo served as Director of Strategic Partnerships to Assistant Secretary of Economic Development Alejandra Castillo at the Economic Development Administration, a U.S. Department of Commerce bureau. Previously, Carrillo was Senior Associate Director in the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House, Agency Outreach and Appointments Lead for the Biden-Harris Transition Team, and as Senior Government Affairs Manager at PepsiCo.

Key functions of Tusk’s CHIPS Practice will include:

• Navigating application processes with CHIPS Program Office and client advocacy with the Biden administration;
• State engagement regarding incentive scoping and site selection identification as well as workforce development and public-private partnerships
• Advocacy among critical Members of Congress and respective delegations to advance client objectives and mitigate risk to the business; and
• Developing community coalitions in respective states to support application and continued operations.

Said Cristóbal Alex, Head of Tusk’s DC Office, “Few can tout being ‘in the room’ as one of the most economically transformative industrial policies in our country’s history has been implemented. But Bernadette was – and continues to be – a leader on the future of semiconductor policy and how forward-thinking companies can dramatically grow their business through the CHIPS Act.”

Said Bernadette Carrillo, “The impact of the CHIPS Act is just starting to be felt and nothing short of our economic and national security is at stake. As states build ecosystems to compete for a growing domestic semiconductor industry, I’m excited to work with current and future clients to ensure they maximize their return on their critical investments in our workforce and technological leadership.”

The launch of the CHIPS Act Practice is the latest milestone for Tusk, which has included launching new offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, expanding its presence in New York through senior hires, including former Chief of Staff to the NY Senate Majority Shontell Smith, as well as building new subject matter-specific practice areas, including Crypto + FinTech. Tusk’s investment in each announcement is geared towards helping clients build their brands with thought leadership and earned media; gain market share with cutting edge commercial strategies; and solve complex “bet the company” regulatory challenges..

Tusk Strategies is led by CEO Chris Coffey, a Bloomberg administration alum and political affairs advisor to Fortune 500 c-suites. The firm was founded by venture capitalist, philanthropist and political strategist Bradley Tusk.

To learn more about Tusk Strategies, visit TuskStrategies.com.