WASHINGTON The U.S. government will become a shareholder in a startup specializing in rare earth processing, the company has announced, as the United States looks to reduce its dependence on China. Vulcan Elements, based in North Carolina, said the U.S. government is to partner with private investors who will inject $550 million into the firm's capital. The federal government will allocate a $620 million loan and a $50 million grant, for which it will receive Vulcan shares valued at $50 million.