Milwaukee should get federal tech hub funding: Congressional Black Caucus leader

Milwaukee should be among the U.S. places designated as a regional technology hub under pending federal legislation that would fund innovation and economic development efforts in those hubs, Congressional Black Caucus executive director Vincent Evans said recently at the Sherman Phoenix in Milwaukee.

Evans was a speaker at an event hosted by the Urban Future Centers, a local consortium of Milwaukee community organizations funded by American Family Insurance that are focused on equitably boosting the city's technology ecosystem.

In conversation with Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Milwaukee technology social impact group the Milky Way Tech Hub, Evans discussed pending federal legislation that would establish a new U.S. regional technology and innovation hub competitive award program. The program would fund the development and implementation of initiatives around the country aimed at advancing innovation and technology-based economic development.

"I don't make the decision — I might even get in trouble — but it would seem to me that Milwaukee's got to be one of the cities on the list," Evans said.

Versions of the regional tech hub program Evans referenced are included in two different U.S. competition bills — one that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and one that passed in the Senate. Those bodies are working on reconciling the bills, according to a May Congressional Research Service report.

The House version of the bill  —  the America COMPETES Act of 2022 — would authorize $6.85 billion for the program through the fiscal year 2026 and the Senate version — the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act — would authorize $10 billion over the same time period, according to the report.

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (left) and Milky Way Tech Hub founder Nadiyah Johnson

William Romano

In October, leaders from four Wisconsin research universities discussed how they could collaborate to compete for the federal funding for regional tech hubs if it becomes available.

American Family Insurance established the Urban Future Centers initiative in November with a $1.2 million commitment to four local organizations: Sherman Phoenix, Milky Way Tech Hub, Young Enterprising Society and Journey House.

Evans praised the work those organizations are doing to increase equity in Milwaukee's technology ecosystem and said his group is focused on similar efforts at the national level. The Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation launched in April and is composed of members of Congress who believe in the indispensable role of Black innovators in advancing American economic growth, according to the group's website.

"It's the first caucus in the United States Congress to specifically focus on Black innovation (and) what we've got to do to build up this new ecosystem," Evans said. "So the same conversation you are having here in Milwaukee, we are having in Washington."

Other speakers at Thursday's event were Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, representatives from each of the organizations in the Urban Future Centers initiative, and representatives from Milky Way Tech Hub corporate members American Family Insurance, Milwaukee Tool and Northwestern Mutual.