(The Center Square) – There is talk of tens-of-thousands of jobs, and billions of dollars in investments coming to Wisconsin over the next decade because of the state’s status as a regional tech hub.
Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday said Wisconsin has been officially selected as one of a dozen states that will serve as federal Regional Tech Hubs.
“We’re positioning Wisconsin as a national leader in innovative industries as we work to build the economy. We need to meet the demands of the 21st century,” Evers said in a statement.
The official designation means Wisconsin will get $49 million in implementation grant money that is earmarked to grow the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth sector.
Wisconsin was selected as one of 32 Regional Tech Hubs in October of last year. Tuesday’s designation means Wisconsin made the cut and is on to phase 2 of the program.
“Today’s announcement is a win for Wisconsin,” WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said. “This award recognizes the groundbreaking potential that the collaboration between Madison and Milwaukee, between our educational institutions, our start-ups and advanced manufacturing leaders, and our world-class health care providers offers to the people of Wisconsin and to the future of patient care around the world. “
The U.S. Economic Development Administration is running the hub program.
In addition to Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina made the phase 2 cut.
Each state will focus on a different project. Wisconsin’s focus will be on biohealth and advancing research and innovation.
The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium includes members from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, GE HealthCare, Rockwell Automation, Exact Sciences Corp., BioForward Wisconsin, Employ Milwaukee, Accuray, Plexus, WRTP Big Step, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, the Madison Regional Economic Partnership and Milwaukee7.
“The Phase 2 award is a pivotal opportunity for Wisconsin to demonstrate the breadth of our biohealth industry and the strength of our statewide manufacturing capabilities,” CEO of BioForward Wisconsin Lisa Johnson said Tuesday.
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said the official designation is testament to the top-level research going on at the UW.
“It’s both thrilling and well-deserved that Wisconsin has received this critical designation, reflecting our existing strengths and future potential as a hub for technological innovation. These projects will allow researchers to identify new treatments tailored to patients, accelerate progress in access to care and health equity, and spark innovation to create state-wide excellence in personalized medicine.”
Both federal and state leaders say in all, being a Regional Tech Hub projected to bring more than 30,000 jobs and $9 billion of economic development in first 10 years to Wisconsin
