Press Release: Gov. Evers, U.S. Sen. Baldwin Celebrate Wisconsin’s Official Selection as a Tech Hub at Milwaukee Area Technical College

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 07/22/2024 11:30 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2024
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers, U.S. Sen. Baldwin Celebrate Wisconsin’s Official Selection as a Tech Hub at Milwaukee Area Technical College
 
MILWAUKEE — Gov. Tony Evers, together with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), visited Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), a member of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium, to celebrate Wisconsin’s official designation as a U.S. Regional Tech Hub. During the visit, Gov. Evers and Sen. Baldwin, joined by MATC President Anthony Cruz and other consortium members, went on a tour of MATC and hosted a press conference highlighting the benefits this designation will bring to Wisconsin’s economy and workforce.

This visit comes as earlier this month, the governor and senator announced that Wisconsin has officially been selected as a U.S. Regional Tech Hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, unlocking $49 million to grow the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth sector, including advancing research and innovation, growing the state’s economy and creating jobs, and boosting American competitiveness in a cutting-edge industry. The coveted designation will allow Wisconsin’s consortium of 18 public and private partners organized by the Evers Administration through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to boost research and expand lab space, increase coordination and collaboration, improve access to capital to start and grow businesses, and further build out the personalized medicine and biohealth technology sector.

“It is no secret that Wisconsin’s multi-billion dollar biohealth industry is a huge economic driver that supports tens of thousands of jobs across the state. The state has been a committed partner in the Tech Hub process since the very beginning, and I am glad my administration could do its part to help bring this important designation to Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers. “I want to thank Sen. Baldwin and the Biden-Harris Administration for their leadership and partnership in this important effort, as well as the support of MATC and other members of our BioHealth Consortium. Together, we’re ensuring Wisconsin continues to lead the way in innovation in this cutting-edge field.”

“Jobs, jobs, and more jobs. That is what this Tech Hub will mean for Wisconsin,” said Sen. Baldwin. “Whether it is in a high-tech lab, behind a computer, or on a foundry floor, our Tech Hub is going to create all sorts of opportunities for Wisconsinites in a growing field. It was so great to be at MATC to see how our Tech Hub partners will help people get the skills they need to land a family-supporting career, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and ensure our state continues to lead the world in innovation.”

Over the first 10 years, the Tech Hub designation is projected to create more than 30,000 jobs in the personalized medicine sector and over 111,000 indirect jobs attributable to the Tech Hub in Wisconsin. Additionally, the Tech Hub is projected to create $9 billion worth of economic development in Wisconsin within the first decade.

“Wisconsin’s biohealth sector will benefit residents in every corner of our state by opening new possibilities for innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as by transforming medical care and improving patient outcomes,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “WEDC is grateful for the active support of Sen. Baldwin and Gov. Evers in advocating for this vital partnership.”

The Evers Administration, through the WEDC, has created and led the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium, which includes BioForward Inc., GE HealthCare, Rockwell Automation, Exact Sciences Corporation, Employ Milwaukee, Accuray, Plexus, WRTP Big Step, Forward BIOLABS, University Research Park, the Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin System, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Madison College, the Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP), and Milwaukee7.

Gov. Evers and Sen. Baldwin have been working together to secure Wisconsin’s designation as a Tech Hub and to advocate for continued investments in the Badger State’s growing personalized medicine and biohealth technology industry every step of the way, including:
  • January 2022: Sen. Baldwin voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, successfully including $500 million for the Tech Hub program to help the United States develop new technology, create jobs, and expand innovation, a provision modeled off a Brookings Institute report that identified Wisconsin as a top destination for a regional hub.
  • February 2022: Gov. Evers joined 21 other governors from across the country in sending a letter to congressional leadership in support of the CHIPS Act and to encourage swift bipartisan action to ensure its enactment. 
  • March 2023: In a letter to the EDA, Sen. Baldwin urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to select Wisconsin to house one of the Tech Hubs. 
  • August 2023: The Evers Administration through the WEDC established the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium to bring together 18 public and private partners to advance the state’s efforts and submitted an application to the EDA to secure its designation as a Tech Hub. 
  • August 2023: Sen. Baldwin advocated for Wisconsin’s application to the Tech Hubs program, highlighting the state’s potential to be on the cutting edge of the biotech and personalized medicine sector. Sen. Baldwin also hosted events in Madison and Milwaukee to call on the Biden Administration to bring a Tech Hub to the Badger State. 
  • September 2023: Sen. Baldwin again called on the Biden Administration to select Wisconsin for a planning grant to advance a Biohealth Tech Hub. 
  • October 2023: Gov. Evers and Sen. Baldwin announced Wisconsin was selected as one of 31 Tech Hubs nationwide and awarded a $350,000 planning grant to execute its Biohealth Tech Hub strategy, advancing Wisconsin onto Phase II to compete for an implementation grant, which was awarded today. Sen. Baldwin also rallied support from local and state partners to demonstrate Wisconsin’s commitment to bringing a Tech Hub to the state. 
  • February 2024: Gov. Evers signed Senate Bill 894, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 96, providing $7.5 million to BioFoward Inc. to provide a match to a federal grant that would designate it as the lead consortium member for purposes of receiving a regional Tech Hub implementation grant. 
  • February 2024: Sen. Baldwin and Gov. Evers called on the Biden Administration to support the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub’s application for implementation funding for the state. 
  • June 2024: Sen. Baldwin met privately with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to make a final pitch for Wisconsin to be selected for implementation of its Biohealth Tech Hub. 
  • July 2024: Gov. Evers and Sen. Baldwin announced that Wisconsin has officially been selected as a U.S. Regional Tech Hub, unlocking $49 million to grow the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth sector, including advancing research and innovation, growing the state’s economy and creating jobs, and boosting American competitiveness in a cutting-edge industry. The designation will allow the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Consortium to boost research and expand lab space, increase coordination and collaboration, improve access to capital to start and grow businesses, and further build out the personalized medicine and biohealth technology sector. 
  • July 2024: Gov. Evers and WEDC submitted a request to the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee (JFC) requesting the release of $7.5 million to BioForward Inc. to establish the state’s U.S. Regional Tech Hub, as provided by 2023 Wisconsin Act 96, signed by Gov. Evers in February. The committee released the funds on July 9, 2024.

More information about the EDA’s Tech Hubs program is available here. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
###