Innovation Has a Home in
Wyoming |
Inside the D.C. beltway, rural areas, like most of Wyoming, are often an afterthought or overlooked entirely. When the Biden administration
began considering regions to award tech hub grants, it seemed that, once again, rural America would miss out on another economic growth
opportunity.
During the application process, I sent a letter to
Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging her to remove geographic barriers that would prevent Wyoming, and most rural areas, from
participating in the tech hub program.
I am proud to say it worked.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced this week that Wyoming will participate in its tech hubs program through two tech hubs
that were designated by the agency. These tech hubs will be eligible to receive grants from the federal government to fund Wyoming’s continuing
innovation in quantum computing and nuclear energy. Wyoming continues to be at the forefront
of U.S. innovation and is home to a diverse collection of cutting-edge technology. Geography
shouldn’t be a determining factor when it comes to picking winners and losers, especially as we continue to grapple with the task of bridging
the digital divide. Expanding the qualifications for the tech hubs program ensures rural communities enjoy the same economic opportunities and growth
as their urban counterparts while sustaining America’s status as the world leader in technological advancement.
Happy Trails,
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