What They Are Saying: Wisconsin Leaders Praise Baldwin’s Work to Bring Home $49 Million for Wisconsin Tech Hub

WISCONSIN – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Wisconsin’s Biohealth Tech Hub is set to receive $49 million to grow the state’s personalized medicine and biohealth sector – advancing research and innovation, growing our economy and creating jobs, and boosting American competitiveness in a cutting-edge industry.

Public and private partners, including the over a dozen founding members of Wisconsin’s Tech Hub Consortium, praised Senator Baldwin’s work to secure this investment. Here’s what they’re saying:

“Senator Baldwin and the administration of President Joe Biden are demonstrating forward thinking that’s moving Wisconsin in the right direction. This deployment of CHIPS and Science Act funding will spur medical innovation while, simultaneously, boosting our economy,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “The jobs created through this investment will produce direct and indirect benefits all across the region.”

“Senator Baldwin and President Biden have consistently delivered for our community and our state,” said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “Wisconsin’s selection as a Tech Hub will drive further innovation in the state’s growing biohealth sector and help create opportunities for middle-class families. I’m excited to collaborate with the Wisconsin Tech Hub team to make sure Madison has the infrastructure, housing and workforce we need to support our growing economy.”

“Milwaukee County boasts a proud tradition of excellence in manufacturing and innovation. Thanks to Senator Tammy Baldwin’s leadership and funding from President Joe Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act, this incredible investment will help carry on that legacy by growing our regional economy, boosting workforce development efforts, and supporting research and innovation in medical sciences and biotechnology that will help foster healthier communities,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “I look forward to Wisconsin's designation as a Tech Hub delivering meaningful results and opportunities for workers and families across the Badger State.”

“The BioHealth Tech Hub will spark innovation in the area of personalized medicine and the Universities of Wisconsin are poised to help lead. I’m thrilled our universities have joined so many top-notch partners – in both the public and private sectors – who are working together to achieve one goal: to improve health care for all Wisconsinites. It’s a proud day for our state,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman.

“This recognition and funding to advance Wisconsin as a BioHealth Tech Hub is an amazing opportunity for Wisconsin,” said Wendy Harris, Regional Innovation Officer for the Wisconsin BioHealth Tech Hub. “We already have strong companies here, but this new funding will help us to collaborate and drive new projects that increase our competitiveness and make us a global leader in the industry. We have a great team that worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to showcase our Wisconsin biohealth industry and our ideas to advance our technologies. It is great to see these projects funded right here in Wisconsin, where we create and make the technologies. What a great win for our state!”   

“This award is an investment in creating a safe, skilled and diverse talent pipeline that will meet the needs of our state now and into the future. We at WRTP | BIG STEP are excited to be a part of this momentous initiative and thank Senator Baldwin for her unwavering support,” said Lindsay Blumer, President & CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP.

“Madison College has always addressed workforce needs, and the opportunity to contribute to the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub program and the emerging biohealth economy is incredibly exciting. We are eager to work with industry leaders and collaborate with the UW System and Milwaukee Area Technical College to scale our collective expertise and support the broader consortium initiatives. We are grateful to Sen. Tammy Baldwin's dedication to the Tech Hubs and the bipartisan financial assistance the state of Wisconsin provided, as well as the efforts of non-profit organizations, public officials, and business and industry leaders who made this happen,” said Mark Thomas, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Madison College.

 “Every day at University Research Park, I see University of Wisconsin – Madison innovation become companies and create jobs for Badgers,” said Aaron Olver, Managing Director of University Research Park and Chair of the Wisconsin BioHealth Tech Hub Consortium. “By teaming up with partners across Wisconsin, we have the chance to create thousands of jobs in healthcare, technology, and manufacturing across Wisconsin and cement our global leadership in biohealth.”

“What fantastic recognition of the great work being done in Wisconsin!  The EDA’s $49M Phase 2 award to the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub is a testament to all we know is true – there is great science, great work, and great people doing amazing things here.  The projects this award supports will further grow both our industry-leading companies and the next generation of biohealth startups, creating value for patients across the USA and around the world,” said Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO of Forward BIOLABS, Consortium Member, and co-lead of one of the projects.

“It is a tremendous honor for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub to receive a Phase 2 designation and grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration,” said Jay Hill, Vice President, Advanced Technology of GE HealthCare, and lead representative on BioForward Wisconsin’s Consortium. “We thank the Administration for their leadership and look forward to harnessing Wisconsin’s strengths to address critical healthcare challenges and drive innovation. GE HealthCare is proud to have played a leading role in BioForward Wisconsin’s consortium. We are excited to have worked with partners across the state to achieve this important achievement that will strengthen Wisconsin’s ability to lead a transformative era in healthcare.”

“The EDA's investment demonstrates a commitment to drive the economy and contribute to a flourishing society. It's a win-win,” said Mara Lord, PhD, Senior Vice President of University Engagement and Strategic Planning at the Medical College of Wisconsin. “CAREScan is designed to revolutionize healthcare delivery by bringing personalized medicine directly to people’s doorsteps. Taking the time to build connections and trust with community members will enable this novel platform to scale with new innovations and technologies that can be offered to individuals where they live.”

“Employ Milwaukee is excited to be a BioHealth Tech Hub partner leading inclusive community engagement and workforce development components in Milwaukee,” said Julie Cayo, Interim CEO and Chief Planning Officer of Employ Milwaukee. “This investment will drive the economic prosperity of underserved populations through youth apprenticeship, summer youth employment, scholarships in Biohealth Tech Hub industry pathways, and wraparound supports for our job seekers and workers.”

“Wisconsin continues to be a destination for high-value employment, which will be further enhanced by our successful Biohealth Tech Hub application,” said Jim Paetsch, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Milwaukee 7. “Our companies and postsecondary institutions are well-positioned to lead in the precision medicine sector, which is poised for significant global growth.”

"This is a groundbreaking opportunity for Wisconsin, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the consortium," said MATC President Vicki J. Martin, Ph.D. "We are committed to expanding our biohealth programs and focused on equipping our diverse student body with the skills needed for careers in Wisconsin's growing Tech Hub.”

Yesterday, Wisconsin was one of 12 Tech Hub applicants awarded a Phase 2 Implementation Grant under the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program. 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.

As a member of the Commerce Committee, Senator Baldwin helped write and create the Tech Hub program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and has advocated for Wisconsin’s Tech Hub and investing in the Badger State’s growing personalized medicine and biohealth technology industry every step of the way. A full list of her work to secure this funding is available here.

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