The Federal Economic Development Administration recently awarded a $51 million grant to a tech innovation consortium in Tulsa. The grant will be used to develop new drone and related technologies and to train a workforce around these innovations. The group is led by Tulsa Innovation Labs and includes universities, tribes, and individual recipients working on autonomous and AI-related projects.
Tyrance Billingsly, head of Black Tech Street, announced plans to build a storefront in Greenwood using the grant and an unnamed partner’s support. He mentioned establishing an AI center of excellence in Greenwood, focusing on responsible AI development in the area.
After being named a “Tech Hub” by the Biden Administration last year, Tulsa received the competitive grant award as one of a dozen cities in the program. Jennifer Hankins, Managing Director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, emphasized leveraging the city’s historical expertise in aerospace, manufacturing, defense, and energy to move forward in innovation and keep new technologies local.
The Atlas School, a software training program, is set to expand its offerings to support other grant recipients. Libby Ediger from the Atlas School highlighted the importance of building infrastructure for testing drones, attracting companies to Tulsa and creating new jobs while filling the talent gap in the workforce.