The Federal Economic Development Administration has awarded a $51 million grant to a tech innovation consortium in Tulsa. The consortium, led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, includes universities, tribes, and individual recipients involved in autonomous and AI-related projects. The grant will be used to develop new drone and related technologies and train a workforce around it.
One of the recipients, Black Tech Street, plans to establish an AI center of excellence in Greenwood with support from the grant. Tulsa was named a “Tech Hub” by the Biden Administration last year, which helped lead to the competitive grant award. The grant programming will build on Tulsa’s historical expertise in aerospace, manufacturing, defense, and energy industries.
The Atlas School, a software training program, will expand its offerings to support the other grant recipients. The grant will also build physical infrastructure for testing drones, attracting companies to create and test new systems and unlock new jobs. Libby Ediger with the Atlas School emphasized the need to fill the talent gap to ensure that these new jobs can exist in the city.
Overall, the grant will help Tulsa continue to innovate and grow in industries related to autonomous systems, positioning the city as a leader in responsible AI development. The consortium’s efforts aim to keep innovation and job opportunities in Tulsa while leveraging its legacy roots in key industries.
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