Tulsa Innovation Labs Receives $51 Million Grant to Boost Drone Technology and Workforce Development

Tulsa Innovation Labs, led by Jennifer Hankins, has received a $51 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration to develop new drone and related technologies and train a workforce around it. The grant will also be used to establish an AI center of excellence in Greenwood, with support from Tyrance Billingsly’s Black Tech Street and an unnamed partner.

Last year, Tulsa was designated as a “Tech Hub” by the Biden Administration, which contributed to the competitive grant award. The city is among a dozen cities that received funding in the program. Hankins emphasized that the grant programming will build on the historical expertise of the Tulsa workforce, particularly in aerospace, manufacturing, defense, and energy.

The Atlas School, a software training program, intends to expand its offerings to assist other recipients of the grant funds. Libby Ediger with the Atlas School highlighted the importance of building physical infrastructure for testing drones, which will attract companies to build and test these systems, leading to new job opportunities. The Atlas School aims to bridge the talent gap to ensure that these new jobs can thrive in the city.