Rebecca A. Fannin - Silicon Heartland: Transforming the Midwest from Rust Belt to Tech Belt

No place or company is immune from getting disruptedand Silicon Valley is no different. In Rebeccas new book, Silicon Heartland, she explores the tech innovation frontier emerging in states that were once centers of commerce but were left behind when they didnt adapt to new technologies.

John Chambers, founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures and former executive chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems

Rebecca Fannins compassionate and rigorous analysis of entrepreneurship is a must-read. She asks and answers so many of the right questions: how we got here, where were going, and what needs to happen to revitalize communities and democratize innovation. An indispensable book for founders, investors, and change-makers.

Jim Breyer, founder and CEO, Breyer Capital

In Silicon Heartland, Fannin details the technology transformation underway in our heartlandmasterfully weaving together years of research and knowledge with personal stories from people across America. Its a book that inspires hope for our future.

Ro Khanna, author of Dignity in a Digital Age

Rebecca Fannin journeys back to her home in the Midwest to explore how cities and states are working to reinvent local economies. Her unique perspective will help readers understand the entrepreneurial communities that are working to turn cities between the coasts into promising innovation hubs.

Steve Case, cofounder of AOL and Revolution and author of The Rise of the Rest

Silicon Heartland, Rebecca Fannins uplifting journey into Americas all-too-often overlooked Midwestwhere she herself grew upis a compelling counter-narrative to the depiction of the region as being in the grip of post-industrial decline. This is the untold story of the Rust Belt rising, amid a wave of optimism, innovation, and old-fashioned grit.

Malle Gavet, CEO of Techstars and author of Trampled by Unicorns

Silicon Heartland shines the light on exciting examples and best practices that are leveling the playing field of opportunity and unleashing new opportunity. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes that entrepreneurial success is only possible on the coasts. The Silicon Heartland welcomes you!

Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University and former chairman and CEO, Intuit

Silicon Heartland provides an almost perfect sequel to Ms. Fannins must-read Tech Titans of China. Now she brings the focus back to our nations shores, but rather than detail the assumed decay of American greatness, she instead finds hope. A much-needed boost of optimism at a time when its vitally needed.

Chris Fenton, film producer and author of Feeding the Dragon

An insightful look into the rebirth of cities and a region that launched American leadership in the global economy.

Dan Schwartz, former publisher, Asian Venture Capital Journal, and author, The Future of Finance

Silicon Heartland is a fascinating and inspiring read. Only Rebecca Fannin, with her venture background, China experience, and heartland roots, could uncover the amazing tech revolution occurring in the middle of America.

David Kaufman, director of global strategies, Nixon Peabody

Silicon Heartland shows how scrappy innovators are remaking the US economy and breathing life back into Rust Belt cities and impoverished rural communities. Fannin does a fantastic job providing both the data and case studies on how a new wave of entrepreneurs and technology are transforming Americas overlooked and underfunded regions.

Steve Hoffman, chairman and CEO, Founders Space

Finallysomeone gets it. The Rust Belt of the Midwest is transitioning to the tech belt of the heartland, and Rebecca A. Fannin tells that story in an engaging and personal manner. A must-read for those who think the Rust Belt is dead and buried and a book that, while still being realistic about challenges, fills the reader with hope and promise.

Tom Hodson, director emeritus of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism and WOUB Public Media

Few journalists I know have truly been out there, deeply connecting with their subject like Rebecca. Her familys personal history in the Midwest allows her to truly hear whats happening.

Brian Cohen, founding partner, NY Venture Partners, and chairman, Science Literacy Foundation

From an author with Americas heartland in her blood and a keen observer of global innovation, this book is a tremendous resource to help communities across the country tap into their entrepreneurial roots and reinvent themselves.

Greg Becker, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank

Copyright 2023 by Rebecca A. Fannin

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Charlesbridge and colophon are registered trademarks of Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

At the time of publication, all URLs printed in this book were accurate and active. Charlesbridge and the author are not responsible for the content or accessibility of any website.

An Imagine Book

Published by Charlesbridge

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Fannin, Rebecca A., author.

Title: Silicon heartland: transforming the Midwest from rust belt to tech belt / by Rebecca A. Fannin.

Description: Watertown: Charlesbridge Publishing, [2023] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: How the American Midwest is recovering its economic weight as a center for high tech and innovation.Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022000881 (print) | LCCN 2022000882 (ebook) | ISBN 9781623545567 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781632892508 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: High technology industriesMiddle West. | Technological InnovationsEconomic aspectsMiddle West. | Economic DevelopmentMiddle West. | Middle WestEconomic conditions21st century.

Classification: LCC HC107.A14 F36 2022 (print) | LCC HC107.A14 (ebook) | DDC 330.977dc23/eng/20220422

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022000881

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022000882

Ebook ISBN9781632892508

Wheat photo by Hamza Madrid on Unsplash

Production supervision by Jennifer Most Delaney

Cover design by Nicole Turner

Ebook design adapted from print design by Mira Kennedy

Photographs on courtesy of the author

a_prh_6.0_142782706_c0_r2

To my mom and dad who taught me the values of the heartland

and

my siblings who keep me grounded with traditions

and

my husband, John, who showed me a world of contrasts in New York

and

innovators everywhere who continue to inspire me

Silicon Heartland tracks my journey through the American Midwest as I became a witness to what I see as a great American industrial revival. What is known as the Rust Belt stretches across eight states, from central New York to southeast Wisconsin, concentrated mostly around the Great Lakes, and its twenty-six Rust Belt cities having a combined population of 7.8 million. Overlapping the Rust Belt is Appalachia, which tracks the Appalachian Mountains and runs across twelve states, from northern Mississippi to southern New York, and has a population of 25.7 million. My trip focused on Michigan, Indiana, and four states in Central Appalachia: Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.