How Midwestern and Southern Cities Built Thriving Innovation Ecosystems — and What Rockford Can Learn

When people talk about innovation, the spotlight often shines on places like Silicon Valley, Austin, or Boston. But in recent years, mid-sized regional cities have quietly transformed themselves into thriving innovation hubs. Their stories hold powerful lessons for Rockford, Illinois as we look to the future.

My research led me to explore how Madison, Wisconsin, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Greenville, South Carolina(where I lived prior to Rockford, IL) each built ecosystems that support entrepreneurs, attract talent, and fuel economic growth—and how Rockford can apply these lessons to build our own.

Madison, WI: Anchored by a World-Class University

Madison has leveraged the University of Wisconsin not only as an academic powerhouse but also as an economic engine. Research at UW accounts for nearly 5% of Wisconsin’s GDP, and commercialization flows through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). WARF reinvests patent royalties into faculty, infrastructure, and startups, creating a virtuous cycle of discovery and reinvestment.

The city has also invested in collaborative spaces like the Morgridge Institute for Research and the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. These aren’t just labs—they’re designed with “town centers” where scientists, entrepreneurs, and community members collide, sparking new ideas.

Madison’s ecosystem is also notable for its density and connectivity. The community is small enough that relationships matter. You can meet most of the city’s tech leaders in a single coffee shop on a busy day. That intimacy has fueled trust and collaboration, earning Madison a federal designation as a tech hub.

Potential podcast guests to explore Madison’s story:

• Jo Handelsman, Director, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

• Brad Schwartz, CEO, Morgridge Institute for Research

• A representative from WARF Ventures
  

Grand Rapids, MI: From Furniture City to Medical Mile

Grand Rapids has reinvented itself through a bold bet on healthcare and life sciences. The Medical Mile—a concentration of world-class institutions including Corewell Health, Van Andel Institute, and Michigan State University’s Secchia Center—has become the beating heart of the region’s innovation.

Supporting that anchor is The Bridge, a 20,000-sq-ft incubator managed by the MSU Research Foundation. By housing biotech and med-tech startups alongside researchers and established players, it accelerates commercialization.

The ecosystem isn’t only about healthcare. Organizations like Start Garden and the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation provide resources and mentorship to entrepreneurs across industries. Meanwhile, the West Michigan Center for Art and Technology (WMCAT) blends creativity, workforce training, and community development, making sure the innovation wave is inclusive.

Potential podcast guests to explore Grand Rapids’ story:

• A director from The Bridge (MSU Research Foundation)

• A leader from Start Garden

• An executive at WMCAT
  

Greenville, SC: The New Startup South

Greenville has become one of the most supportive cities for startups in the Southeast. A recent survey even named it South Carolina’s most startup-friendly city.

The city’s strategy has been to weave together a dense support network of more than 60 entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) under the StartupGVL brand. Anchors like the NEXT Innovation Center—a 60,000-sq-ft startup hub—give entrepreneurs a home, while events and programming keep the energy flowing.

Capital access has also been key. Venture groups like VentureSouth and IDEA Fund Partners give local startups funding pathways, while state-level programs such as SCRA’s SC Launch add another layer of support. Combined with Clemson University’s research strength and the region’s advanced manufacturing heritage, Greenville has built a fertile environment where ideas turn into thriving companies.

Potential podcast guests to explore Greenville’s story:

• A leader from StartupGVL

• Administrator at NEXT Innovation Center

• A representative from VentureSouth or IDEA Fund Partners

• An executive from SC Launch / SCRA

  
  

What Rockford Can Learn

Each of these cities has taken a slightly different path:

• Madison built around its university and research commercialization.

• Grand Rapids bet big on healthcare and built collaborative incubators.

• Greenville created a dense network of support organizations and capital pathways.

The common thread is clear: ecosystems thrive when they are intentional. Each city aligned its institutions, cultivated collaboration, and invested in both talent and infrastructure.

For Rockford, the path forward means leveraging our strengths—advanced manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, and the arts—while building the connective tissue between schools, corporations, entrepreneurs, and community organizations.

If we want to attract and retain the next generation of talent, we need to tell our story boldly, invest in shared spaces and support structures, and celebrate the innovators already shaping our future.

Your Next Move

The Rockford region is at a crossroads. By learning from peer cities like Madison, Grand Rapids, and Greenville, we can craft an innovation ecosystem that doesn’t just follow national trends—but leads in its own right.

The question is not whether Rockford can innovate. The question is whether we will choose to come together to build an ecosystem where innovation is the expectation, not the exception.