Behind the Scenes: Stories from America’s Industrial Policy Playbook

We have seen an outpouring of interest and support since we published our original piece, “The Untold, Behind the Scenes Story of the CHIPS and Science Act: Launching the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Program.”  People from across the country reached out, inspired by the story of how the government can drive big, ambitious initiatives.  Many of these people had their own stories to share so this piece is a platform for them to share.  Some of these stories tie directly into the US's semiconductor and industrial policy strategy, but others focus on initiatives that flew under the radar, like:

• Shipping of small business relief checks on Christmas Eve during the darkest days of the COVID pandemic ($2.2 T Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)
• Helping school systems re-open during the pandemic and developing strategies for school districts to help students deal with learning loss and the mental health stress of the pandemic

While the stories are different, they intertwine together, representing a snapshot of how our nation grappled with and emerged from a deeply uncertain period of American history defined by pandemics, supply chain shocks, and once-in-a-generation investments in American industries.  As with our first piece, these stories are all told from a first person perspective in their own words to emphasize that the people who design and implement large-scale initiatives are humans, not faceless bureaucrats.  We divide the stories into four perspectives (click on the names to see their stories):

• On the ground: The individuals receiving the funds and deploying the dollars in their communities.  We have stories from California, Tennessee, and Illinois.
  • Alyson Greenlee, Economic Development Manager, Contra Costa County (CA)
  • Charles Layne, Technology Advancement Director, Launch Tennessee (TN)
  • Alaina Harkness, CEO, Current [Recipient of an NSF Regional Innovation Engine] (IL)

“I vividly remember licking stamps and envelopes on Christmas Eve for the CARES Act relief checks that went out to businesses.”

- Alyson Greenlee

• Within the government: Individuals who designed and implemented these programs at the Department of Commerce, White House, and Department of Education.
  • Rachel Lipson, Senior Policy Advisor, CHIPS Team - Department of Commerce
  • Maria Messick, Director of Strategy, National Semiconductor Technology Center program - Department of Commerce
  • Nick Simmons, Senior Advisor for Secretary of Education
  • Kei Koizumi, Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy - White House
  • Ines Hernandez, Counselor for Equity, Department of Commerce
  • Maryam Janani-Flores, Chief of Staff, Economic Development Administration

“What I remember most is the dedicated people on our team, and a few we recruited from other teams across the Department, who threw themselves into this effort, working 70+ hour weeks at a relentless pace.”

- Maria Messick

• Designers and outside influencers: Individuals who informed and drafted the original language for major legislative packages and helped shape the vision for these programs.
  • Ian McClure, Member, National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) - Economic Development Administration + VP of Innovation, University of Kentucky (KY)
  • Shalin Jyotishi, Founder & Managing Director, Future of Work & Innovation Economy Initiative - New America Foundation (DC)

“Seeing the tea leaves - and that this wasn't just about balance, fairness, or equity, it was about national security and global competitiveness in our race to lead technology frontiers”

- Ian McClure

• Tech entrepreneurs and builders: Individuals who historically were on the outside of government looking in but felt like these programs gave them a seat at the table and an opportunity to partner with the government in building a forward looking innovation economy.
  • Dr. Kaitlyn Suarez, deep tech startup founder (NY)
  • Scott Resnick, entrepreneur and investor (WI)

“I was surprised to receive the invitation. I am not an academic or a scientist. I am an entrepreneur who has spent much of my career translating university research into startups.”

- Scott Resnick

Thank you to thirteen individuals who contributed stories for the piece and the many more who offered insights, perspectives, and stories throughout this process.  We also want to acknowledge the role that the Federation of American Scientists and International Economic Development Council played in helping us get the word out and collect stories from their respective networks.