Overview

The Spatial Geography of Defense Manufacturing

The U.S. is undergoing a major industrial revival, shifting power from "superstar cities" to regions with strong manufacturing bases. Driven by the need to remilitarize, reshore, and decarbonize, this transition has resulted in over $1.4 trillion in public and private investments in sectors like clean energy, semiconductors, and electric vehicles (EVs) as of September 2024.

In light of this, our analysis focuses on the distribution of high-value Department of Defense (DoD) contracts across U.S. metropolitan areas. We examined contracts exceeding $500 million, along with modifications that increased their value above this threshold between 2021 and 2024.

EDA Innovative Finance Models

The Innovative Financing Models for Coronavirus Recovery Project is an 18-month initiative expected to run through 2022.

Small businesses have long faced barriers in accessing capital. According to data from the Kauffman Foundation, 83 percent of entrepreneurs cannot access traditional capital markets, such as venture capital and bank loans, leaving many businesses unserved. The coronavirus pandemic only worsened existing inequities for small businesses, especially for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

American Recovery Resource Center

For cities and metros, 2020 was a time of unprecedented crisis, and 2021 is a time of unprecedented Federal investment. Building back from this crisis will require doing things differently. Drexel's Nowak Metro Finance Lab is working with Accelerator for America, the US Conference of Mayors, and partners across the country to organize for a transformative recovery.

52nd Street Investment Playbook

The Enterprise Center (TEC), Philadelphia Equity Alliance (PEA), and Nowak Metro Finance Lab have partnered to develop the 52nd Street Investment Playbook, outlining a $160 million plan for holistic redevelopment in West Philadelphia. TEC seeks a $15 million catalytic investment to acquire, stabilize, and transform properties into community-serving, wealth-building assets.

National Housing Crisis Taskforce

America's housing crisis has escalated nationwide, with cities and metropolitan areas experiencing a severe shortage of supply, increasing rents, and growing concerns about housing accessibility. While federal responses have been limited, states, localities, and private actors are proactively addressing the crisis.

The Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, in partnership with Accelerator for America, launched the National Housing Crisis Task Force in July 2024. This two-year project will focus on key segments of the housing development process—land, construction, capital, regulation, and delivery—aiming to identify, evaluate, and promote the most effective solutions.

City Learning and Action Lab

The City Learning and Action Lab has launched in five Latino-majority cities across the U.S.

On June 8, 2021, The Aspen Institute Latinos & Society Program launched the 12-month City Learning and Action Lab in partnership with Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab and Christopher Gergen, the CEO of impact investment firm, Forward Impact and Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow.

Housing Policy Futures

The Nowak Metro Finance Lab, in partnership with Accelerator for America, Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program, and Reinvestment Fund, is exploring America’s Housing Policy Futures.

As the housing market evolves, the U.S. requires new policies, financial products, and processes at federal, state, and local levels to address emerging challenges. To identify scalable solutions, we have conducted in-depth reports analyzing housing market trends and policy opportunities nationwide.

Everything, Everywhere All At Once: The Industrial Transition and the US City

The U.S. is investing heavily in reshoring, remilitarization, and decarbonization, with over $1.9T allocated to infrastructure, semiconductors, and clean energy. This shift is fueling a manufacturing boom, widely distributed across regions.

To thrive in the new industrial era, cities must rethink their role, leveraging innovation, infrastructure, and small business support to build a resilient and inclusive economy.

Providing Resources to Help Cities and Towns Access Federal Infrastructure Funding

The Nowak Lab is tracking new funding opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act and we’re pleased to offer regular updates through a simple, skim-able email sent each time the federal government opens a new funding opportunity.

Subscribe to the Infrastructure Funding Tracker here.

An Investment Playbook Guide for Accelerate El Paso

The Nowak Lab launched ACCELERATE El Paso to support Latino businesses through strategic investment. Partnering with the MCA Foundation, we developed an investment playbook for the Medical Center for Americas (MCA) Area, prioritizing projects like Devise Product and Realization Hub and Centers of Excellence for health services. By blending federal, private, and philanthropic funding, this model offers a scalable approach to inclusive economic growth.

Israeli Innovation District Partnership

The Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University has established a partnership with the Israeli National Economic Council and the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID), creating a unique opportunity to develop and leverage relationships between Philadelphia innovation districts, institutions, and industries with Israeli counterparts, with Drexel as a catalyst and connector.

Leveraging SSBCI 2.0: Remaking America's Small Business Capital Landscape

The Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Kauffman Foundation, and Initiative for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (IIE) are helping states maximize SSBCI funds, a $100 billion opportunity over the next decade. By guiding decision-makers, we aim to build robust small business ecosystems, ensuring capital reaches diverse and underserved entrepreneurs while leveraging private investment for inclusive growth.

Providing Resources to Help Cities and Towns Access Federal Infrastructure Funding

In an effort to inspire more cities and local leaders, the Nowak Lab has partnered with Accelerator for America in joining the Local Infrastructure Hub to produce a series of Local Infrastructure Case Stories focused on specific programs within the BIL, Inflation Reduction Act, and other federal legislation.

Localizing Lab Research in Philadelphia

For cities and metros, 2020 was a time of unprecedented crisis, and 2021, a time of unprecedented Federal investment. In 2022, the focus is shifting to delivery and how cities can deploy effective approaches to maximize the impact of investments. Drexel's Nowak Metro Finance Lab is working with partners across the country to organize for a transformative recovery.

Unlocking the Procurement Economy

The expanding Procurement Economy will shape whether growth benefits large conglomerates or local small businesses. As industrial and energy transitions accelerate, small businesses must be integrated through local and metropolitan coordination.