HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-26 Public Comment - N. Nakamura - Concerns about the MSU Innovation CampusFrom:Natsuki Nakamura
To:Bozeman Public Comment; David Fine; Alison Sweeney
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Concerns about the MSU Innovation Campus
Date:Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:37:59 PM
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Please share this comment with the TIF board (and City Commission) in advance of theirupcoming meeting.
As a disclosure, I am a member of the Economic Vitality Board, a member of the Better
Bozeman Coalition, and a member of Montanans for Palestine, but speaking only as anindividual Bozeman resident.
Dear TIF board,
You will be receiving a special presentation about the MSU Innovation Campus. I
unfortunately will not be able to attend the meeting so do not know what Mr. Veselik willshare about the Innovation Campus, but I would like to share what I have learned about the
Innovation Campus.
The Innovation Campus has several tenants, including:
Reveal Tech (which develops products that ensure “lethality” and have been sold to the
Israeli Defense Forces, as well as biometric identification technology, similar to what isused by ICE agents)
Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub (self-described as “The Local Front Door to theDepartment of War")
MilTech (facilitates technology commercialization for U.S. departments including theDepartment of War and Department of Homeland Security)
Institute for National Security Research and Education (research in support of U.S.departments including the DOW and DHS)
The South Bozeman Technology District was established acknowledging that "job creationand industry diversification are critical to the long-term economic vitality of Bozeman" and
districts such as these are supposed to encourage the "development of value-addingindustries." Are technologies of war and surveillance the kind of industries we want to invest
in?
If the City of Bozeman wished to impact what kinds of tenants are in the Innovation Campus,they certainly could utilize their leverage. Up to $3.6 million TIF funds are going towards
supporting the Innovation Campus. The City of Bozeman and MSU have long workedtogether on this and other projects, and leadership on both sides have celebrated strengthening
relations. Additionally, the City's director of Economic Development is the Chair of theInnovation Campus board and has a strong working relationship with Mr. Veselik, who
previously worked in the City's Economic Development department as well. At the very least,if the MSU Innovation Campus would like to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars of DOW
money, they can foot the bill for the Innovation Campus infrastructure.
Perhaps you do not share my concerns and believe that war and surveillance technologies aregood industries for Bozeman to invest in, but if you share my concerns at all, I ask you to
consider that the City uses what leverage it has to ensure that the Innovation Campus is hometo industries that are value-adding.
Thank you for your consideration,
Natsuki Nakamura