Bonus - The Spark: How Universities Spark Investment in Their Surrounding Neighborhoods

There’s a dynamic in the U.S. that I don’t think is widely known — at least not appreciated the way it should be.

It’s a given that major universities like NYU or UCLA are engines of economic development. When you walk around these campuses, what do you see? High-rise apartments, high-end cafés, coworking spaces, hospitals, R&D labs, restaurants — all buzzing with life. These institutions attract investment, talent, and infrastructure. But what’s not talked about nearly enough is that HBCUs — Historically Black Colleges and Universities — have that same catalytic potential.

A Tale of Two Neighborhoods

Recently, I visited Nashville and spent time at three very different but geographically close universities: Vanderbilt, Fisk, and Tennessee State University (TSU). Vanderbilt, surrounded by the increasingly upscale West End neighborhood, has clearly been a driver of the development around it. Streets are clean and lively. Cranes and new construction dot the skyline.

Just a few miles north, in the historically Black North Nashville area, Fisk and TSU are quietly doing something similar. They employ community members. They house thousands of students. And the area is home to Nashville’s largest cluster of Black-owned businesses. It was a reminder: the same dynamic is happening here too, even if it doesn’t always get noticed, reported, or invested in at the same scale.

That visit stirred something in me. It made me think about home. It made me think about Louisville, Kentucky.

Simmons College of Kentucky: The Heart of Limerick

Simmons College of Kentucky is the oldest HBCU in the state. It’s also one of the most quietly transformative forces in Louisville’s Limerick neighborhood — a community rich in Black history and cultural legacy. What Simmons is doing isn’t just about education. It’s about identity. It's about infrastructure. It’s about future-building.

The Limerick neighborhood, with its 56% Black population, is on the cusp of a renaissance, and Simmons with Dr. Kevin Cosby at the helm is anchoring that movement. As the college expands its footprint through historic buildings, neighborhood revitalization, and community initiatives, it’s also creating an economic and cultural ripple effect.

• Simmons directly and indirectly supports over 70 local jobs.

• It contributes over $3 million annually to the local economy.

• It is actively preserving cultural heritage while building pathways for the future.

And most importantly, it’s doing this while staying rooted in social justice and accessibility.

What if We Took It Further?

Now imagine pairing that mission with modern infrastructure — tech-focused infrastructure. What if the future of Limerick wasn’t just historic preservation and higher education, but innovation?

That’s where a private tech partnership — a commercial venture with a community-first lens — could completely change the game.

Picture this:

• A co-working space that hosts local entrepreneurs, Simmons students, and tech creatives to build synergy and collaboration between students and business owners.

• A coding and digital literacy center for youth and adults in the neighborhood.

• A tech incubator that gives equity and guidance to local founders.

• A fully staffed and operational micro data center that generates income for program sustainability.

• A Black Tech Hall of Fame that honors pioneers and inspires the next generation.

• Conference space for tech talks/TED Talks, and conferences.

It’s not just possible — it’s logical. It’s sustainable. It’s right there waiting for the spark.

Why It Matters

Tech hubs have historically been planted in already-wealthy spaces. Silicon Valley, Austin, Boston, Seattle. But what happens when we drop one in the middle of a historically Black neighborhood, with the shared mission of an HBCU with over a century of community credibility?

• We build a model for what inclusive innovation looks like.

• We reduce displacement by giving people ownership — of businesses and ideas.

• We turn students into startup founders, and corner stores into cornerstones of the digital economy.

• We ensure that history and high-speed internet grow side by side.

• We make Limerick a place where cultural preservation meets future-forward progress.

Your Move, Our Moment

We are living in a time where universities, especially HBCUs, are being rediscovered for the community powerhouses they’ve always been. But rediscovery is not enough — we must reinvest. And we must innovate with intentionality.

We have the pieces. Simmons. The neighborhood. The momentum.

Now it’s about connecting the dots — with developers, funders, city leaders, and, most importantly, the community itself.

Let’s talk about what it looks like when education, enterprise, and equity share the same ZIP code.

Comment below, share your thoughts, and let’s build the vision together.