Yes, I do think this is a challenge for the Midwest. However, the key to solving that I believe is to focus on university towns like Madison and Ann Arbor that do draw in more diverse talent. These towns are key to the entire Midwest tech scene.
Universities are rich and white with a pinch of token racial diversity. "Diverse talent" maybe. Diverse relative to any random small city people from a few states over haven't heard of they are not.
My point was that many smaller midwestern cities have no reason for anyone not born there to come, except for college towns and a few with big employers. Those are some of the only assets that will help increase diversity over time.
