Elon Musk urged to buy Harrisburg as analyst claims tech investment could drive major revival

Elon Musk is being urged to consider buying parts of Harrisburg, after an analyst argued that the city could be revived with the kind of tech-driven investment Musk has championed elsewhere. 

The idea surfaced in The American Conservative, where researcher Sumantra Maitra explored why midsize US towns with affordable housing and solid infrastructure continue to struggle economically.

Maitra wrote that Harrisburg is rich in historic charm, walkable streets, and attractive real estate, yet remains quiet on weekends and full of empty commercial spaces.

He noted that the city has “wonderful, if empty, pubs and restaurants,” along with more than a dozen vacant offices, spaces he believes could easily support new tech firms.

The analyst argued that the barriers aren’t geography or safety but the absence of a major seed investor. 

He suggested that a cluster of startups could be launched for under $30 million, far less than what large coastal hubs demand.

While Musk was mentioned mainly as a symbolic example of a high-impact investor, Maitra said Harrisburg has all the ingredients to host fast-growing companies.

He also noted that a bold investment from someone like the Tesla CEO could help Harrisburg finally achieve the economic revival local leaders have long hoped for.