Budget Update: MO, MT Governors Support Funding for University Research Efforts

Over the past few months, SSTI has followed proposals issued by governors in their budget requests, State of the State Addresses, Inaugural Speeches and other events. Now that many state legislatures have begun approving budgets, the Digest will check on the status of these proposals, and examine the state of technology-based economic development funding in the states. This week, we review actions in Missouri and Montana.

Missouri
Late last week, Gov. Jay Nixon signed a $26 billion budget package, including $15.9 million for the core budget of the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) (HB 7). MTC funds the state's innovation centers and programs, as well as the Missouri Enterprise center. Another $2.5 million would be allocated through MTC for soybean and beef cattle industry research and commercialization.

The final budget includes the $10 million proposed by Gov. Nixon for a public-private partnership supporting a clinic campus in Springfield, linked to the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Montana
Gov. Steve Bullock signed the state's $10 billion FY 2016-17 biennial budget (HB 2) last week. Over the two years of the budget, $15 million is provided by the Commissioner of Higher Education's Research Initiative, which supports university research to help Montana industries overcome technological barriers. The SBIR/STTR program will receive $750,000, while $200,000 is available for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Service. The budget also provides $275,000 for economic development through the Department of Commerce.