SSTI Digest

Commerce Secretary Don Evans is expected to release today the Bush Administration's plan for economic growth in the manufacturing sector. According to today's Washington Post, the report will "throw President Bush's support to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership... Evans said he will support the program but will demand that the centers coordinate with other programs so they are more efficient."

As the Digest goes to press, it is unclear whether the Administration's support of MEP will translate to restoring its budget to the $106.5 million it received in FY 2003. The Administration's FY 2004 budget proposed cutting the program to $12.9 million.

Kristin Jones recently was hired as senior manager for life sciences under the Indy Partnership, an economic development organization for the Indianapolis region.

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has named Derrick Ramsey as deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet.

Dr. Catherine Renault is the new program manager for the Center for Technology Applications at RTI International, Inc.

Leland Speed has been named the new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

Kristin Jones recently was hired as senior manager for life sciences under the Indy Partnership, an economic development organization for the Indianapolis region.

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has named Derrick Ramsey as deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet.

Dr. Catherine Renault is the new program manager for the Center for Technology Applications at RTI International, Inc.

Leland Speed has been named the new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

Janice St. Onge has resigned from the Vermont Department of Economic Development to pursue career opportunities at the University of Vermont. St. Onge, whose resignation is effective Jan. 30, served for four years as the state's technology business development director.

Ann Quinn was recently named managing director of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Venture Capital Fund.

Andy Taggart has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the Mississippi Technology Alliance.

Diane Wirth is new executive director of the Valley Economic Development Corp., a public-private organization for the San Jacinto Valley.

Diffusion of effort can be a great thing in fostering local or regional economic development because there are so many fronts on which the battle must be fought: workforce; business retention and recruitment; entrepreneurship; infrastructure; investing; and, science and technology addressing the needs of different sectors such as manufacturing, retail, service, financial or information technology. Each organization or office can focus its resources exclusively on one or two specific goals head-on for greatest impact.

It can work well when resources are plentiful and when the various economic development organizations recognize and respect the boundaries. Collaboration and constant coordination is key so the individual pieces work as a well oiled, virtual machine. The ability to rise above partisan politics to address the common goal of building a local or regional economy is of utmost importance.

The Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP), an information and communications technology (ICT) advocacy organization comprised of the industry's top chief executive officers, issued a report this week calling for a more activist federal government for encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and education in the sciences and math.

The 20-page Choose to Compete: How Innovation, Investment and Productivity Can Grow U.S. Jobs and Ensure American Competitiveness in the 21st Century is presented in three sections: performance, competitiveness and partnership. "Performance" points out the contributions information technology and telecommunications have had on America's prosperity and standard of living over the past 30 years.