Arizona Partnership for New Economy Releases Strategic Plan

With as much emphasis on accessing and applying technology as on creating it, the final report of the Arizona Partnership for the New Economy (APNE) outlines several recommendations to improve Arizona’s position and performance in a tech-based economy.

“While it is important to have industries that produce technology and continually improve it, the real impact of [the new economy] will be felt by the application of technology across a wide range of industries and activities,” says the 36-member task force appointed by Governor Jane Dee Hull.

Released earlier this week, An Economy That Works for Everyone is developed around four elements: K-12 and higher education; telecommunications infrastructure; government leadership in support of technology, R&D and access to capital; and, enhancing government services through the application of technology. The elements are labeled respectively Learning, Linking, Leading, and Living in the 37-page report.

Specific APNE recommendations for the state include:

• $250,000 of seed funding from the state to develop a business plan for Arizona Learning On-line, a web portal to worldwide e-learning opportunities.
• $1 million over two years to develop telecommunications infrastructure assessments and a statewide build-out plan. A template would be created by the Greater Arizona Development Authority to assist communities in their telecommunications assessments.
• drafting guidelines for the creation of community technology training centers
• support legislation to create a $200 million venture capital fund
• $5 million for development of a long-term model to improve technology transfer, business incubation, and pre-seed investment
• creation of the Arizona Economic Partnership, a single office to oversee implementation of the state’s new economy initiatives (using existing funds)
• create an E-government Leadership Council and E-Government Institute to share best practices across various levels of government (using existing funds)
• $2.5 million to market the state as a New Economy “Hot Spot”

Governor Hull said she will incorporate many of the recommendations in her administration's agenda over the next two years but intends to initiate several immediately, such as holding regional New Economy summits this spring to help communities compete and introducing legislation to encourage venture capital for businesses.

The full report, background reports by five APNE committees, and additional information about the New Economy is available on the Internet at http://www.azcommerce.com/APNE.htm