SSTI Digest

Geography: Florida

Florida Gov. Wants $100M for Innovation Incentive, $32.6M for Space Florida

Replenishing the Innovation Incentive Fund and investing in space industry, public research, and green energy technologies are among Gov. Charlie Crist's FY11 budget recommendations to grow the state's innovation economy and establish Florida as a pre-eminent global hub. The governor's budget includes $100 million for the Innovation Incentive Fund, which was established in 2006 to attract R&D companies and create high-wage jobs. The fund was depleted in 2008 (see the May 7, 2008 issue of the Digest).

Florida 5-Year Plan Advocates STEM, Clusters & Tech Commercialization

Enterprise Florida released its latest five-year strategic plan for the state, calling for increased investment in STEM education, university research, commercialization assistance and early-stage capital access programs. Florida must diversify its economy and strengthen its high-tech industries in order to reduce the state’s reliance on population-based growth, according to the report. Enterprise Florida also endorses a cluster-based strategy to promote high-tech industries based on their relative levels of development in the state.

Research Park RoundUp: AURP and NRC Testify on Research Park Bill

A bill being debated in Congress would provide federal support for the development of research parks, a major contributor to scientific discovery, technology commercialization and new company formation. S. 583, entitled the Building A Stronger America Act and introduced earlier this year, would make available grants and loan guarantees for the development and construction of science parks to promote the clustering of innovation through high technology activities. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hear testimony today in support of the legislation from Brian Darmody, President of the Association of University Research Parks and Charles Wessner of the National Research Council. Over the past few months, several announcements for development of new research parks have been made from around the world. Following is an overview of select announcements.

TBED People and Organizations

Kathy Collins has been appointed as the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN) regional director in Madison. Previously, Collins worked as the technology and financial development manager in the Commerce Division of Business Development.

Incubator Numbers Grow with Interest in Tech Entrepreneurship as Recession Cure

As economists and policymakers debate the details of how and when the nation will recover from the recession, the topic of entrepreneurship and the role it will play in shaping the new economy continually arises. In the coming years, some analysts predict a rise in entrepreneurship both as a result of massive layoffs and an aging workforce not yet ready or able to retire. Highlighting the correlation between joblessness and the uptick in entrepreneurship, several recent news articles have featured stories of the unemployed forgoing disappointing job searches and the corporate environment to pursue business ownership.

TBED People and Organizations

The Piedmont Triad Research Park laid off Bill Dean, director of the park, and Nancy Johnson, marketing director. Park officials said that the park's project manager and executive assistant also were laid off.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced that he has tapped Don Elliman, director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development, to serve as the state government's first chief operating officer.

The Florida STEM Council, funded by a $580,000 grant from Workforce Florida, has been created to connect education, workforce, business and economic development leaders to identify opportunities to build and measure the state's supply of workers with skills and knowledge in these fields to support innovation in existing and emerging industries.

Malcolm Kahn has been appointed vice president for enterprise development & licensing at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation has named Kevin Carr as interim CEO, replacing Tracy Taylor, who resigned last month.

Jill Kline has been named the new Wyoming Entrepreneur.Biz associate state director. Kline, previously the NE Wyoming SBDC regional director, replaces Debbie Gorski.

Jennifer Kmiec has been appointed Marshal University's associate vice president for economic development effective, July 1.

Larry Pederson has been named director of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering at North Dakota State University.

Utah's Lt. Governor Gary Herbert tapped Jason Perry, the state's director of economic development, to lead Herbert's transition into the governor's role.

Frances Scarlett has been named regional director of the Small Business & Technology Development Center at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Enterprise Florida President and CEO John Adams has announced the appointment of Crystal Sircy as senior vice president for the Business Retention and Recruitment division. She succeedsBob Rohrlack, who in April became the president and CEO of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

M&T Bank chairman and CEO Robert Wilmers has resigned his pro-bono position as chairman of Empire State Development Corporation (ESD). Wilmers' resignation follows, Marissa Lago'sdeparture from her post of president and CEO for the state's primary economic development agency. Dennis Mullen, has been named by Gov. David Paterson as ESD's chairman. Mullen, also assumed Lago's duties. He has been ESD's upstate president.

Life Sciences Winner in FY09-10 Florida Budget

Gov. Charlie Crist signed Florida's $66.5 billion 2009-10 budget into law last week, providing a mixed bag of funding outcomes for the state's existing economic development programs.

The two main components of the Florida Biomedical Research Programs administered by the Florida Department of Health emerge with large funding increases. The James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program will be given $27.2 million from the state biomedical research trust fund in FY09-10, up from $9.9 million in the previous year. Similarly, the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program will receive $25.0 million, an increase from $9.0 million last year.

Enterprise Florida, the state's main economic development organization, will receive $12.4 million - up from $11.9 million in the previous budget. Space Florida, concentrating on aerospace development, will receive $3.8 million - down from $4.0 million in the previous budget.

Just over $21.1 million will be used for the Qualified Target Industries Tax Refund Incentive, Qualified Defense Contractors Tax Refund Incentive, and the High Impact Performance Incentive programs, collectively a decrease of $500,000 from the previous fiscal year.

The state's Quick Action Closing Fund, used by the state to arrange capital when competing for high-wage jobs, will receive $13.5 million in the FY09-10 budget, down from $26.5 million in the previous year. Gov. Crist originally requested $45 million for the Closing Fund in this year's budget request.

The full text of SB2600, similar to the signed budget except for two line-item vetoes (one regarding a pay reduction for state employees and the other regarding the usage of general funds for gun permits), is available at: http://www.flgov.com/budget/sb_2600.pdf.

Lake agrees to boost business incubator

LEESBURG -- Lake County commissioners agreed to partner with the city and the University of Central Florida to beef up a business incubator in hopes of attracting more start-up companies.

UCF Seminole incubator graduates 1st firm

Spectrum Bridge Inc. has become the first graduate of the University of Central Florida's Incubation Program Seminole County/Winter Springs office.

TBED People and Organizations

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Daniel O'Connell, resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Greg Bialecki, an undersecretary who has been responsible for business development

A Matter of Scale: Florida Governor Outlines "Small" Business Stimulus Package

Facing a $2.3 billion deficit in FY 2010, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has proposed a new financing program to promote small business growth through the current financial crisis. Calling it an Economic Stimulus Plan, the governors.'s proposal will target small Florida-based companies with high-growth potential through direct loans and other support services. By focusing on small businesses, the state can target companies with good prospects for growth with a modest investment of taxpayer dollars, according to the press release accompanying the announcement. The price tag? Only $10 million.

Several Statewide TBED Issues Win Voter Approval

The outcome of Tuesday's election resulted in several wins and some defeats for TBED among the more than 150 ballot measures presented to voters across the nation. Outlined below are the unofficial election results of select ballot measures from each state's respective election office and local media reports as of Wednesday, Nov. 5. More detailed information on the measures is provided in last week's issue of the Digest, which is available at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/2008/102908.htm#election.

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