Join More Than 60 Organizations in Supporting the Regional Innovation Program
More than 60 organizations have signed on to an SSTI-initiated letter urging Congressional leaders to fund the Regional Innovation program at $20 million for FY2015. The Regional Innovation Program was authorized under the American COMPETES Act and is designed to provide funding to support regional innovation activities. The program received its first funding of $10 million in FY2014, and the solicitation for that funding is expected to be issued any day. The Senate has approved $20 million for the program for FY2015, while the House did not provide any funding for the program. Organizations signing on to the letter include the Association of University Research Parks, the Angel Capital Association, the National Business Incubation Association, and more than 45 state, local, university and nonprofit organizations. The more organizations that sign increases our chances to secure funding. The deadline for signatures to this letter is Friday, August 15. To read the letter, learn how to sign on, and see those organizations that have already signed on Read more…
To add your organization to the list, please email Caroline Wagner at cwagner@ sheridangroupdc.com. The letter and signatories follow:
Barbara Mikulski
Chairwoman
Commerce, Justice & Science
Appropriations Subcommittee
142 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Richard Shelby
Ranking Member
Commerce, Justice & Science
Appropriations Subcommittee
125 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Frank Wolf
Chairman
Commerce, Justice & Science
Appropriations Subcommittee
H-309, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Chaka Fattah
Ranking Member
Commerce, Justice & Science
Appropriations Subcommittee
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairwoman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby, Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Fattah:
As supporters of SSTI, a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports, and strengthens efforts to improve regional economies through science, technology, and innovation, we urge you to allocate $20 million in funding for the Regional Innovation Program as you work to conference and finalize the Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015. We appreciate that the current fiscal environment has meant that you must make particularly difficult choices during the appropriations process. Thank you for your support of this promising program, and for providing the program $10 million in FY14 for its first year of funding.
The Regional Innovation Program was authorized under the American COMPETES Act to encourage and support the development of regional innovation strategies across the country. As members of the tech-based economic development (TBED) community, we recognize that the strategies supported by the Regional Innovation Program have successfully sparked job creation outcomes in our communities. Continuation of these funds would be instrumental in cultivating entrepreneurship, new startups, and commercialization of new products and ideas through access to capital, expertise and networks.
Dozens of TBED programs have generated impressive track records in developing small businesses, creating new employment opportunities and improving local economies. We are confident that an investment in regional innovation can improve job growth, produce startup companies, leverage private dollars, increase wealth generation, and accelerate and enhance the important work currently being done in these areas.
As you move forward into conference for the FY15 Commerce, Justice & Science appropriations bill, we request that you maintain the $20 million funding level outlined in the Senate version of this legislation. Thank you for your consideration of this request, and we look forward to continuing our work together in support of this promising and innovative program.
Sincerely,
- AccelerateMSP
- Angel Capital Association
- Arizona Technology Council
- Arkansas Research Alliance
- ASME
- The Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
- Ben Franklin Technology Partners
- BioHealth Innovation
- BioHio Research Park
- BioSTL
- Connecticut Innovations
- Excell Partners, Inc
- First State Innovation
- Fourth Economy
- Georgia Research Alliance
- GreaterMSP
- High Technology Development Corp (HTDC)
- Idaho Department of Commerce
- Idaho TechConnect, Inc.
- Idea Foundry, Inc.
- Innovation Policyworks, LLC
- Innovation Works
- Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC)
- JumpStart Inc.
- Life Science Alley
- Life Sciences Discovery Fund
- Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development
- Mayo Clinic Business Accelerator & Entrepreneurial Programming
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Minnesota High Tech Association
- MOJO Minnesota
- National Business Incubation Association
- NorTech
- Northeast Indiana Innovation Center
- Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
- ONAMI
- Oregon BEST
- RAIN Source Capital
- Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI)
- Rochester Area Economic Development
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- South Dakota State University
- St. Louis Regional Chamber
- StarTec Investments
- Tech2020
- TechBelt
- TechColumbus
- TechConnect West Virginia
- Technology Councils of North America
- TechTown Detroit
- TEDCO
- The National Council for Advanced Manufacturing
- The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
- UEDA
- University City Science Center
- University Enterprise Lab Biosciences Incubator
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Minnesota Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
- University of Minnesota Office for Technology Commercialization and Ventures Center
- University of North Dakota Center for Innovation Foundation
- Virginia Biotechnology Research Park
- Water Economy Network
- West Virginia University
- Wichita Technology Corporation
- Wisconsin Technology Council
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