SSTI Digest

Geography: Maine

Maine Voters to Consider $60M Bond, Most Targeting TBED

Maine Governor John Baldacci got nearly everything he wanted in a bond proposal to encourage technology-based economic development (TBED). The Maine legislature shaved $10 million from the Governor's original request before passing the bond on to Maine voters for consideration at a special referendum June 10. The bond proposal includes:

Maine Environmental, Energy Groups Merge

Around the country, the current funding climate is forcing some technology groups to explore new relationships with each other, including consolidation. In other cases, it just makes good sense. For example, two of Maine's environmental and energy technology organizations are joining forces with the goal of advancing job growth, R&D and new product commercialization within their overlapping industries.

New Maine Governor Pushes $43M R&D Bond Package

Governor John Baldacci used his February 5 budget address to outline a proposal to float a $70 million economic development bond, the majority of which would be dedicated to research and development projects. Citing the successful results of several R&D bond packages approved by voters over the past five years – with last summer's $35 million bond being the most recent – Gov. Baldacci wants the state to take advantage of historically low interest rates and the state's good bond rating to commit an additional $43 million for R&D projects.

Maine Seeks Statewide EPSCoR Director

The State of Maine's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Committee is seeking a Statewide EPSCoR Director to provide leadership and vision for the State's EPSCoR Committee, called the Research Capacity Committee (RCC), and the state's research enterprise. Working directly with the RCC, the Director participates in the development and implementation of the state's EPSCoR strategy. The Director also reports to the Chair of the RCC. For more information, visit http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm or access the full job description at http://www.mstf.org.

Report Analyzes Entrepreneurship in Maine, Nevada and Pennysylvania

State and local governments are starting to develop entrepreneurship programs, but the past decade's progress could be threatened by the looming fiscal crisis facing the states, according to a new study released by the National Commission on Entrepreneurship (NCOE) and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC).

TBED People News

Meriby Sweet has been appointed technology business counselor by the Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Small Business Development Centers.

MSTF Study Assesses Maine's Technology-intensive Industries

A new report assessing Maine's seven targeted technology sectors represents the first systematic attempt to analyze the growth of the state's industry clusters. The report, Assessing Maine's Technology Clusters, was prepared for the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) by the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School.

Maine Voters Approve $35 Million in Tech-based ED Bonds

The results of Tuesday's primary election in Maine reveal the state's voters continue to be committed to improving their economy through technology-based economic development. Winning approval at the ballot was Question 2, allocating $35 million in bond revenues for 11 specific projects - a majority of which were tied directly to research and technology-based economic development.

Comprehensive Internet Studies Issued in Maryland, Maine

Two recent studies on Internet usage in Maryland and Maine offer detailed maps of broadband infrastructure. The studies offer some insights on how businesses and, in the case of Maryland, private citizens are accessing the Internet. Specific findings are not presented below; however, each of the studies are available in their entirety via the links that follow the respective summaries.



eReadiness Maryland

 The first-ever, comprehensive statewide study on Internet usage, access and infrastructure among Maryland's businesses and households became available April 18. eReadiness Maryland: Assessing our Digital Opportunities includes the survey results of 1,422 households and 1,126 businesses, real-time dial-up connection speeds from 24 locations and previously unavailable maps of fiber infrastructure, DSL service and cable modems.



The study provides statistical indicators for both businesses and households. Analysis on Internet connectivity and a national comparison is emphasized for the former. For households, eReadiness Maryland relates computer use to families' income and educational attainment levels. The regional variation of computer and Internet usage in Maryland is given for both businesses and households.



To fund eReadiness Maryland, TEDCO contributed $100,000 and leveraged $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, $110,000 from industry sponsors and $45,000 from the State of Maryland. Another $50,000 reportedly will be provided to commission an in-depth study on the need for high-speed bandwidth in Western Maryland. For this project, TEDCO has committed $25,000 and has obtained a matching grant of $25,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission.



eReadiness Maryland is a two-phase study designed by the Technology Policy Group of the Ohio Supercomputer Center and managed by the Maryland Technology Development Corp. With Phase I of the study completed, Phase II will be a series of regional briefings to review the findings and discuss policy recommendations. The complete text of eReadiness Maryland is available at: http://www.marylandtedco.org/home.html

SSTI Editorial: Embracing Change: Analysis of Maine's Laptop Victory

One of the biggest obstacles many communities and states face to building tech-based economies is convincing traditional businesses, institutions and the general population to embrace change, technological advance, and innovation. A common element of many strategic plans is at least one recommendation or even an entire report dedicated to changing perceptions of the community or state toward being a technology mecca — or at least getting people to think about and recognize the importance of science and technology investments. [See the 6/23/00 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest for an article on a related report from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology.]



Perhaps the "paradigm problem" reaches its most daunting levels in economies that have traditionally been agricultural- and natural resource-based. Often with low percentages of residents holding bachelors degrees or higher and with many people earning less than the national average, less populated areas face myriad challenges toward building tech-based futures.



Key ingredients to turning the corner or making progress — keys that have application or opportunity for replication in every state and community — were demonstrated vividly in the March 25-31 issue of mainescience.org, the exceptional e-newsletter of the Maine Science & Technology Foundation [Archive and free subscription information is available at: http://www.mainescience.org]



Among the week's top S&T stories in a recent issue of the newsletter was a clipping from the Lewiston Sun Journal reporting that the state legislature had approved $25 million in funding over the next two years to provide laptop computers for each of 19,000 seventh and eighth graders in Maine. More telling of the state's commitment to the New Economy is Maine was facing a $250 million deficit when the legislature began its work on the FY 2003 budget.



One of the keys for a successful tech-based economic development strategy is strong leadership, and Maine is a prime example. A large part of what is helping turn Maine into a stronger, more economically diversified state is the leadership and vision of its Governor, Angus King. Gov. King first called for the state to purchase computers for every single 7th and 8th grader in 2000. The intent, as well as improving the quality of their education, was to help the students embrace the importance of technology in their futures. An underlying goal was to change the mindset of the students and their parents, when the students took the computers home to do homework and research.



Some skepticism and opposition led to a two-year delay and some watering-down of the original idea, but the Governor's conviction and the statewide discussion that ensued after his first unveiling of the initiative have helped push Maine into a better position to face a knowledge-based future.



Of course, there are no guarantees that the initiative will work; in this field, there never are. The key is Maine's willingness to take the risk and embrace change — to address the paradigm problem head-on.



But are the lessons of Maine's laptop victory transferable to other states?



At least 20 states, including Maine, will have new governors as a result of the elections this fall. An additional 18 governors are running for re-election, some in tight races. Throughout the last five decades of state efforts in tech-based economic development, top-level leadership have been the driving force for innovation in policy and practice. Success doesn't follow from any specific political persuasion or geographic alignment, but from the contagious enthusiasm or zeal of a strong leader to embrace the change required to keep pace with and participate fully in an economy driven by scientific advancement and technological progress.



SSTI asks the tech-based economic development community — state and local programs, the universities, the businesses, the organizations, the associations, the tech councils, and individuals — in the 38 states with gubernatorial elections: are you doing what needs to be done to ensure your next leader possesses the vision and conviction to welcome and embrace change?

Index Has Maine Achieving 'Modest Progress'

Describing Maine as making "modest progress" in strengthening its capacity for innovation-driven economic growth, the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) released on Tuesday The Maine Innovation Index 2002, a report on Maine's performance in the new economy.

Maine Voters Pass $5M R&D Bond

Voters in Maine passed a bond issue authorizing the state to borrow $5 million for biomedical and marine research and development by Maine-based nonprofit and state research institutions. 



The bond issue, one of six approved in the state on Tuesday, passed with 52.6 percent of the votes cast. Biomedical R&D will receive $4 million of the bond monies for projects, including an 80,000-square-foot expansion of Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. The lab expects to add 200 new jobs in connection with the facility's expansion. Marine research activities would receive the remaining $1 million. 



According to the Bangor Daily News, a $20 million R&D bond issue passed by Maine voters in 1998 (see the Oct. 9, 1998 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest) has already generated more than $100 million in spinoff benefits, including new jobs, federal research grants and additional industrial R&D contracts. 



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