Newly elected governors support innovation strategies

The innovation economy is a featured component of both newly elected governors’ agendas, with each showing support for TBED-related initiatives in their platforms. In New Jersey, Governor-elect Phil Murphy (D) has pledged to reclaim the state’s innovation economy while in Virginia Governor-elect Ralph Northam (D) proposed a new workforce development plan focused on “the new-collar jobs of the 21st century.”

In New Jersey, Murphy has vowed to reclaim the innovation economy through a variety of means including: getting new advancements to market; making higher education and community colleges more affordable; developing a STEM-oriented K-12 curriculum along with “alternative pathways to success,” including apprenticeship programs and vocational training; lowering tuition and fees at public two- and four-year colleges; increasing state funding for R&D; convening an innovation cabinet with leaders from inside and outside government; increasing access to capital for small businesses and startups; and, providing computer science education to every child in the state’s public schools.

In Virginia, Northam is proposing a new workforce development program called G3 — Get Skilled — Get a Job — Give Back that would be focused on cybersecurity, computer programming, clean energy, healthcare, and other high need areas. He also advocates for apprenticeships and job training for students in high school who do not plan on attending a four-year college; expanding STEAM and computer science curriculums; cutting college costs; and bringing broadband internet to every Virginia community.