State & Local Tech-based ED Round Up

Alaska 

The Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium (POWTEC) is a high-tech reality today, thanks to the collaborative efforts of two tribal governments and a Bellevue, Wash., company, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Established by the Craig Community Association, the Organized Village of Kasaan and n-Link, POWTEC is an information technology company which supplies computer services to the federal government. Plans for the company include using federal set-asides for small, disadvantaged and tribally owned firms and maintaining a computer training center linked to the University of Alaska Southeast and the Northwest Indian College in Bellingham, Wash. A $600,000 federal rural development grant is helping fund the center. 



Maine 

The Loring Applied Technology Center became the second of seven technology centers scheduled to open across the state, according to the Bangor Daily News. The center was made possible due to $500,000 from the Legislature and a $400,000 grant from the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Comprised of more than 42,000 sq. ft., the center offers new business marketing help, business counseling, conference rooms, Internet access, and video conferencing technology. Seven areas of the center meant for the set-up of manufacturing services average between 2,000 and 5,000 sq. ft. each. Another 14,000 sq. ft. is shared area for office space, a loading dock and warehouse storage. The first technology center opened in South Portland; remaining centers are planned for Eastport, Fairfield, Orono, Rumford, and Sanford. 



Nebraska 

Two rural cities in Nebraska with a combined population of 6,280 have taken a big step toward bringing high-speed commerce to businesses and growing tech-oriented enterprises, according to a story in the Omaha World-Herald. The cities, Aurora and Superior, are creating the Aurora Technology Business Incubator and growing the Superior Business Development and Technology Center, respectively. The Aurora project, which began in June, involves completing renovations to a 10,900 sq. ft. abandoned nursing home. Companies seeking space may qualify for reduced rent by participating in the incubator's training programs. The project is being financed by nearly $105,000 in grants. The Superior center stems from a $41,000 grant via the Nebraska Information Technology Fund in November 1999. The center currently offers business and technology training classes and houses the Stateline Business Development Association — an organization which boasts a revolving loan program that allows businesses a $1,000 loan upon which they may build a credit history. 



South Dakota 

Teachers, administrators and university faculty from across the state gathered in Rapid City October 2-3 to learn from national experts in education technology. The Distance Learning Showcase, a conference hosted by Gov. Bill Janklow, featured eight award winners from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), who offered advice on future use of the Digital Dakota Network (DDN) — the state's education technology system that links schools, universities, libraries and other facilities throughout South Dakota. Also present was USDLA Executive Director John Flores and representatives of Northern State University describing their mission change to a distance learning center for South Dakota. 



Tennessee 

Memphis Incubator Systems is experiencing an 18-year property tax freeze on office space that will arise from a $3.1 million renovation of a warehouse, the Commercial Appeal reported. The incubator should save about $1.5 million over 18 years due to the freeze approved by the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. The incubator also is the beneficiary of a $90,000 loan which was approved by the Center City Development Corp.