SSTI Digest

SSTI has analyzed more recently released state budgets for TBED-related initiatives, and this week we present findings from our review of AZ, GA, IA, IN, UT and VA.    Arizona Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s proposed $9.8 billion FY 2018 budget would support R&D infrastructure at the state’s three public universities (University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University) through the newly-announced University Capital Investment Program. This program would enable universities to use the transaction privilege tax revenues that they generate for as much as $1 billion in bonding for new research and development infrastructure, including deferred maintenance projects. Education is a major emphasis of the governor’s proposed budget, and while the majority of funds go toward teachers and schools more broadly, Ducey also proposes $5 million in new investments to help connect rural schools to high-speed internet, as well as $200,000 to support a new statewide computer science and coding initiative. The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the state’s main economic development arm, would receive $54,969,…

SSTI again presents its latest round of Tech Talkin’ Govs, where governors’ comments about TBED issues are excerpted from their state of the state and inaugural addresses. Today’s roundup includes STEM spending and workforce development in Idaho, education in Arizona, manufacturing in Connecticut and a nod to technological change in North Dakota, inaugural addresses from new governors in Vermont and Indiana, and more reports from governors who gave their addresses on the 10th. Next week the Digest will continue with Part II of Tech Talkin’ Govs featuring news from the next round of addresses. Vermont During the first week of January Gov. Phil Scott gave his inaugural address focusing on the state’s shrinking workforce and its implications to a joint session of the Vermont legislature. “From 2000 to 2010 the number of 25-45 year olds in Vermont decreased by 30,000… This is compounded by our shrinking workforce. Since 2010, we’ve lost 16,000 workers… and that downward trend continues. … But we literally cannot afford to ignore this issue anymore. We must have a laser-focus on attracting…

In an effort to prepare students for post-secondary education that meets the needs of key state industries, Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad signed  HF 2392 into law on May 26. The new law will attempt to modernize Iowa’s career technical education system as well as increase the number of Iowans with a post-secondary education by helping eighth-grade students develop career and academic plans with an emphasis on work-based training; establishing regional partnerships to help schools provide career technical education; and, expanding career technical education to include new areas in key state industries. By requiring regional partnerships between high schools and local employers, state leaders hope to increase the likelihood that young Iowans complete a post-secondary degree at a local community or technical college in an area of demand for state or local employers.  S&T industries identified in the bill include information systems; applied sciences and technology; engineering; manufacturing; and, health sciences. These efforts are intended to help achieve the governor’s goal to have 70 percent of the state’s workforce educated beyond a high school…

A bipartisan group of 17 governors signed the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future – a joint commitment to support the deployment of renewable, cleaner and more efficient energy technologies and other solutions to make the U.S. economy more productive and resilient as well as spur job creation in member states. The multi-state effort will work to implement clean energy policies and initiatives in four areas: clean energy, clean transportation choices, a modern electrical grid, and plan for a new energy future. Although the accord doesn’t provide specific efforts, senior advisors to participating governors are expected to convene shortly to discuss initial steps to pursue their shared priorities and commitments according to solarindustrymag.com. The 17 signatories are: Gov. Jerry Brown (CA); Gov. Dannel Mallory (CT); Gov. Jack Markell (DE); Gov. David Ige (HI); Gov. Terry Branstad (IA); Gov. Charlie Baker (MA); Gov. Rick Snyder (MI); Gov. Mark Dayton (MN); Gov. Brian Sandoval (NV); Gov. Maggie Hassan (NH); Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY); Gov. Kate Brown (OR); Gov. Tom Wolf (PA); Gov. Gina Raimondo (RI); Gov. Peter Shumlin (VT);  Gov. Terry…

Leaders in Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis have teamed up to leverage their respective resources and help build an economic mega-region in the center of the country. The Heartland Civic Collaborative will focus on four main areas of opportunity: transportation, federal advocacy, life science and entrepreneurship. In the coming months, the collaborative plans to begin work on an entrepreneurial metrics dashboard for the participating metros and a map of life sciences research assets. The group also plans to improve the research commercialization pipeline for biomedical and bioenergy research. The initiative’s first event, around transportation futures, will be held next month. Learn more at: http://heartlandciviccollaborative.org.

With the start of the new year, many governors around the country have begun laying out priorities for the next legislative session. In the coming weeks, SSTI will review gubernatorial addresses and budget proposals related to economic development. This week, we highlight developments in Idaho, Iowa and New York. Idaho In his State of the State and Budget Address earlier this week, Gov. Butch Otter emphasized the need for investment in STEM education and building a stronger bridge between the K-12 system and well-paying jobs. To achieve this, the governor hopes to implement the recommendations of a recent educational task force, and to fund a number of STEM-centered initiatives. These include $4 million for the state’s STEM Action Center to fund grants and projects and to match industry contributions. Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget includes $25.3 million for post-secondary education to expand research initiatives, workforce development and educational opportunities. Another $10 million would bolster the state’s STEM Education Fund while $99,000 would be provided to prepare students for university computer science…

The National Governors Association’s (NGA) Center for Best Practices launched the 2016 Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning – a pilot program in six states that blends work experience and applied learning to develop youth and young adults’ foundational and technical skills to expand their education, career and employment opportunities. The goal of the program is to connect 16- to 29-year-olds with middle-skills career opportunities in STEM-intensive industries such as advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology and energy. The six states that will take part in the 18-month pilot program include Indiana, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, and Washington.  Read the press release: http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/2015--news-releases/col2-content/states-look-to-increase-career.default.html. 

Now that many governors have signed spending bills and legislative sessions are drawing to a close, the SSTI Digest will check on the status of proposals related to the innovation economy, and examine the state of technology-based economic development funding in the states. This week, we review spending bills in California, Iowa, Ohio and New Jersey. CaliforniaOn June 24, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a FY16 budget package that includes $115.4 billion in general fund spending. The final budget includes $49.4 billion in general funds for K-12 education, $14.2 for higher education and $214 million for labor and workforce development. Within the higher education allocation, there is $29.1 million in new funding for community college apprenticeship programs, including $14.1 million to expand current programs and $15 million for apprenticeship-demonstration projects in emerging industries. IowaIn early July, Gov. Terry Branstad approved $7.2 billion in general fund spending, but vetoed more than $55.7 million in K-12 education spending and $6.4 million for community colleges and state universities. The economic development budget (SF 499) includes $15.5 million…

Uber and the City of London are among the growing number of backers of a nearly driver-free world. Proponents of autonomous vehicles contend that they will lead to large cost savings for both consumers and transportation organizations while delivering a faster, more efficient transportation experience. However, there are still major strides to be made before the technology can be safely deployed in real world settings. Several U.S. states, cities, and the Canadian Province of Ontario have recently announced initiatives in an attempt to position themselves as leaders in the rapidly growing industries of autonomous and connected cars. MichiganSeveral new initiatives to support the Michigan’s growing autonomous and connected car industry clusters have recently been announced. The long-time home of the U.S. auto industry, Michigan hopes to remain a global hub for next-generation automotive technologies as they evolve.   MICHauto, an economic development program led by the Detroit Regional Chamber, announced the Michigan Mobility Initiative – an effort to support high-tech research and development into self-driving cars, connected vehicles, new…

As governors around the country begin their newest terms, their proposed budgets are beginning to take shape. Although few governors specifically target technology based economic development, after the first wave of budgets a variety of initiatives related to workforce development and higher education have garnered support.    California Gov. Jerry Brown released his proposal for a $164.7 billion budget for FY 2015-16 with a $113.3 billion general fund. As budget deliberations continue until June 15th, it is expected that resistance will come from both the University of California (UC) system and Democratic policymakers hoping to restore the health and social services programs that were reduced during the most recent recession.  Of the general fund, 12.4 percent is projected to go toward higher education, with the UC and the California State University (CSU) system each receiving about $3.1 billion, and the California Community College (CCC) system receiving $8.1 billion. By providing an increase of $119.5 million to both, both the UC system and the CSU system will be able to hold tuition flat. The budget also provides $25 million for…

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced the creation a new public-private partnership to support the development of a statewide, fiber broadband infrastructure with a focus on supporting economic and social prosperity across the commonwealth. The ambitious initiative would provide the entire state with high-speed internet – with the first components scheduled to be operational in less than two years. When completed, the more than 3,000 miles of fiber will be in place across the state. Overall, the project is estimated to cost between $250 million to $350 million over the next 30 years, and will be supported by approximately $30 million in state bonds and $15 million to $20 million in federal grants. The first two years of the plan will focus on the underserved eastern Kentucky region. In addition to infrastructure development, partners also will provide education to residents and business on the benefits and use of broadband. In addition to the economic benefits, the plan also will assist in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, academic research and distance education.  Read the announcement… Iowa Gov. Terry…

Gov. Terry Branstad announced the release of the findings from the Iowa’s Re-envisioned Economic Development Roadmap  – a year-long effort to set a future strategic direction for economic development in Iowa. During the year-long study, the authors from Battelle examined the current position of Iowa’s economy as compared to the nation and benchmarked states. The authors concluded that Iowa has made substantial economic progress over the last decade, resulting in positive trends in Iowa’s top-line measures including increased productivity, job growth, wages, and per capita income. To maintain this positive growth, the authors outlined recommendations in four key areas including: build on the competitiveness and growth of Iowa’s industry clusters; generate and attract skilled workforce; accelerate the development of the state’s emerging entrepreneurial eco-system; and, advance physical infrastructure and regional development capacities. The Battelle Technology Partnership Practice was commissioned to complete the study by the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and the Iowa Business Council to conduct this comprehensive analysis…