SSTI Digest

Fifteen years ago this week, the SSTI Weekly Digest launched with two pages faxed to a distribution list of 56. We faxed it on Fridays because, at the time, Sprint offered free faxing on Fridays. When we started the Digest, one of our board members expressed concern about not having enough material to produce a weekly newsletter; as it turned out, that's never been a problem. As technology has changed, so has the Digest, and we're always looking for the best ways to communicate and get out the news. It seems fitting that after 15 years of publishing the Digest, SSTI would launch a Facebook page. Betty White said on her Facebook-generated appearance on Saturday Night Live, "I didn't know what Facebook was. And now that I know what it is, I have to say it sounds like a huge waste of time." We promise that if you "like" us on Facebook, it won't be a waste of your time. It will be a primary mechanism for getting you the latest news as fast as we can.

National recognition for your organization's achievements is priceless. Past recipients of SSTI's Excellence in TBED Award tell us the recognition has helped to generate positive publicity, raise funds, and attract the attention of key stakeholders and legislators. SSTI's 2011 awards program kicks off May 17 with an open call for applications. The awards showcase initiatives that greatly impact state and regional economies through successful and innovative efforts to: Commercialize and Expand Research Capacity; Increase Access to Capital; Build a Culture of Entrepreneurship; and Improve the Competitiveness of Existing Industries. Entry fees are $75 for SSTI members and $95 for non-members. Learn more about the program and our past recipients: http://www.ssti.org/Awards.

Facing massive government deficits and stagnant regional economies, many states are exploring new options for their economic development activities. Three states recently have taken steps towards eliminating their primary economic development agencies, and replacing them with public-private partnerships, intended to reduce state spending and improve the responsiveness of state efforts.

ArizonaLast week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed off on a comprehensive economic competitiveness package. The centerpiece of the legislation is the elimination of the Arizona Department of Commerce, and the creation of a new Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). Brewer says that the restructuring is needed to streamline the responsibilities that had been accumulated by the Commerce Department and to clarify the state's focus on creating new jobs. Many of the programs currently associated with the department may be permanently eliminated, including the state's energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment office, the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program, the Arizona Main Street program and many of the state's technology programs.

Hosted by TechColumbus, SSTI's 15th Annual Conference will be held at the Hyatt on Capital Square in Columbus, Ohio on November 8-9, 2011. Past attendees know SSTI's conference is the premier event for sharing ideas on the best ways to encourage technology-based economic development and foster regional prosperity in a global economy. And 2011 will be no exception.

Central Ohio provides an excellent backdrop to celebrate SSTI's 15th Annual Conference. The state has made science and technology a central focus for its economic development investments, making Columbus a perfect choice to showcase successful technology-based economic development practices and strategies.

With support from the Greater Cleveland Partnership, NorTech (the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition) is accepting applications for the two positions below:

The Energy Enterprise Senior Consultant, reporting to the vice president and director, Energy Enterprise, is a key member of the NorTech Energy Enterprise team. NorTech Energy Enterprise is leading a collaborative regional effort to drive growth across all sectors in advanced energy and develop a thriving advanced energy industry cluster in which public, private and academic partners create and grow new technologies. The FlexMatters Senior Consultant is a key member of the NorTech FlexMatters team. NorTech FlexMatters is the regional innovation cluster emerging around the flexible electronics industry in Northeast Ohio. Flexible electronics is a new science and manufacturing opportunity for printing electronic devices on flexible plastic materials.

Maine Governor Paul LePage named Phillip Congdon as the new commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Cogndon is a licensed professional engineer who spent more than 20 years with Texas Instruments in Dallas. He replaces Acting Commissioner Thaxter Trafton.

Ohio Governor John Kasich announced Mark Kvamme, a partner at Sequoia Capital, will serve as the interim state development director. The Silicon Valley venture capitalist has agreed to do the job for a dollar.

Former NorTech CEO Dorothy Baunach will be Cuyahoga County's interim economic development director.

Ken Bloemer, executive director of the U.S.A. National Innovation Marketplace, will replace Phil Doepker as director of the University of Dayton, Innovation Center.

The Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is seeking a new president who will play a leading role in developing strategy for modernizing Oklahoma's industrial base. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership skills, demonstrated administrative ability, entrepreneurial management skills, organizational awareness, political sensitivity, and the ability to establish rapport with numerous constituencies. The position requires executive experience in managing budgets, contracts, and operations for a major company or organization.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the selection of 10 regional economic development and job creation efforts through a new pilot program, Innovative Economies, that supports small business participation in regional economic clusters. SBA's funding is designed to expand the opportunities and the role small businesses play in these regional collaborations. The awardees were selected from among 173 applicants. Awards went to organizations in: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. Read the full release

Four organizations were named winners of SSTI's 2010 Excellence in TBED Award, serving as national models for states and regions investing in science, technology and innovation to grow and sustain their economies and create high-paying jobs.

"We're very excited to share with the country the success stories from these four organizations," said Dan Berglund, SSTI President and CEO. "Communities and regions across the nation working to transform their economies can learn from the positive results demonstrated by these organizations selected in part for their ability to be successfully replicated."

Awards were presented Wed., Sept. 15 in Pittsburgh during SSTI's 14th Annual Conference, Accelerating Innovation: The Road Ahead for Technology-based Economic Development, attended by some of the nation's top economic development policymakers and practitioners. The following initiatives were named 2010 recipients of SSTI's Excellence in TBED Award:

Kevin Carr was named CEO of Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp., after serving as interim leader since June 2009. KTEC is a public-private partnership charged with promoting tech-based economic development throughout the state.

Jo Anne Goodnight will resign her position as director, Division of Special Programs for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) SBIR/STTR program effective Sept. 17 after 21 years at NIH. Ms. Goodnight has accepted a program manager position in the private sector.

Kerry Taylor was hired as first director of the state-created aerospace innovation hub in Dayton, OH. Kerry, who retired from the Air Force in 2005, will focus on attracting more aerospace companies to the Dayton area.

TechColumbus is seeking a director of Information Technology Commercialization responsible for the business development of TechColumbus client companies, including assessment, evaluation and organized assistance to Information Technology/Computer Science client companies, with emphasis on proactive advising and guidance resulting in company success and wealth creation. The director also is responsible for the assessment, evaluation and recommendation of Information Technology prospects to engage as future clients for the TechColumbus commercialization process, as well as the preparation of required reports, documents and presentations on behalf of TechColumbus, the state of Ohio, stakeholders, and as needed. Essential activities and tasks include coaching and mentoring incubator and non-incubator clients, recruiting and screening incubator client companies, collaborating on the submission of and providing input to grant proposals and financial reports, community outreach and networking on behalf of TechColumbus.

Pennsylvania invites all SSTI conference attendees to a networking reception at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Tuesday, Sept. 14. Guests can immerse themselves in 17 distinct botanical experiences while exploring this thriving attraction that showcases advanced green-building practices, sustainable gardening and a new environmental awareness.

The event promises to be a wonderful environment to reconnect with colleagues and network with conference attendees, speakers, and our local hosts over cocktails, delicious hors d'oeuvres and an array of innovative food stations.

Transportation to and from the Omni William Penn and the event will be provided, beginning at 6:15 PM.

The reception is made possible by the support of the conference's 27 Local Sponsors.