SSTI Digest

Despite projected deficits in several Western and Great Plains states, governors in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming recently unveiled budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, providing level or increased funds for research priorities and workforce training central to each state's economic vitality. The following is an overview of the budget recommendations outlined by the respective governors. Montana Last month, Gov. Brian Schweitzer unveiled a two-year budget that provides several one-time appropriations for workforce training to ensure the state remains competitive in the global economy and sets aside $250 million in reserves. The fiscal year 2010-11 budget proposal includes $73.2 million over the biennium for the Department of Commerce. Included in the governor's request is $100,000 each fiscal year to seed the Montana Fund of Funds, which was created in 2005 under the Montana Equity Capital Act but never funded (see the Dec. 19, 2007 issue of the Digest). New proposals within the Department of Commerce include $8 million over the biennium to provide workforce training grants under the New Worker Training program and $1.6 million over…

Steve Bazinet has been hired as executive director of the Maine Center for Enterprise Development. Rahindra Bose is Ohio University's new vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the graduate college. David Fouts was selected as the next president and chief executive of MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network. Fouts replaces Fatima Weathers, who served for a year as acting president. Denichiro Otsuga was named the first director of technology transfer at South Dakota State University. Harris Pastides was selected to replace Andrew Sorensen as University of South Carolina system president. Sorenson retired after six years at the helm. Linden Rhoads was appointed as vice provost of the University of Washington's TechTransfer unit. Rhoads starts her new position Aug. 14. Hunter Roberts, South Dakota's interim state energy director, was appointed to the post of energy policy director. Brent Tolman is the new executive director of the Workforce Development Alliance in Idaho. Sterling Wharton was hired as program director for Georgia's Centers of Innovation program.

In the midst of a national economic downturn, coupled with stagnant to little growth in wages for even college-educated individuals, state efforts to build a qualified workforce and attract industries in emerging fields that pay above-average wages are crucial to ensuring economic growth.   A recent report on income trends issued jointly by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute finds that one in five U.S. families has a lower income today than they did at the start of the decade. Analyzing state-by-state income trends over the past 20 years, the report also finds a long-standing trend of growing inequality between families in the wealthiest income bracket and those in the middle- to lower-income brackets. In fact, while incomes have declined by 2.5 percent among the bottom fifth of U.S. families since the late 1990s, the data indicates that incomes have increased by 9.1 percent among the top fifth. Wage inequality is listed as the top contributing factor to the income disparity. An examination of income trends since the late 1980s through mid 2000s reveals that in 36 states, the income gap has widened…

Three states recently wrapped up their 2008 legislative sessions, resulting in the passage of operating and capital budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. State lawmakers approved funding for new and existing TBED initiatives aimed at diversifying the states' economies through increased investments in energy programs, higher education research initiatives and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.  South Dakota Lawmakers agreed to Gov. Mike Rounds’ recommendation of a one-time appropriation of $3.8 million for construction-related expenditures and $887,000 in operating costs to supplement an $8 million grant for a high speed data network connecting universities and research centers across the state (see the Dec. 12, 2007 issue of the Digest).   The legislature also supported a bond proposal for science facility and laboratory upgrades at the state’s six public universities. HB 1085 authorizes the South Dakota Building Authority to finance up to $74.5 million through the issuance of bonds for projects that are part of an overall strategy to boost the state’s research…

A complete description of this opportunity and others is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. South Dakota State University is creating a new office of technology transfer and is hiring a director to lead this new office. Some of the responsibilities for this position include working with inventors to file invention disclosures and to determine commercial potential; marketing intellectual property and managing the intellectual property protection process; developing training programs; ensuring compliance with policies and procedures relative to technology transfer and commercialization; and drafting and reviewing agreements to advance research opportunities. An MBA, MS, MA or PSM degree in an appropriate field is required.

Just as several states have announced projected budget shortfalls, at least three governors have revealed stable fiscal conditions for the coming year with proposed funding to support new and expanded education and research initiatives.   South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds unveiled his fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation to lawmakers last week, which includes funding for construction and operation of a high-speed data network connecting universities and research centers across the state. The High Speed Research, Education and Economic Development Network is a dim-fiber optic solution that will enable all six universities, the underground laboratory at Homestake Mine, University Center, EROS data center, and state government to share massive amounts of research data with scientists worldwide by utilizing the highest network speeds available, according to the governor’s press office. The bulk of the construction costs - $8 million - is provided through a grant from the Great Plains Education Foundation. Gov. Rounds is recommending $3.8 million in FY09 general funds for remaining construction costs and $887,000 in…

Gov. Mike Rounds recently announced that South Dakota will join a national partnership, led by many of the country's leading information and communication technology (ICT) companies, to improve science and technology education and the skill set of the state's high-tech workforce. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an ICT advocacy organization, will advise the state on designing curriculum that meets the needs of software, electronics, networking, telecommunications and Internet-based companies. South Dakota is the fifth state to partner with the organization, which will begin a full assessment of the state's K-12 and higher education system later this year.   Gov. Rounds has created the P21 Advisory Council, a new advisory body, as part of plans for the organization. The 20-member council includes leaders from South Dakota businesses, universities, the governor's office and the state legislature. Council members will help translate the partnership's framework for 21st century education into policies that will address the specific needs of the South Dakota ICT economy.   The partnership will augment the governor's…

South Dakota recently announced it is reorganizing its programs to support entrepreneurs and high-tech start-ups. Instead of offering assistance to new firms through small, targeted programs, the state will reallocate the funding for these smaller programs into a larger fund with fewer restrictions on how that money can be spent. The change will allow the state greater leeway to assist expanding businesses, many of which were not eligible for the existing support programs. Mike Youngberg, finance manager of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, believes the change in tactics will help the state target higher-paying, high-tech jobs through its support programs and help retain its high-tech businesses. Earlier this month, the South Dakota state legislature voted to end two smaller programs that offered funding to start-ups and their investors. The programs were created in 2004 and 2005 as sub-funds of the state's Revolving Economic Development and Initiative (REDI) Fund. South Dakota's Entrepreneur Support Program provided loans of up to $50,000 to help entrepreneurs begin building their business and seeking other forms of capital. This program…

South Dakota State University named Teresa McKnight as the first permanent director of the Innovation Campus at SDSU, the university's new research park.

The University of South Dakota appointed Terry Young as the director of research and development, a newly created position.

The South Dakota Biotech Association (SDBIO) is seeking an executive director to manage and coordinate its daily operations, communications initiatives, government relations, member services, and marketing. The executive director will establish a yearly budget and determine funding sources, develop a strategic plan for growth and expansion, and carry out duties, as set by the board of directors. A bachelor's degree is required; an MBA or J.D. degree is preferred. Background experience with government or business also is preferred. More information on this opportunity and others is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

William Even was named South Dakota's new economic development director.