SSTI Digest

The second installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, and New Mexico. Our first installment was in the Jan. 11 Digest. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, State of the State Address, Jan. 19, 2012 "I also thank you for working with me to create a merit scholarship that gives all Alaska's children an incentive to complete a more rigorous high school curriculum. ... "... In its first year, this scholarship has been a remarkable success. Now we must secure it for future years. This legislative session, let us take the $400 million that we set aside last year, and build a strong fence of moral obligation around it. Let us create a fund for that money so the fund's earnings can pay for these scholarships for future generations." Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2012 "We established the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) to foster collaboration and idea-sharing across private sector, academic and public lines, including the 29 research laboratories in Colorado. ... "... COIN gives us a unique opportunity to incubate entrepreneurship and facilitate the transfer of new ideas to the…

Louisiana and Texas voters approved measures to provide funding sources for student loans while voters in Colorado rejected a measure that would have temporarily increased taxes to offset cuts for public schools and colleges. Meanwhile, Ohio voters repealed a bill passed earlier this year limiting collective-bargaining rights of state employees. Official results are outlined below:Colorado Proposition 103 was defeated 64 percent to 36 percent, reports The Denver Post. The measure would have increased the state income tax to 5 percent from 4.63 percent and the sales tax to 3 percent from 2.9 percent. Revenue generated from the increase would have been used to help fund education in the state.Louisiana Voters passed Amendment 1 with 67 percent approval. The measure re-directs tobacco settlement proceeds to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship program once the balance in the state's Millennium Trust Fund reaches $1.38 billion. The scholarship program is available for state residents who attend public colleges or universities.Ohio Voters approved a referendum to repeal SB 5 by a margin of 61-39 percent. The measure would have limited collective…

Just three months after unveiling a statewide regional economic development plan, Gov. John Hickenlooper released a new version of the document that speeds up timelines and adds more specific measurable outcomes to the plan's 24 job creation strategies. The governor also submitted a budget proposal for FY13 that calls for additional funds to help the Economic Development Commission attract high-wage jobs and support initiatives that address distinct market barriers in the energy sector. The Colorado Blueprint: A Bottom-up Approach to Economic Development, was developed with input from all of the state's 64 counties and provides benchmarks to measure achievement of the 24 action items, which are focused around six areas, including cultivating innovation and technology (see the July 27, 2011 issue of the Digest). In the newest version, the plan calls for development of a comprehensive statewide industry cluster strategy in the next three months, rather than the next nine months. Revisions also include an increased focus on local and regional infrastructure development and a structure for engaging industry partners in promoting the Colorado brand through the…

In what is considered typical for an odd-numbered year, only 34 questions have been certified in nine statewide ballots this election year. Some of those measures include redirecting funds to support higher education, revenue enhancements for states, and repealing legislation that limits collective bargaining for public employees. Ballot Initiatives ColoradoVoters in Colorado will decide on a measure to increase the state income and sales tax to 5 percent and 3 percent, up from 4.63 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. Reports estimate the measure would generate about $3 billion to help fund education. The measure is Proposistion 103. LouisianaAmendment 1 would re-direct Tobacco Settlement Proceeds to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship program once the balance in the state's Millennium Trust Fund reaches $1.38 billion. The scholarship program is available for state residents who attend public colleges or universities. OhioIssue 2 is a veto referendum on legislation passed earlier this year that limits collective bargaining for public employees in the state. If upheld, SB 5 only would permit public…

A newly established policy academy providing guidance and technical assistance will help seven states improve their environment for innovation and align state R&D investments, workforce development and education systems with current and future needs of advanced manufacturing industries. The policy academy will help each state develop a plan or overcome barriers for putting a plan into action through a highly interactive team-based process that includes input from NGA, MEP, EDA, SSTI, private sector consultants, and research organizations. Participating states include Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Ideas and strategies resulting from the academy's work will serve as models for all states. NIST, MEP and EDA are providing funding, leadership and technical assistance to the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. Learn more...

Maria Haley, the executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission passed way Sept. 13 after suffering a brain aneurysm. The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration announced Matthew Erskine will join the agency as the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and chief operations officer. Tom Palisin has been named the acting deputy director of the Technology Investment Office at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The University of Utah selected Bryan Ritchie to be the next director of its Technology Commercialization Office. Paul Washington has been named Denver's director of economic development. John Ryan has been named the director of the Vermont Agriculture Development Program. The new program will provide comprehensive technical support to help the state's value-added food enterprises manage their growth. Two administrators in Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology have been appointed to assistant vice president positions. Larry Michael was named assistant vice president…

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper unveiled the Colorado Blueprint: A Bottom-up Approach to Economic Development, "a document that responds to outlines the steps that will be taken by the Hickenlooper Administration over the next few years to support and promote economic development across Colorado. "The plan consists of six focus areas and 24 action items to spur the state's economic development. The six areas are: Making Colorado more business friendly; Recruiting and retaining businesses; Increasing access to loans for businesses; Increasing tourism; Workforce training; and, Cultivating innovation and technology.   Each of the six focus areas include four action items, such as establishing a cluster-focused Information Technology Economic Development Advisory Council and creating a "demand-driven" workforce system. Other Technology-based economic development related initiatives include expanding venture and angel capital programs; increasing availability of quality entrepreneurial training; aligning the efforts of education, workforce training and economic development; and implementing the governor's Innovation Initiative and…

Much of the recent economic recovery plans coming from governors across the country have focused on growing and nurturing existing businesses through a regional approach to economic development. The idea is that by identifying and defining the unique needs of a region, policymakers and practitioners can then provide the necessary tools and resources to grow industries likely to succeed within a given region, thus improving the overall economic landscape of the state. This approach is happening both in states and at the local level. New Governors Look to Regional Economic Development to Boost Job CreationMany of the nation's new 28 governors elected last November came into office with bold proposals to create jobs in the sluggish economy by developing regional plans. New York's recently enacted budget provides $130 million in funding and $70 million in tax credits to establish 10 regional economic development councils expected to debut this month. The councils will compete for the funds and prioritize economic development projects in their respective regions. Meanwhile, the re-vamped Michigan Economic Development Corporation plans to distribute a portion of…

Gov John Hickenlooper recently signed legislation expanding eligibility for Colorado's Innovation Investment Tax Credit (CIITC). The program provides angel investors with an income tax credit equal to 15 percent of their investment in Colorado small businesses that are less than five years old and are involved in research and development. Originally, the program allowed investors to claim the credits for investments made during the 2010 tax year. Under the new legislation, investments made after 2010 will be eligible until the remaining funds are exhausted. In addition, the rules regarding qualified businesses have been loosened. The CIITC program was introduced in 2009 as a pilot program administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development. The state Economic Development Commission provided $750,000 to cover the tax credits, of which $550,000 was allocated to investors. As per the original legislation, the remaining $200,000 could not be used for additional credits. The new bill authorizes $100,000 in both FY11 and FY12 to provide the entire planned amount of tax credits. Credits are currently available to investors making investments of at least $25,…

Lawmakers added another five years to the life of a bioscience program established in 2008 to encourage bioscience research and speed technology commercialization (see the May 14, 2008 issue of the Digest). Gov. John Hickenlooper this week signed into law HB 1283 extending the state's Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant program through July 2018. The enacted budget includes $5.5 million in FY12 from gambling tax revenues for the program to distribute proof-of-concept grants and provide support for early stage bioscience companies and infrastructure. Another bill passed during the session will set up seed funding for bioscience companies using the growth of future income tax withholdings from the biotech and clean-tech industries. SB 47 takes 50 percent of the future growth of income tax withholdings from the clean-tech and bioscience industries and puts them in funds to be used as seed money for startup companies and inventions, reports the Denver Business Journal. It is expected to generate about $2 million per year for each industry. The measure awaits action from Gov. Hickenlooper. The appropriations bill for FY12 signed into law by the governor also…

Included below are recent development plans and groundbreaking news for research parks announced by officials in Connecticut, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Lawmakers last week advanced a bill to provide $25 million for a new research park at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as part of the Innovation Campus. The Innovation Campus includes a life sciences research center and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Research facility, reports Bloomberg. University of Connecticut officials announced a plan to build an $18 million tech park financed with state bonds. The tech park will house large, flexible-use laboratories with specialized equipment for research and will provide space for business incubators and individual companies. The plan also includes $2.5 million in state funds to create the Innovation Partners Eminent Faculty program designed to attract top scientists. The Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) and private sector companies will develop a research park focused on aerospace and clean energy research in Colorado following the Space Act Agreement signed in December…

Alabama then-Governor-elect Robert Bentley on January 3 named former House Speaker Seth Hammett as director of the Alabama Development Office, replacing Interim Director Linda Swann. He also appointed the president of the Birmingham-based Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Bill Taylor, to lead efforts to grow and retain existing Alabama industries, while at the same time recruiting new businesses to the state. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper nominated Dwayne Romero, president of Related Snowmass, to be the new director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Florida Governor Rick Scott fired John Adams, the current president of Enterprise Florida, so that he can choose a new leader to help promote his job creation and economic development agenda. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton chose Mark Phillips, director of development at Kraus Anderson Construction, as his commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the nomination of Kenneth Adams as president and CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation. Gov. Cuomo said the appointment is part of his plan to…