SSTI Digest

Paul Hiller has stepped down as CEO of the Riverside, Calif.-based Inland Empire Economic Partnership to be the executive director of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne recently received some good news about his future when President Bush nominated him to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior. The news was not as rosy on the home front for Idaho's economic future, however, as the state legislature in late March rejected the governor's plans for Idaho to take a more proactive role toward building a tech-based economy. Funding for key science and technology programs included in Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's fiscal year 2007 budget request was rejected by the legislature last month as lawmakers considered how to disburse a $214 million surplus. The governor announced during his state-of-the-state address he would recommend the full request of the Science and Technology Advisory Council for the state's TechConnect program and increased funding for university research and technology transfer. For the second year in a row, the legislature denied the governor's request of $300,000 to supplement the state's TechConnect centers. The three centers assist entrepreneurs and technology businesses in their regions and connect…

Cliff Long is the first full-time economic development director for Nampa, Idaho. Long had worked for the Idaho Department of Commerce for the past 14 years.

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne named Idaho National Lab Director John Grossenbacher as the new chairman of the Governor's Science & Technology Advisory Council.

Friday's issue of the Idaho SBIR Competition Newsletter brought to our attention two announcements from the SBA regarding the SBIR Program. Proposed changes for the program were included in the Dec. 3 online issue of the Federal Register. We reprint an extended excerpt of the text from the Idaho SBIR Competition Newsletter verbatim below, with our great appreciation for the work of Dr. Chris Busch, consultant to the University of Idaho EPSCoR Program, and Dr. Jean'ne Shreeve, Idaho EPSCoR/IDeA project director. The SBA rule change published today (3 Dec 2004) in the Federal Register establishes the following requirement for an SBIR awardee: It must be a for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States (as the regulations currently require); or it must be a for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by another for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of,…

Eastern Idaho Economic Development Council has changed its name to Grow Idaho Falls Inc. to better convey its mission.

Boise Gains First Angel Investor Network The Boise Angel Alliance, the city's first angel investor network, was launched in June drawing about 50 investors to its first session, The Idaho Statesman reported. The Idaho Office of Science & Technology and the venture capital committee of the Boise Metro Economic Development Council, which together formed the alliance, said they expect to run the network on their own. A screening committee reviews the plans set forth by companies that must then make a 10-minute presentation at the angel meetings, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session. Investors may privately contact the companies afterwards if they are interested. Illinois Commits $50 Million for VC Fund Although a modest amount compared to other state initiatives, Illinois will invest $50 million in venture capital funds that the state treasury department promises will create jobs and provide a good return. The Technology Development Fund will not invest directly in companies, but rather in venture funds based in the state to minimize risk, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the Tribune, former Gov. George Ryan…

Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne dedicated a portion of Monday's State of the State and Budget Address to describing how tight the 2005 fiscal environment would be for his state. The temporary sales tax will lapse, costing the state $170 million in foregone revenue. The one-time $83 million in federal bailout funds are depleted. State employees will get a 27th biweekly paycheck this calendar year, resulting in an additional budgetary burden of approximately $20 million. That $273 million could represent 13 percent of the state's $2.083 billion budget. Add an $11 million expected increase in health insurance for state workers and the ever-escalating cost of Medicare, and the forecast is less than rosy. As a result, the opportunity to let a couple of small tax credits expire quietly – tax credits affecting only a small portion of the governor's constituency and costing more than $2.5 million – might be appealing. Instead, the governor singled out the Broadband Tax Credit and Research & Development Tax Credit in his speech to remind state legislators of the role the credits are playing…

The Acting Director for the Idaho Department of Commerce is Roger Madsen. Madsen also is serving as director of the state Department of Labor.

The Idaho Economic Development Association has named Jan Rogers as new president.

LaMoyne Hyde, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, also announced he will resign his position by the end of the year.

Bill Shipp, president of Bechtel BWXT Idaho and lab director of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, is retiring effective Oct. 25. Paul Divjak will be his replacement.