SSTI Digest

Trisha Batra was named executive director of Absolutely! Aberdeen, an economic development group serving the Aberdeen, S.D., area.

In last week's Useful Stats article, we incorrectly reported that South Dakota ranked last among states experiencing a public high school graduation rate less than the national average for the 2002-03 school year; in fact, the state ranked 19th. South Carolina had the lowest graduation rate for that year. We regret the error.

The South Dakota Board of Regents announced that Scott Meyer will become system vice president of research, effective June 26.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds selected Richard Benda as the new Secretary for the Department of Tourism and State Development.

The South Dakota Biotech Industry Association, a new resource for biotech companies in the state, has formed.

While many states will lay out strategic plans with quantifiable goals to measure success, South Dakota in 2003 was one of the first SSTI noticed to use a specific target for its gross state product (GSP) as one of the measures. According to the latest annual review, South Dakota officials feel they are making significant strides in its goal of adding $10 billion to its GSP by 2010. Using the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the 2005 progress report reveals the state's GSP increased by 21.9 percent between 2001-2004 and, from 2003-2004, the state experienced an increase of 7.6 percent, or $5.4 billion. Comparatively, South Dakota is among the top states to increase GSP over the 2003-2004 period. Only 13 other states saw higher increases. At the top was Nevada, with an increase of 11.8 percent, followed by Arizona at 9 percent and Arkansas at 8.5 percent. Michigan had the lowest increase, 3.5 percent. Additionally, South Dakota's employment growth was twice that of the nation in 2005, according to Jafar Karim, director of the Governor's Office of Economic…

Increased funding for research centers, a laptop program, and investments in higher education were highlighted in South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds' fiscal year 2007 budget address last month. While the governor’s FY07 recommendation for Economic Development is $3.4 million, only a 3 percent increase over the budgeted FY06 amount, the Division of Research and Commerce would receive $4.8 million -- an increase of 37 percent over last year. Included in this amount is a $1 million increase to fund research centers under the 2010 Initiative and $280,000 to fund Centers for Entrepreneurship. Gov. Rounds touted the 2010 Initiative, stating that over the last two years, the state’s $2.8 million investment into four research centers had a $21.4 million economic impact within the state. The Centers for Entrepreneurship, a new initiative proposed by the governor, would facilitate public and private partnerships to develop programs and activities that support young business leaders. The governor also is asking for $13 million for the first year of a three-year, $39 million program to…

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds announced that Jim Hagen will resign as secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development, effective Jan. 17.

Mel Ustad, current interim vice president for research at the University of South Dakota, is the new director of the state's first Office of Commercialization.

To fulfill a goal within the state's 2010 Initiative of becoming a recognized leader in research and technology development, the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development will operate an Office of Commercialization under the direction of Mel Ustad, current Interim Vice President for Research at the University of South Dakota. The Office of Commercialization serves two purposes, according to Jim Hagen, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. Its main function will be to coordinate technology transfer from university and private research centers to the private sector. The office also will facilitate the commercialization of that research, Hagen said. Ustad said he would focus on trying to create new technology ventures at the universities and to more effectively coordinate the entrepreneurial activity of various entities in the state. The 2010 Initiative consists of five goals for economic growth and visitor spending in the state by the year 2010. More information on the Initiative is available at: http://www.2010initiative.com/index.htm

Jafar Karim is the new director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development in South Dakota.

Gov. Mike Rounds announced Steve Zellmer will replace Dave Snyder, who resigned his position as board member for the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. Zellmer previously served as Commissioner, Bureau of Finance and Management and Secretary of Revenue in Pierre.