SSTI Digest

The best path to breaking the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next is a college degree, according to a new Brookings Institution report. Getting Ahead or Losing Ground: Economic Mobility in America reveals 41 percent of degree-holding people whose parents’ income placed their families in the bottom 20 percent of the population, or quintile, now have incomes placing them among the top 40 percent. Conversely, only 16 percent of college degree holders originally from the lowest income group remained in the bottom income quintile in adulthood. The balance, 47 percent of degree-holders from the lowest income population, move up either one or two income quintiles.   Further evidence of the importance a college education plays on breaking poverty is provided by those who do not obtain a degree. Only 14 percent of adults from a lowest economic group who do not attain a college degree make the ascent to the top 40 percent by income, the report states. Forty-five percent of non-degree people growing up in the lowest quintile remain there in adulthood.  

BioConnect of Greater Charlotte, a new networking group for Charlotte, N.C.-area workers in life-science-related fields, held its inaugural meeting earlier this month. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has hired Yonnie Butler as business development director of its business and technology development unit. Bob Calcaterra announced he is resigning as president of the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, effective this spring, to help form a venture capital fund. James Ellick is taking a leave of absence as director of the Idaho Department of Commerce for personal reasons. Bo Fishback is the new vice president of entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation.

BioConnect of Greater Charlotte, a new networking group for Charlotte, N.C.-area workers in life-science-related fields, held its inaugural meeting earlier this month.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has hired Yonnie Butler as business development director of its business and technology development unit.

Bob Calcaterra announced he is resigning as president of the Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, effective this spring, to help form a venture capital fund.

James Ellick is taking a leave of absence as director of the Idaho Department of Commerce for personal reasons.

Bo Fishback is the new vice president of entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation.

A number of regional economic development organizations in Tennessee have formed a partnership called Innovation Valley Inc. Partners in Innovation Valley Inc. include the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, Loudon County Economic Development Agency, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership, The Roane Alliance and Tellico Reservoir Development Agency.

Dr. Cynthia McIntyre was named senior vice president of the Council on Competitiveness.

Egils Milbergs was appointed director of Washington's newly formed Economic Development Commission.

David Rooney will replace Tyler Fairbank as president of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp., effective next month. Rooney leaves the Empire State Development Corp. as its regional director.

Helene Schember became the first executive director of the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future Dec. 3, joining the center as its first full-time staff member.