SSTI Digest

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans to direct $200 million in existing funds to establish 10 regional economic development councils to allocate funds and provide business assistance programs across the state. At the same time, the governor would consolidate programs supporting high-tech companies currently administered by the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) with the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) — a move he says will eliminate duplicative functions and save the state $1.9 million in the coming year. A majority of the funds slated for the councils ($130.6 million) would come from reprioritizing and redirecting existing economic development funds for competitively determined project grants, according to budget documents. The councils, made up of state government, business, community, and academic leaders, would compete for the funds based on economic development plans. Another $70 million would be provided in tax credits through the enhanced Excelsior Jobs Program. The FY12 executive budget recommends $310.8 million for ESDC, which includes funding for programs currently administered by NYSTAR. The High…

The third installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs' series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The first and second installments are available in the Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 editions of the Digest. ColoradoGov. John Hickenlooper, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2011"We also hope that every bill you consider passing will be viewed through the lens of its impact on our economic growth. ... "... For example, we know there are several bills you are considering that will establish a venture capital fund for small businesses. We will work with you on these proposals and create strong public-private partnerships. GeorgiaGov. Nathan Deal, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2011"... Let me highlight some of the projects I propose for bond funding... $15 million for funding for STEM charter schools that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, areas that are vital to our competiveness in the global economy." Nebraska — See related story in this week's DigestGov. Dave Heineman, State of the State Address,…

SSTI Board member Phillip Singerman has been named as the Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He will assume this position on January 31. Alabama Gov.-elect Robert Bentley named former house speaker Seth Hammett as the director of the Alabama Development Office. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced he will become director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University effective Feb. 1. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder named Michael Finney, current president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, as the new Michigan Economic Development Corp. director, replacing Greg Main. Ann Arbor SPARK announced the appointment of Skip Simms as interim president and CEO. New Mexico Gov.-elect Susana Martinez named businessman Jon Barela as the new secretary for the Department of Economic Development. Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett named Alan Walker as secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Walker, who is the president and CEO of Bradford Energy Company, also currently serves as a member and is past chair of the board of directors of both the…

With the end of federal stimulus funding for higher education on the horizon, states are considering proposals to retool current funding formulas for colleges and universities and looking to alternative funding sources to sustain their programs and services in the coming years. Ahead of the 2011 legislative session, groups commissioned by governors in Colorado and Virginia recommended a voter-approved tax and more stable funding streams from the state, respectively. In Texas, the Higher Education Coordinating Board endorsed a method in which a percentage of university funding would be based on student outcomes. The proposals were submitted to Gov. Rick Perry and the legislature last week, reports the Austin American-Statesman. Colorado Colorado should take the issue of higher education funding to the voters next year with a ballot question proposing a new tax, finds a task force charged with proposing funding solutions for Colorado's institutions of higher education. The Higher Education Strategic Planning Task Force delivered its report to Gov. Bill Ritter last week identifying $760 million as the minimum amount of state funding needed by higher education to provide…

Specialized and high-tech incubators provide crucial services and resources to promote and enhance Commercialization & Entrepreneurship, one of the six thematic tracks of this year's annual conference. Three sessions tied to this theme will be explored during SSTI's annual conference, focusing on direct lessons from successful and proven TBED programs, regional innovation clustering, and more. They include: Distributed, Non-University Models for Commercializing New Technologies Technology Entrepreneurship: Direct Contact Required Sustaining Entrepreneur-in-Residence & Mentoring Programs Announcements of new incubators designed to hatch ideas, speed commercialization of university-based inventions, and grow technology-focused companies across the nation are detailed below. Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell announced last month a new tech business incubation initiative at the University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Center. The UConn Health Center incubator will focus on attracting participants from industry sectors including bioscience, medical devices, bio materials, and other science-, technology- and math-based ventures. During the first year, funding…

Holli Baumunk, vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, has been named president and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association. Georgia Gov. Sunny Perdue has tapped Heidi Green to replace Ken Stewart as commissioner of the State of Georgia's Economic Development Department. Green, who currently serves as deputy commissioner for Global Commerce, will assume the new role at the end of June. Beginning July 19, Stewart will become senior advisor on Industry Strategy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Marie Johns has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Johns will be the second-ranking official at SBA, with major responsibility for management, policy development and program supervision. Tom Rankin has been selected to lead the Washington Clean Technology Alliance as president and chief executive. Terri Sheldon has been named vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development at The University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter recently signed legislation to fund initiatives around the state preparing workers for the clean energy economy. The Green Jobs Colorado Program bill, originally proposed last year by Gov. Ritter, was included in a package of sixteen clean energy related bills passed state legislature in May. Gov. Ritter believes that this package of bills will position Colorado as "a national leader in New Energy Economy." Housed in the office of the governor, this two-year pilot program will offer grants to workforce development organizations, employers, educational institutions, apprenticeship programs and economic development organizations to develop or expand current clean-energy job training programs. Federal stimulus funds from the Recovery Act will support the $566,660 program. Sixty-seven percent of the funds will be distributed during FY 2010-11, with the remaining funding allocated during FY 2011-12. Application approval and fund distribution will occur through the newly formed Colorado Advisory Council. Programs that target entry-level or incumbent workers, low-income individuals and dislocated workers from industries in decline will receive…

Adding to a growing number of states seeking to increase their percentage of power from renewable sources, Gov. Jack Markell last week introduced the Delaware Clean Energy Jobs Act.  A key component of the legislation is increasing the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which governors often say generates job growth. The overarching goal of the Delaware bill is to create a competitive climate for the clean energy market, which is addressed under four main goals, including: Setting a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the state to receive 30 percent of its energy supplies from renewable sources by 2029 (up from 20 percent); Facilitating job creation through modifications to the existing RPS and expanding local manufacturing to establish Delaware as a national leader in the adoption of renewable energy; Driving local economic development by creating a new "local generation" component to the RPS and incentives for the use of systems manufactured in Delaware through enhanced renewable energy credit values; and, Modernizing the Green Energy Fund by establishing a market-based method for financing renewable energy projects.   A…

Sandy Baruah has been selected to become the president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, effective March 15. John Collar, the chief executive officer and president of the Colorado BioScience Association, resigned this week to pursue other business opportunities. Denise Brown has been selected serve as the organization's interim executive director while a search is conducted for Collar's replacement. Ruth Cox has been named the executive director of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council. Josh Lerner has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research. Marc Stanley is retiring as acting deputy director of National Institute of Standards and Technology. Stanley has served as director of the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology since December 31, 2007

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell dropped his previous nomination, Robert Sledd, as his secretary for Commerce and Trade and instead nominated businessman James Cheng. Cheng, whose nomination needs to be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate, was sworn in on January 17. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said that the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary George Cornelius will step down on June 30 to become the president of Bridgewater College in Virginia. Rick LeFaivre and Tom Clement are joining the UW Center for Commercialization as key deputies to vice provost Linden Rhoads. LeFaive will split his time evenly between the university and his other job as a managing director at OVP Venture Partners, while Clement is expected to work full-time for about 18 months. Kathay Rennels, three-term Larimer County commissioner and longtime public workforce development leader in Colorado, has been named director of economic development at Colorado State University.

The second installment of SSTI’s Tech Talkin’ Govs’ series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Colorado, Virginia and West Virginia. Our first installment was in the Jan 13 Digest. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, State of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2010 “Colorado voters were the first in the country to pass a renewable energy standard. … So, this session let’s think bigger, creating even larger markets for solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal. Let’s increase our standard to 30 percent. “This will trigger the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs, draw new capital investments and new companies to our state, and keep Colorado at the epicenter of America’s energy revolution. … “… On higher education, we will continue to protect Colorado’s colleges and universities. … And you will all be happy to know that my last blue-ribbon panel will spend this year crafting a long-term strategic plan for the future of higher-ed in Colorado.” Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, State of the Commonwealth Address, Jan. 18, 2010 “…

As economists and policymakers debate the details of how and when the nation will recover from the recession, the topic of entrepreneurship and the role it will play in shaping the new economy continually arises. In the coming years, some analysts predict a rise in entrepreneurship both as a result of massive layoffs and an aging workforce not yet ready or able to retire. Highlighting the correlation between joblessness and the uptick in entrepreneurship, several recent news articles have featured stories of the unemployed forgoing disappointing job searches and the corporate environment to pursue business ownership. At the same time, the U.S. may be on the cusp of an entrepreneurial boom thanks to its aging population. A recent report by the Kauffman Foundation finds the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity belongs to 55-64 year olds. The study points to several factors driving this shift, including changes in job tenure, an increase in life expectancy, and the continued decline of lifetime employment and the experience and tacit knowledge such employees carry with them. Additionally, stronger regulations aiming to prevent the rise of giant organizations may help…