SSTI Digest

On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $106.6 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) for FY 2004, according to the Modernization Forum. The Bush Administration had proposed funding MEP at $12.6 million, effectively eliminating the national program. The Committee action would maintain funding at the FY 2003 level provided by the 108th Congress earlier this year. The House appropriations bill passed in July would provide only $39.6 million for MEP. Earlier in the year, 246 House members sent letters to House CJS Appropriations Subcommittees leaders supporting $110 million for MEP in FY 2004. MEP is a nationwide network of independent, nonprofit centers assisting America's 360,000 smaller manufacturers. The centers provide technical assistance, products, services and business best practices to help firms increase productivity, increase profits and enhance their global competitiveness. In a study by the U.S. Census Bureau, researchers found MEP clients experience productivity gains more than four times greater than comparable firms. MEP clients…

Manufacturers continue to shed thousands of American jobs — at a rate of 80,000 per month over the past three years, according to the New York Times. The realities of globalization are settling in as small and mid-sized manufacturers are hit hard with competition from around the world. Local communities in every state in every region across the country are feeling the impact of plant closures, mass layoffs and downsizing. The economic indicators point toward recovery while unemployment lines grow. Economists are now suggesting the U.S. is losing high-paying, skilled jobs that will never return. What is manufacturing's future in America, and how do states, regions and communities prepare for it? One of the breakout sessions at SSTI's annual conference will allow state and local tech-based economic developers to share and debate ideas on what policymakers and practitioners are, can and should be doing. The roundtable discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Ken Poole, CEO of Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness and one of the nation's leading experts on federal, state and local…

States cut aid to cities and towns by a total of $2.3 billion in the current fiscal year, according to a new report from the National League of Cities (NLC). Comparing 2004 to 2003 figures, the $2.3 billion in state cuts represents a 9.2 percent decline in state revenues for cities. NLC released its report, Fiscal Crisis Trickles Down as States Cut Aid to Cities, at a roundtable held on Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. City leaders believe shifts in federal policy are weakening the federal role in the nation’s inter-governmental system, NLC states. They also are concerned that the fundamental changes in the federal-state-local partnership will hurt state and local governments and, ultimately, the people they serve. NLC offers these findings in its analysis: Cuts in state revenues for cities were reported in 24 states in 2003 and 2004. In 13 of the 16 states where revenues for cities were not cut, revenues grew marginally, at rates of less than 3 percent. Between 1992 and 1997, state aid to cities increased an average of 4.6 percent per year. Over the same…

In a move to integrate technology and traditional learning, New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson introduced on Tuesday a four-year pilot program to bring laptop computers into classrooms. The program, Technology Promoting Student Excellence, is intended to provide wireless connectivity to all 7th-grade students and teachers from selected schools. Numerous corporate donors have contributed nearly half of the $1.2 million estimated cost to implement the program, according to the Associated Press. Up to five schools will be selected from a pool of 19 school districts being asked to submit proposals. Installation of the wireless network will begin in November 2003, following an announcement of winning schools. Maine, which adopted a similar model in 2001 (see the June 29, 2001 issue of the Digest), has seen a drop in absences, tardiness and disciplinary cases since implementing its program. Learning achievements also have increased, and the program has received high approval ratings from teachers, students, parents and administrators, Maine supporters say. Also, in July 2003, the…

Citing the goals of expanding its impact and stabilizing funding, the member-based TechAlliance has given up its political independence to become a nonprofit agency under the auspices of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. With the change comes a new name for the 4-year-old entity, which had served the Reno area from its Carson City offices — the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (CET). Alison Estee, retaining the title of executive director, will gain a new boss as she now reports to the director of the state’s lead economic development agency. The Commission also will appoint a statewide advisory board for the new center. The economy has taken its toll on a number of technology councils around the country, forcing some to lay off paid staff, merge with other councils, broaden their focus beyond a single technology sector, or cease operations altogether. Maintaining a regional council during the persistent economic downturn with only a young and emerging technology sector to draw from presents formidable challenges, as the TechAlliance discovered. The Reno…

Biotechnology is one of the few tech-sectors in which jobs still seem to be in strong demand despite the weak economy, according to local news reports from around the country. As a result, many states, communities and universities have directed a portion of their economic development efforts toward encouraging life sciences research and biotech commercialization. Two of the more recent initiatives launched in Michigan and Maryland have the similar goal of encouraging recent and future college graduates to pursue careers locally in the growing fields. Michigan MiCareer, a new e-newsletter from the MichBio BioConnections Program, is intended to help college students in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio in their career search process. BioConnections is a collaborative effort between industry partners for life sciences recruiting, business and workforce development in Michigan, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). With the first issue planned for early this month, MiCareer will serve as a one-stop-shop for 17,000 juniors and seniors in the Midwest once it is up and running…

During the course of each year, SSTI collects Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award and proposal data as it becomes publicly available. For FY 2002, SSTI has aggregated Phase I award, proposal and award-to-proposal conversion percentages for all 50 states and the District of Columbia for eight of the 10 participating agencies. (The Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency were unable to provide proposal statistics.) The Phase I award-to-proposal percentages vary greatly across the eight agencies reporting complete information: Percentage Federal Agency 28.1 National Institutes of Health 23.6 Dept. of Energy 19.2 Dept. of Agriculture 19.1 National Science Foundation 16.8 Dept. of Defense 15.3 Dept. of Commerce 12.1 NASA…

Merideth Andreucci has succeeded Michael Wilton as president of the USA Niagara Development Corp. Wilton was nominated by Governor George Pataki to serve as President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. Richard Baier has been appointed director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The Bullitt County Economic Development Authority of Kentucky has named Bob Fouts as interim director. The Connecticut Technology Council has named Matthew Nemerson as its new President and CEO, replacing Michael Theodore. Gwyn Riddick recently was named director of the new Piedmont Triad office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Gary Schneider is the new chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce (S.C.).

Merideth Andreucci has succeeded Michael Wilton as president of the USA Niagara Development Corp. Wilton was nominated by Governor George Pataki to serve as President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corp.

Richard Baier has been appointed director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

The Bullitt County Economic Development Authority of Kentucky has named Bob Fouts as interim director.

The Connecticut Technology Council has named Matthew Nemerson as its new President and CEO, replacing Michael Theodore.