SSTI Digest

A strategic plan issued in 2002 by the Fifth Planning District Regional Alliance in Virginia may officially have completed the first phase when the Alliance recently awarded $273,342 in grants and earmarked funds. The Alliance, a group of government, business and educational leaders, promotes economic competitiveness in a Virginia region comprised of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke counties and five other town cities and towns. Its plan, Regional Economic Strategy, was released last July as an economic development strategy focusing heavily on science and technology-based initiatives (see the August 9, 2002 issue of the Digest). For the 2003 program year, the Alliance's 41-member board of directors distributed funding to four projects: The New Century Technology Council (NCTC) was awarded $44,000 to create a targeted campaign to connect individuals who have moved away and college alumni from the region's colleges and universities to job opportunities in the region. NCTC will provide $59,000 in matching funds. The Roanoke Valley Convention &…

Gov. Bill Richardson has appointed his chief of staff, David Harris, to serve as executive director of the New Mexico Finance Authority. Idaho Falls businessman LaMoyne Hyde was appointed by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to serve as Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce. Gov. James McGreevey recently appointed Alfred Koeppe as the new Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of New Jersey. Frank Shafroth has left his position as lobbyist for the National Governors' Association. Bill Todd, former CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance, has joined the staff of Gov. Sonny Perdue to work on special projects. Patrick Von Bargen has joined the leadership team in the Office of the Chairman at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Managing Executive for Policy and Staff. Mr. Von Bargen formerly was Executive Director of the National Center for Regional Innovation and Competitiveness and Vice President of the Council on Competitiveness.

Gov. Bill Richardson has appointed his chief of staff, David Harris, to serve as executive director of the New Mexico Finance Authority.

Idaho Falls businessman LaMoyne Hyde was appointed by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to serve as Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce.

Gov. James McGreevey recently appointed Alfred Koeppe as the new Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of New Jersey.

Frank Shafroth has left his position as lobbyist for the National Governors' Association.

Bill Todd, former CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance, has joined the staff of Gov. Sonny Perdue to work on special projects.

Patrick Von Bargen has joined the leadership team in the Office of the Chairman at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Managing Executive for Policy and Staff. Mr. Von Bargen formerly was Executive Director of the National Center for Regional Innovation and Competitiveness and Vice President of the Council on Competitiveness.

A Note from the Editor Don't panic, Mother's Day is still 10 days off. You haven't missed the opportunity to reflect on the contributions she made in your life. Most mothers, at least the good ones, try to instill some basic traits in their children that are critical for the growth and improvement of a better society. Honesty, integrity, respect, consideration, compassion, modesty, and responsibility leap to mind. Remember those struggles as a kid when you knew the right thing to do but didn't want to do it? Like, I remember my mom making me shovel the snow for the old lady who lived alone down the street for free when the rest of the gang were building forts for the best snowball fight of the blizzard of `78. My back ached as I walked up the street — just in time to be pelted by a barrage of snowballs from my buddies. Moms often get a bum rap for having to resort to guilt trips to get us to do the right thing. Most of us have to admit, though, we're better people for all that they did . . . when we do the right thing, that is. Which gets us to the little matter of…

Perhaps in no other sector are efforts to grow an industry so dependent on a strong public-private partnership as they are for biotech and the life sciences. Most of the research funding for the field flows from the government to universities and research institutions. Industry then steps up for clinical studies and commercialization. While much that has been covered in the SSTI Weekly Digest on building bio-based economies has focused on local strategic plans and numerous state initiatives, a new paper by Anders Osthol and Johan Lembke for the Regional Innovation and Partnership Project takes a broader look at the role and construct of public-private collaborative relationships for economic development founded on life science growth. With detailed case studies of two North Carolina regions – the well established Research Triangle Park and the nascent efforts of the Piedmont Triad Region – Strategies and Partnerships for Biotech Regions offers recommendations for Sweden that are applicable throughout the Western world. The findings include: Biotech economic development is…

With only two months left in most fiscal years, states must still close a $21.5 billion budget gap in order to comply with their balanced budget requirements, according to a report issued today by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Entering their third straight year of budget shortfalls, state lawmakers have had to close a cumulative $200 billion budget gap. NCSL President and Oklahoma Senator Angela Monson says state policymakers are dealing with complicating factors on both sides of the budget. "Already plagued by anemic revenue performance, lawmakers have been besieged by spending overruns - from Medicaid to homeland security to emergency snow removal," she said. "The problems have been relentless as most states have run out of the simple, painless options." During FY 2003, which began on July 1 for most states, 37 states saw revenues failing to meet projections, while only three reported revenues exceeding budget levels. Forty-five states subsequently revised their forecasts, in nearly every instance downward. The situation is not much brighter for FY 2004. As…

The Senate and Congressional Manufacturing Task Forces garnered support from a majority of senators and representatives for continued funding of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), co-chairs of the Senate Task Force, drew support from 58 Senators with both parties joining forces to support MEP. Representatives Jack Quinn (R-NY) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), co-chairs of the Congressional Task Force, spearheaded the House effort and won support from 203 colleagues. The California House delegation and Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent letters of their own bringing the total House support to 246 Representatives. The letters support $110 million for MEP in the FY 2004 appropriations bills As in FY 2003, the Administration's FY 2004 budget request recommended phasing out federal funding for MEP to less than $13 million. In FY 2003, Congress provided $106.6 million for the program. The MEP network of 60 centers with 400 locations across the country and in Puerto Rico help manufacturers to adopt and use the latest and most…