Economic development: Science, technology advancement program celebrates 20th year ; Agency honors governors for their support; George Nigh was instru
BYLINE: Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
The state's technology-based economic development agency marked its 20th anniversary by thanking a former governor who helped get the idea started and the current governor for working to get the agency more money.
Former Gov. George Nigh and Gov. Brad Henry were presented awards this week during a brief ceremony capped by anniversary cake on the state Capitol's 4th-floor rotunda.
The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology generates more than $17 in federal and private money for each dollar of state money it receives, said Michael Carolina, the agency's executive director.
Henry said, "I don't know of many investments with a better return than that."
Background
Since 1987, the state has given the agency about $138.6 million, which it has used to garner $2.4 billion in federal and private dollars, Carolina said.
"We are creating the kind of R and D (research and development) excellence in this state that I think 20 years ago we probably wouldn't have imagined," he said.
Nigh was "instrumental" in the early work that resulted in the creation of the agency, Carolina said.
Nigh told the crowd the idea was suggested to him by an Oklahoma City businessman, Don Paulson. Nigh joked that all he did was put Paulson on a committee to look into developing the concept.
"We had this committee, we made recommendations and I've got to say the most significant thing we did was plant the seed," Nigh said.
The agency at first was placed under the state Commerce Department in 1986; it became an independent agency a year later.
The agency oversees several programs that focus on applied research, health research, small business and manufacturing assistance and technology commercialization.
Funding increases
Henry during his administration has pushed for increased state money for the agency, Carolina said.
Henry succeeded in getting a $10 million funding increase for the agency in 2006, putting its annual budget at $22.4 million. Henry is trying to get an additional $2 million for the 2008 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Most of the agency's state appropriations go directly to programs.
"We have entered an era where technology and science and research and education are absolutely critical to our future survival and prosperity," Henry said.