Gov. Jim Doyle unveiled today an economic stimulus plan for Wisconsin that includes a proposal to enhance tax credits for angel and venture investors in support of start-up technology companies. A coalition assembled to improve Wisconsin's existing investor tax credits law applauded the governor's announcement to refine the four-year-old program.
Adding to a growing number of governors proposing to consolidate state economic development agencies, Gov. Jodi Rell last week announced in her budget request her intention to overhaul Connecticut's job creation infrastructure by merging several state agencies into the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
According to the most recent release of gross domestic product (GDP) by metro area, 23 of the nation's 363 metro areas experienced a decrease in inflation-adjusted GDP from 2002 to 2006. Benchmarking against the aggregate U.S. metro GDP growth rate over those five years - which increased 12.8 percent - 167 of the nation's metros grew at a faster rate.
The complete description of this opportunity and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
LEESBURG -- Lake County commissioners agreed to partner with the city and the University of Central Florida to beef up a business incubator in hopes of attracting more start-up companies.
The partnership includes $85,000 in county funds for the UCF Research Foundation to support the incubator's staffing. The incubator, which was created last year, is at the Leesburg Business & Technology Center on Market Street.
Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
The Arkansas Department of Economic Development has been renamed the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Leadership Oklahoma announced that Doug Fuller will be the organization's new director, effective May 7.
The Arkansas Department of Economic Development has been renamed the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Leadership Oklahoma announced that Doug Fuller will be the organization's new director, effective May 7.
Beth Gorin stepped down as CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.
Rick Homans will step down as secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department to become executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, effective May 1.
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council has named Robert Hooley as vice president of emerging technology.
The Montana SBIR Outreach Program is changing its name to the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership.
J.D. Stack replaces Oleg Kaganovich as the new CEO of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance.
Status of some of the major legislation in the 2009 session of the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature as of Feb. 6:
SB 1 by Gumm NICK'S LAW: Would mandate coverage by private health insurers of the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Referred to Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee.
SB 59 by Rice VETERANS INSURANCE: Would make some uninsured veterans eligible for a state premium assistance insurance program. Passed by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, sent to full Senate.
DATELINE: OLYMPIA, Wash.
Gov. Christine Gregoire, D-Wash., issued the following press release:
Gov. Chris Gregoire today praised the state's Economic Development Commission, which just released its strategic plan to help guide Washington as it develops a stronger, 21st century economy.
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.
The New Hampshire Business Resource Center issued the following news release:
DATELINE: Washington
The following information was released by the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges:
The lack of highly qualified science and mathematics teachers in middle and high school classrooms across America is a crisis that is well-established. If the U.S. is to remain a leader in engineering, technology and innovation in the global market place, the state of science and mathematics education must be reversed.
Spectrum Bridge Inc. has become the first graduate of the University of Central Florida's Incubation Program Seminole County/Winter Springs office.
According to a release, the Lake Mary-based Internet marketplace and mapping technologies company joined the program in February 2008.
The company has begun generating revenue and completed rounds in venture capital funding totaling $8.1 million, said Esther Vargas-Davis, site manager at the Seminole County incubator office, in a release.
As part of the 2010-11 biennial budget unveiled last week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed a package of tax incentives directed toward small, emerging businesses and companies that create green jobs and services. The governor's proposed Minnesota Jobs Recovery Act calls for a sizable investment over the next biennium with even greater costs beginning in 2012.
Facing a $1.6 billion budget deficit, Arizona legislators set their sights on the state's three-year old 21st Century Competitive Initiative Fund. A group of four Republican lawmakers led the effort to remove the program's $22.5 million from the 2009 state budget, which was signed by new Governor Jan Brewer last week. The fund was started under former Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano, who recently left office to join the Obama administration as secretary of Homeland Security.
The technology agenda for President Obama includes both advancing biomedical research and improving the efficiency of medical treatment. Coupling this federal strategy with the initiatives of many states to stimulate health and biotechnology-related research may result in a boon of federal R&D spending from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the states.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Daniel O'Connell, resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Greg Bialecki, an undersecretary who has been responsible for business development
DATELINE: RICHMOND, Va.
The following information was released by the office of the governor of Virginia:
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:
* denotes reappointment
Medical Advisory Board for the Department of Motor Vehicles
Juan A. Astruc Jr., M.D.* of Glen Allen, partner at the Retina Institute of Virginia;
Lyne Bouchard is the president and CEO of TechnoMontréal, a new umbrella organization for the city's information and communications technology cluster.
Rich Cook has joined the West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative as venture center director.