The Charleston Gazette reports Ron Hatfield, director of jobs development for the West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Technology Research and Development Corp., will also serve as the new executive director of the Upper Kanawha Economic Development Corp.
Joseph James has announced his resignation as head of the Prince George's Economic Development Corporation (Maryland).
The new executive director of the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council is Gail Milligan.
Tucked in the fine print of Illinois' budget bills was language to merge seven financing agencies, according to the June 11 edition of The Bond Buyer. Among the agencies included in the merger are the Illinois Development Finance Authority, the Illinois Research Park Authority (inactive), the Illinois Community Development Authority and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank.
Package Isn't All Governor Expected; Veto Possible
Breaking new technologies into traditional markets can be challenging, particularly in the energy field it seems. To help overcome that hurdle, the State of Pennsylvania has undertaken a $5 million initiative to help finance the implementation of clean and renewable energy technologies such as biomass and wind power.
Since her inauguration in January, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has pushed legislation intended to increase university tech transfer and commercialization (see related item in this issue). But will it work? Do economic incentives really encourage university researchers to pursue commercialization goals? Or are academics "pure" scientists, truly beyond monetary motives as many would argue?
With a combined annual research budget totaling $4.8 billion, New Mexico's 12 largest research facilities signed a Memorandum of Agreement on May 30 to help turn intellectual property into jobs for New Mexicans. Members of the newly formed New Mexico Technology Research Corridor (TRC) include:
While the nation’s manufacturing sector continues to face major challenges, the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM) suggests in a new white paper that the U.S. can compete successfully with low-wage countries if industry and government rally around two basic goals — increase labor productivity by greatly accelerating the use of advanced technologies and leverage national resources through a major expansion of public-private partnerships.
Arizona Legislation to Encourage Tech Transfer Awaits Voters' Approval
On Wednesday, President Bush signed the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003, providing $20 billion in fiscal relief to state governments. Half of the $20 billion will come through an increase in the federal share of Medicaid.
A survey of 330 cities and towns by the National League of Cities (NLC) shows that cities are raising fees and taxes while cutting infrastructure spending and city staffs in order to deal with the worst fiscal conditions for municipalities since NLC began its annual survey of city finance managers in 1985.
A proposed Cybersecurity R&D Center is the centerpiece of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) first research agenda for information analysis and infrastructure protection, according to recent testimony presented by Dr. Charles McQueary, Under Secretary for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, before the House Science Committee.
The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) honored six top incubation programs, graduates and clients at its 17th International Conference on Incubation, held May 18-21 in Richmond, Va. Award winners are highlighted below:
Innovation Philadelphia, a public-private partnership, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the city of Philadelphia have developed a road map that identifies the future drivers of the Greater Philadelphia economy and provides a framework for developing these drivers.
San Pablo, CA, College to Use $2.1M EDA Grant to Build Biotech Incubator
Sheri Stickley, vice president of SSTI, will be leaving SSTI on March 2 to accept a position with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Sheri was one of the primary authors of A Resource Guide for Technology-based Economic Development, and we wish her well in her new position. Oklahoma's gain is our loss, but we look forward to benefiting from her advice and wisdom as she enters a new chapter of her career.
Willem Bakker was named president of the Technology Entrepreneur Center and executive director of the Information Technology Coalition, both in St. Louis.
Jan Lesher was named director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, replacing outgoing Gilbert Jimenez.
Dick Munson is stepping down as executive director of the Northeast Midwest Institute to help start Recycled Energy Development, LLC.
Sherrie Preische resigned as executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology to accept a position in the private sector.
Connecticut Innovations appointed Dr. David Reed to the position of executive in residence.
The Maryland Technology Development Corp. has appointed Renée Winsky as its new executive director.
A complete description of this opportunity and others is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
More information on these opportunities and others is available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.