Four short years ago, 37 states were in fiscal crisis, many making several rounds of deep spending cuts to cope with the most dramatic reduction in revenues in 20 years. In all, more than $15 billion were shaved from state budgets. Twenty-one states experienced negative revenue growth in FY 2003, forcing even deeper cuts. The fiscal winter of '02-'03 slowed many states' strategies for supporting growth in their knowledge-based economies.
A $1.46 million grant from the Economic Development Administration to the Sirti Foundation is making possible a $3 million loan fund to technology companies within a 10-county region of Eastern Washington. The program provides another example of the non-traditional use of EDA funds to support tech-based economic development strategies. In addition, the deal structure may serve as a model to help other public agencies encourage TBED activities typically outside the scope or possibility of many public entities.
Despite industry claims to the contrary, the recovery of the U.S. information technology (IT) sector has not created enough new jobs for IT workers, according to a new report from the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers. Information Technology Labor Markets: Rebounding, but Slowly reveals that the recent increase in IT spending has not led to a full recovery in the labor market.
The federal government distributed $26.7 billion to universities in the U.S. in fiscal year 2003 - a 9.4 percent increase from the FY 2002 total of $24.4 billion, a recently released National Science Foundation report reveals. Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: Fiscal Year 2003 details federal science & engineering (S&E) activities to the nation's institutions of higher education.
Southern Growth Policies Board, in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has designed a survey to identify the needs of small and medium-sized manufacturers in the area of information technology. The 20-question survey takes only a few minutes to complete and the results will be used to develop new programs to help small and medium-sized manufacturers.
Arizona
Gov. Janet Napolitano, State of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2004
Kristin Jones recently was hired as senior manager for life sciences under the Indy Partnership, an economic development organization for the Indianapolis region.
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has named Derrick Ramsey as deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet.
Kristin Jones recently was hired as senior manager for life sciences under the Indy Partnership, an economic development organization for the Indianapolis region.
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher has named Derrick Ramsey as deputy secretary of the Commerce Cabinet.
Dr. Catherine Renault is the new program manager for the Center for Technology Applications at RTI International, Inc.
Leland Speed has been named the new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
Janice St. Onge has resigned from the Vermont Department of Economic Development to pursue career opportunities at the University of Vermont. St. Onge, whose resignation is effective Jan. 30, served for four years as the state's technology business development director.
Ann Quinn was recently named managing director of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Venture Capital Fund.
Andy Taggart has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the Mississippi Technology Alliance.
Diane Wirth is new executive director of the Valley Economic Development Corp., a public-private organization for the San Jacinto Valley.
Does increasing a university or community college's involvement in tech-based economic development - through technology incubators or early-stage capital programs - detract from the nonprofit, educational purpose of the institution? Fortunately, for many state and regional TBED strategies, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says no. The IRS recently released a ruling affirming the nonprofit status of a college foundation planning to unveil a new high-tech incubator and pre-seed capital fund.
Promoting the policies and harnessing the habits that will make innovation central to a Southern way of life requires a fundamental shift in the approach to knowledge itself, says the latest report by the Southern Growth Policies Board.
The report, Innovation with a Southern Accent: The 2006 Report on the Future of the South, offers recommendations for 13 states and Puerto Rico to transition the region into a more knowledgeable, innovative and prosperous South.
[Editor's Note: SSTI is excited to welcome Phillip Battle to its staff as a policy analyst. The author of this article, Phil recently received his Master in Public Affairs degree from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. His area of research interest is technology policy and economic development.]
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released advanced real gross state product (GSP) estimates for 2005. According to the data, real GSP grew in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2001-2005. Western states dominated the lead in U.S. economic growth, with Nevada incurring the largest increase in real GSP growing from $75.1 billion in 2001 to $96.6 billion in 2005 -- a 28.56 percent change.
The beginning of 2004 finds many folks in the tech-based economic development community making career changes:
Deborah Fleischaker has been appointed deputy secretary for the New Mexico Department of Economic Development.
Deborah Fleischaker has been appointed deputy secretary for the New Mexico Department of Economic Development.
The Greater Baltimore Alliance, now renamed as the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, has appointed David Gillece as chief executive officer and Christian Johansson as managing director.
Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development has reorganized into three geographically defined divisions. Robert Hannon has been named to run the regional program.
During its annual meeting in December, members of the National League of Cities have elected Charlie Lyons, a selectman for Arlington, MA, to serve a one-year term as president.