Using one-time lottery surplus funds available for fiscal year 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin wants to invest $80 million in world-class research and specialized job training to propel the state toward a knowledge-based economy. The proposal was unveiled to lawmakers during Gov. Manchin’s State-of-the-State Address last week in conjunction with the fiscal year 2009 budget recommendation.
Coinciding with a plethora of state-of-the-state addresses delivered over the past week, several governors have released budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The following states’ budgets include crucial TBED investments and reductions in programs.
California
On Tuesday, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released Science & Engineering Indicators 2008, its comprehensive biennial analysis of the U.S. and international science and technology landscape. This version provides thorough details about the features of a rapidly-changing global economy, as countries continue to make investments in their knowledge-based capacity and industries.
With many states anticipating or already preparing for budget pressures, state leaders are increasingly looking for ways to increase their revenue streams. A new report from the Pew Center for the States finds that in many cases outdated state tax systems are stifling growth and failing to build a stronger tax base. Authors Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene argue that many of these systems have not been overhauled since the rise of service economy. In 2005, service industries accounted for 68 percent of U.S.
John Gee was named president and CEO of the Information Technology Association of Wisconsin.
Donna Kent resigned as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council to accept a position with Televerde, a marketing service solutions provider based in Tempe.
Lisa Kuuttila is the first CEO of Michigan State University Technologies, a business organization to train MSU students in the commercialization of science and technology.
Enterprise Florida selected Louis Laubscher to replace Howard Haug as its new senior vice president and COO.
Connecticut Innovations has named John Mengacci interim president while it conducts a broad search to fill the position permanently.
Richard Nelson has been appointed chairman and CEO of the Council of Regional Information Technology Associations.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has named Avi Schick and David Emil, respectively, as chairman and president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.
Gov. Chet Culver has appointed Mike Tramontina as director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.
John Wasilisin was named deputy executive director of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation.
Steve Zylstra stepped down as CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
With the title America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act, it isn’t surprising that S. 761 had 69 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. The bill’s passage last night by an 88-8 vote by the full chamber sends an even stronger signal that the vast majority of the Senate has heard the message regarding the need for the federal government to be more aggressive in its support for science and technology.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) projects U.S. spending for R&D in 2006 will be 6 percent higher than it was in 2005, once all figures are compiled for all sources of funds surveyed: industry, the federal government, universities, colleges and other nonprofit institutions.
Over the last few months, three states have announced new strategies to encourage regional tech-based economic development. Several states have experimented with how best to support or encourage regional TBED in the past, resulting in both successes and failures. In some cases, state sought partnerships at the local level in the creation of new programs while other states took a more hands off approach, such as providing seed funding to create regional technology councils.
Which strategies should rural areas employ to encourage future growth? Many states and community leaders are asking themselves this question as they attempt to compete in a global economy. Several regions recently proposed to build ethanol plants in their areas to capitalize on the energy-production market. Other rural areas are promoting their cultural assets and natural resources to attract tourism.
But what works best for each individual county?
California accounted for 22.4 percent of the nation’s total industrial R&D in 2004, leading the U.S. with $46.6 billion in total industrial R&D expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Survey of Industrial Research and Development: 2004. Michigan ($15.2 billion), Massachusetts ($11.8 billion), New Jersey ($11.0 billion), and Texas ($11.0 billion) rounded out the top five.
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.