Two recent reports examining the state of the states’ budgets and resources have some warnings for those involved in the budgeting process.

Grant programs administered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the Public Works and Economic Development Act (PWEDA) increasingly support projects to help distressed regions across the country to become more competitive in a science and technology-intensive global economy. The examples below of projects receiving federal PWEDA funds in just the past two months may help inspire similar innovation initiatives in other parts of the country.

Cluster Feasibility Studies

Median deal size from angel groups fell by 5.5 percent from $127,000 in 2016 to $120,000 in the first six months of 2017 (H1’17), according to the 2017 ARI HALO Report First-Half from Pitchbook and the Angel Resource Institute. In addition to a decline in median deal size, early-stage pre-money valuations also decreased from $3.6 million in 2016 to $3.5 million in H1’17.

State spending for the Oregon innovation economy during the 2017-2019 biennium in the Oregon Business Development Department received a sharp increase, thanks in part to nearly $14 million of funding for the new Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC).

Last week in honor of Veteran’s Day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, states, universities, and various nonprofits announced new efforts that are intended to help U.S. veterans succeed as entrepreneurs and launch careers in 21^st century STEM-driven fields. From tax credits in Massachusetts to online training in data analytics, efforts will focus on providing veterans with the necessary training, education, tools, capital, and other resources to create a better future for those veterans, their families, and communities across the country.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) released a new federal funding opportunity (FFO) for the Innovation Corps-National Innovation Network Teams program (I-Corps Teams). I-Corps team awards provide mentoring and additional funding to promising, NSF-funded researchers at institutions of higher education to accelerate innovation, attract subsequent third-party funding, and increase the commercialization of scientific discoveries. NSF intends to commit $12.75 million to support up to 255 I-Corps teams and proposals are accepted on a continuing basis.

While venture capital remains heavily concentrated across a select few metropolitan areas, the geographic distribution of angel investors is widespread, according to new research from the Angel Capital Association, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the John Huston Fund for Angel Professionalism at Rev1 Ventures.

Despite concern that America’s entrepreneurial engine is severely damaged, new research from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) finds that the number of technology-based startups has grown by 47 percent from 2007 to 2016, with wage growth higher than the national average. Because of their high growth potential, the authors suggest that technology-based startups should be the primary focus of entrepreneurship policy.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is exploring options for its future as funding provided through its bond issue dwindles.

Senate Appropriations subcommittees have advanced the remaining FY 2018 departmental budgets: Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, and

Venture-backed startups generate nine times the knowledge spillovers (e.g., patenting activity and citations) when compared to that produced by R&D investment of established companies, according to recent research.

In an effort to support research collaboration among the state’s largest universities, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed FY 2019 capital budget would provide $500 million for the University of Illinois Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago’s South Loop. The funds would serve as a state match for private donations from individuals, corporations, and other entities.

A new map of broadband access based on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data offers a granular look at the internet options available to Americans. Based on data submitted by internet service providers through FCC’s Form 477, the map provides insight on the types and speeds of internet access available on a block-by-block basis across the country. Notably, the maps do not include information on the cost of internet service. 

In a shift from its past economic development efforts, the U.S. Department of Commerce FY2018-2023 strategic plan would move the department to focus almost exclusively on being a commercial services entity. The plan’s points of emphasis are on streamlined permitting and regulations, with direct government activity primarily reserved for common good services — e.g., economic data, cybersecurity and IP protection.

As explored in last week’s Digest, the presence of Eds and Meds institutions can positively influence the levels of human capital in a region, but the need to keep costs low can hinder their overall growth. SSTI’s analysis subsequently found that employment in Eds and Meds industries increased in every state from 2005 to 2015. This article looks at Eds and Meds employment for the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Mid-sized regions in the Northeast like Rochester, New York (4.4 percentage points), New Haven, Connecticut (2.9 percentage points), and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2.3 percentage points) experienced the largest growth in per-capita employment in Eds and Meds industries between 2010 and 2015.

As the U.S. Senate works toward a vote on a bipartisan bill targeted at lifting regulations for some banks, several studies published within the last year have looked at the impact community banks have had on serving small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country. Historically, community banks have been the loan originator for nearly 60 percent of business loans made to SMBs and have served as drivers of economic growth and opportunity in rural and underserved communities. The reports highlight the impact of these community banks on small business lending pre and post Great Recession; the resiliency of SMB lending activities by these banks during the Great Recession; and policy recommendations to support community banking.

The Government Accountability Office identified eight trends having strong effects on both the federal government and society as a whole, and those included in the science and tech section of the report are suggested to be critical to the country’s competitiveness.

Citing national security concerns, the Trump administration made headlines this week when they ordered that chipmaker Broadcom stop pursuing its $117 billion bid for its largest competitor, Qualcomm.

Between 2010 and 2015, job and establishment growth was substantially lower in U.S. counties where broadband is less available and technologies are less likely to be adopted, according to new research from the Purdue Center for Regional Development. To measure county-level digital divide, authors from the center developed the Digital Divide Index (DDI), which factors in demographics, jobs, and other establishment trends in the U.S.

The last of the governors’ state of the state addresses for this year have been delivered, and New Jersey’s governor presented his first budget address. SSTI has continued to review the addresses for news on TBED initiatives and presents excerpts of their addresses concerning such initiatives below. Louisiana’s governor is focused on addressing a fiscal cliff while preserving education gains in the state. New Jersey’s governor laid out a vision embracing green energy in the state and growing high school STEM-focused programs.

Valuations of venture backed companies and the number of unicorns are rising based on the leading nationwide surveys, but closer examination of the data reveals not all startups are seeing the effect. The median valuation for female-founded companies, for example, was lower in 2017 (approximately $11 million) than it was in 2007 (approximately $15 million), according to research from PitchBook’s Dana Olson.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) was one of several legislators who participated in SXSW, including on a panel that also featured Ben Johnson of BioSTL representing SSTI’s Innovation Advocacy Council.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) identified cybersecurity breaches along with environmental degradation caused by human-induced climate change, as the top two risks to the global economy over the next 10 years, according to the 2018 Global Risks Report, the Forum’s annual survey of nearly 1,000 experts from across the planet.  With evidence mounting of Russian hacking of the U.S.

Investments in STEM education, apprenticeship programs, and tech-focused tuition assistance are among a handful of proposals included in the “Marshall Plan for Talent” last Thursday. The plan includes $100 million in talent investments and utilizes a three-pronged approach to training by addressing K-12 education, higher education and the state’s existing workforce. The funds would come from savings due to a state bond refinancing, according to the governor.

For decades, state and local economies have leaned heavily on their anchor institutions during times of economic uncertainty and transition. An analysis finds that total employment in “Eds and Meds” industries increased in every state from 2005 to 2015. This article breaks down the growth and geography of Eds and Meds employment at the state level, while next week’s issue of the Digest will explore this data by metropolitan area.