Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2002. Information in this issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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TELECOMMUNICATION GRANTS AWARDED
The Department of Commerce announced the grant recipients of its 1997 Telecommun-ications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP). TIIAP provides seed funding to non-profit and state and local governments for projects that demonstrate the benefits of telecommunications and information technology and that help extend their applications to rural and underserved urban communities.Grants were awarded in five categories: Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning; Public and Community Services; Health; Public Safety; and Community-Wide Networking.
Fifty-five public institutions in 38 states and the District of Columbia were selected to receive grant awards totaling $20.9 million.
Projects were funded in the following states (multiple awards are in parentheses): Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California (3); Colorado; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Illinois (3); Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Massachusetts; Minnesota (3); Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York (2); North Carolina; North Dakota (2); Ohio; Oregon (3); Pennsylvania (3); South Carolina (2); South Dakota (2); Tennessee; Texas (2); Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington (2); West Virginia; and Wyoming.
A list of the awards can be found on the web at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/97tiiap.htm or by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
NEW ADVISORY BOARD TO GUIDE MEP; MEP SUCCESSES HIGHLIGHTED
Eight industry and economic development leaders have been appointed to serve on the newly created Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory Board. Meeting three times a year, the board will provide advice on MEP programs, plans and policies. The board will summarize its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce in an annual report.The board members are:
- Jay Brandinger; Trenton, N.J.; executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology;
- Roxi Downing; Des Moines, Iowa; chief executive officer, Qualis Inc.;
- Irwin Feller; University Park, Pa.; professor of economics at Pennsylvania State University;
- Maurice Lee; Boley, Okla.; president of Smokaroma Inc.;
- Ed Noha; Chicago, Ill.; chairman of the board of CNA Financial Corp.;
- James Quillin; Alamo, Calif.; senior advisor, Economic Development, California Conference of Machinists;
- Lawrence Rhoades; Irwin, Pa.; president of Extrude Hone Corp.; and
- William Webber; Greensboro, N.C.; interim director, PT CAM.
A ninth member of the board is expected to be named soon.
MEP has released a special publication, MEP Successes: A Case Study Approach, that highlights 24 success stories. The publication provides case studies of technical assistance projects provided to companies in 15 industries -- from aerospace companies in California and Georgia, to wood product companies in North Carolina and Wisconsin.
Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting MEP at 301/975-5020.
DELAWARE FUNDS TWO NEW CENTERS
The Delaware Economic Development Office recently announced the selection of two new Advanced Technology Centers (ATC). The Centers will focus on semiconductors and advanced optics.The Centers are public/private partnerships designed to bolster Delaware's technology base and to create and retain quality high-tech jobs. The State of Delaware is investing $4 million over three years in these two Centers through grants from the 21st Century Fund.
The Center for Nanomachined Surfaces (CNS) will focus on developing and commercializing leading-edge nanomachining applications important to the semiconductor industry. The primary technical goal of the Center is to achieve the world's highest-precision polished, or nanomachined, photomask surfaces, ultimately affecting every integrated circuit made. For more information on CNS, visit their website at http://nanosurf.ece.udel.edu.
The Applied Optics Center of Delaware, Inc. will focus on developing new applications for laser technology. Initially, the Center will concentrate on laser spectroscopy technology and laser diode-based devices. The focus capitalizes on the unique offering of "blue" laser materials and devices developed by DuPont over a 20-year period and spun out into Altos, Inc.
The creation of the ATC program is part of a comprehensive, technology-based economic development strategy led by the Delaware Economic Development Office. Last year, Delaware announced commitments of $7 million to fund three other ATCs --The Fraunhofer Resource Center - Delaware, the Advanced Technology Center for Medical Devices, and the University of Delaware Center for Agricultural Biotechnology.
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