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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USDA ANNOUNCES FUND FOR RURAL AMERICA GRANTEES
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that the Fund for Rural America has selected 115 new projects. The 115 grants, totaling more than $31 million in funding, are the first projects selected since the fund was developed. The awardees were chosen from 1100 proposals.
The Fund for Rural America was created to help rural communities transition to the 21st century when they will have to adapt, compete and succeed in a new economy with less direct government assistance and more indirect support.
The projects support several of USDA's key objectives by working to: enhance the competitiveness of American agriculture; strengthen environmental stewardship; enhance rural communities; and ensure safe, sufficient and nutritious food. Examples of projects selected include:
- Genetics and Biosynthesis of Sulforaphane, A Potent Plant Anticarcinogen: this project will study one of the cancer fighting components of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, and lay the foundation for the long-term objective of designing and genetically engineering vegetable and fruit crops to increase their potential health benefits to the consumer.
- Developing Soil C Sequestration as a Commodity for CO2 Emission Mitigation in U.S. Agriculture: this project will assess the feasibility of increasing carbon in soil as a commodity for U.S. farmers. This will benefit climate by reducing harmful CO2 emissions, enriching the soil, and increasing the productivity of farms.
- An Off-System Road to the Information Superhighway: this project will enable small town government leaders to take advantage of the information available on the Internet.
The following list shows the number of award winners by state:
State Grants State Grants AL 2 MT 1 AZ 4 NE 3 CA 9 NJ 1 CO 3 NM 3 CT 1 NY 6 DE 1 NC 4 DC 3 ND 1 FL 1 OH 5 HI 2 OR 4 ID 3 PA 5 IN 2 RI 2 IA 5 SC 2 KS 4 TN 1 KY 2 TX 3 ME 1 VT 3 MD 4 VA 3 MA 1 WA 5 MI 4 WI 4 MN 4 WY 1 MO 2 Total 115 The Fund for Rural America's competitive grants are administered by the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Descriptions of funded projects and general information are available on the Fund's website at www.reeusda.gov/fra. For more information contact Len Carey at 202/720-1358 or via e-mail at lcarey@reeusda.gov.
TENNESSEE CREATES NEW ORGANIZATION TO LEAD S&T EFFORTS
The State of Tennessee has created a private, not-for-profit corporation--- the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation---to stimulate economic development through Tennessee's science and technology resources.
The corporation's responsibilities include:
- Promoting Tennessee's science and technology resources
- Coordinating the state's assistance to technology-based firms in Tennessee
- Assisting in the creation and financing of new technology-based businesses
- Coordinating the State's participation in major technology-based activities and proposals
The corporation is seeking an Executive Director who will be responsible for:
- Management of the corporation's activities, including the activities of its board of directors
- Development of the corporation's strategic directions and priorities, short and long-term
- Support capitalizing the corporation by assisting the board of directors in the development and execution of a fund raising plan to match state resources invested in the corporation
- Creation and management of a technology investment fund
A complete job description and application information can be found on the SSTI web site at www.ssti.org Deadline for submitting a resume is June 5; however, the Search Committee reserves the right to consider someone who submits after the deadline.
MEP TO HELP SMALL MANUFACTURERS WITH YEAR 2000 ISSUES
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and its nationwide network of centers are stepping up efforts to help smaller manufacturers avoid being bitten by the "millennium bug." The Stamford, Conn.-based GartnerGroup, a leading authority on information technology issues, has reported that as of 1997, 88 percent of all companies with fewer than 2,000 employees had not yet started Year 2000 remediation projects.
"Many companies that are addressing problems with their computer systems may be overlooking potential problems embedded in other systems such as machine controllers and telecommunications," said Kevin Carr, director of the NIST MEP.
MEP centers nationwide will be conducting seminars to raise smaller manufacturers' awareness and understanding of the problem and helping client manufacturers assess their systems to determine if they have problems. If needed, MEP centers also will help smaller companies plan remediation.
Carr has asked each center to designate at least one person as a Year 2000 "champion" to help coordinate center activities and services.
A self-assessment questionnaire and Year 2000 overview information also will be available on the MEP website at www.mep.nist.gov.
PEOPLE
Dr. Eugene Wong has been named assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation. As the head of NSF's engineering directorate, he will oversee a $320 million annual budget. His most recent position was with a start-up California company.
Durand Smith, the director of the New Mexico Department of Economic Development's Science and Technology Division, has returned to the private sector. Marsha Oldakowski is serving as acting director of the division.
Patrick Neary, executive director of Wyoming's Science, Technology & Energy Authority, has also returned to the private sector. Jeff Suddeth is serving as interim director.
Bill Eads, the Tennessee governor's science and technology advisor, has announced his retirement.
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