In the October 22, 1999 Issue:

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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40 Community Technology Centers Funded By Dept. of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has selected 40 awards for the Community Technology Centers program, a new federal initiative to promote the development of model programs that demonstrate the educational effectiveness of technology in urban and rural areas and economically distressed communities. Community Technology Centers provide access to information technology and related learning services to children and adults.

The Department received 750 applications from communities and organizations across all 50 states and two territories in response to the program’s first solicitation last Spring. The 1999 awards are distributed across 23 states and the District of Columbia.

In making its award decisions, the Department gave preference to applications that met one or both of two competitive priorities: projects that expanded or established Community Technology Centers in a federally-designated Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community, and projects that demonstrated substantial community support. Twenty-six of the recipients are located in urban zones and 14 are in rural areas.

The accompanying table (http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/102299t.htm) presents the distribution of Community Technology Center awards by state.

The selected centers will share $9.9 million in federal funding. Each award is matched to some degree by non-federal funding sources. Awards represent a 3-year commitment from the department of Education, provided Congress appropriates funding for the program each year.

The ability of the agency to support new centers this fiscal year is unclear as Congress only appropriated continuation-level funding of $10 million for FY 2000; the Clinton Administration had requested $65 million for this current fiscal year.

For the complete list of award recipients and for more information on the Community Technology Centers program visit: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/CTC/  

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Ben Franklin had $2.9 Billion Economic Impact, Report Says

Pennsylvania’s $187 million investment in the Ben Franklin Partnership boosted the state’s economy by $2.9 billion between 1989 and 1996, according to a new economic impact study. A Record of Achievement: The Economic Impact of the Ben Franklin Partnership concludes that between 1989 and 1996 the Ben Franklin Partnership achieved the following:

The report was commissioned by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Ben Franklin/IRC Partnership Board, and was independently conducted by Nexus Associates, Inc.

In calculating the impact, Nexus used a quasi-experimental design rather than relying on client-reported impacts. The approach directly compares the performance of Ben Franklin clients to a control group of similar companies that did not receive assistance.

The Ben Franklin Partnership operates through four independent, non-profit corporations established in different regions of the state. On July 1, the Ben Franklin Technology Centers adopted a new name, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and adopted a new logo.

The executive summary of the impact report can be found on their new website at http://www.benfranklin.org  

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SBA Funds 22 State SBIR Programs

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has selected 22 organizations to receive funding to support outreach and proposal assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The organizations will split $1 million for an average award of just over $45,000.  The exact amount for each award was not provided.

Each recipient must match the federal award 50 cents on the dollar. Awardees
include:

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NSF Funds $10 M Center for Bioengineering Ed Technology

A five-university partnership led by Vanderbilt University (TN) will develop bioengineering educational technologies and curricula at a new Engineering Research Center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Through a five-year, nearly $10-million cooperative agreement, the center will support and enhance the education of a new generation of bioengineers needed to strengthen the industry.

The partnership includes Northwestern University (IL), University of Texas at Austin, and the joint Division of Health Sciences and Technology of Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bioengineers, learning scientists, and computer scientists expect to develop modular, computer-based courseware, curricula, and educational technology tailored to the needs of bioengineering education, and to disseminate these products to engineering educators. Industry partners and national laboratories will participate in the research and education, and in developing ways to transfer knowledge and technological advances to industry.

Two NSF directorates -- the Directorate for Engineering and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences -- will participate in funding the center.  

For more information on the NSF Engineering Research Centers, visit:
http://www.eng.nsf.gov/eec/erc.htm 

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NASA Selects 290 SBIR Phase I Awards

NASA has selected 290 research proposals across 34 states for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for its 1999 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The total value of the awards is expected to be more than $20 million.  

NASA received more than 2,260 proposals from small, high-technology businesses located throughout the United States in response to the 1999 Phase I solicitation.

The 220 selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts worth up to $70,000 to perform a six-month Phase I feasibility study.

Companies which successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. NASA Phase II awards allow for a two-year, fixed-price contract of up to $600,000. 

The accompanying table (http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/102299t.htm) presents the distribution of proposals, awards, and firms by state. A listing of companies selected for the program can be found at http://sbir.nasa.gov  

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Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentors Honored

Ten individuals and five institutions have received the 1999 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The mentoring awards honor those whose personal and organizational activities have increased participation of underrepresented groups in mathematics, engineering and science from kindergarten through graduate level.

Each recipient is given a $10,000 grant and a commemorative presidential certificate. The monetary award is to be directed back into the recognized mentoring activity.

This year's awardees were selected from among 36 nominated for the individual awards and another 19 from institutions.

1999 INDIVIDUAL WINNERS


1999 INSTITUTIONAL WINNERS

The award is administered and funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF). For more information contact: Bill Noxon by phone at (703) 306-1070 or by email at wnoxon@nsf.gov

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