January 19, 2001 -- SSTI Weekly Digest

In the January 19, 2001 Issue:

Idaho Charts Aggressive Course for Tech-based Future

Tech Talkin' Governors III

Texas Workforce Plan and Governor’s Budget Priorities In Sync

Minneapolis Collaboration Offers Approach to Addressing Digital Divide & Expanding IT Workforce

Business First Stop Will Assist Appalachian Entrepreneurs in Three-State Region

MaineScience.Org Provides Portal to State's S&T Community

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.

Subscription to the SSTI Weekly Digest is free. If you are reading a forwarded copy of this issue and would like to receive your own copy each week directly, please subscribe at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digform.htm Requests to unsubscribe should be sent to sstiwd@ssti.org

Idaho Charts Aggressive Course for Tech-based Future
Science policy and tech-based economic development have taken center stage in Idaho with last week’s release of the Idaho Science and Technology Strategy and the supporting new initiatives included in Governor Dirk Kempthorne’s recent budget message.

With the strong tech base in Boise, the wealth of science and technical expertise at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), and robust state revenues, Governor Kempthorne and the 23-member Science and Technology Advisory Council he appointed believe the key elements are in place to launch a comprehensive strategy for growing and expanding the state’s tech-based economic.

The council, which includes the state’s top technology company executives, engineers, educators, and technology experts, recommended several courses of action in the Idaho Science and Technology Strategy:

Build, attract, and retain a highly skilled technical workforce

Invest in creating R&D excellence and promoting industry-university collaboration

Facilitate commercialization of technology developed in Idaho

Build an entrepreneurial culture that supports and nurtures new firm formation

Invest in the infrastructure needed to support a technology-based economy

Establish a national and international image for Idaho as a leading technology center

Among the priority actions identified in the report are the creation of a private, non-profit Idaho Science and Technology Corporation to oversee implementation of the strategic plan.

Governor Kempthorne’s 2001 budget, presented to the state legislature January 10, outlined an array of initiatives that will begin implementing the plan immediately, including:

a five percent research and development tax credit

a three percent broadband connectivity investment tax credit with an additional transferable credit of up to two percent for telecommunications projects in counties with high unemployment or low average personal income (total estimated cost to the state is $10.8 million)

$2 million incentive to encourage the creation of more venture capital to be invested in start-up companies

creation of a non-profit, public-private corporation to oversee implementation of the S&T strategy

$500,000 for the Higher Education Research Council to provide matching grants for university research in the North Idaho Business Park

$2.65 million to hire more faculty in key science, engineering and professional disciplines

$3 million for faculty recruitment and infrastructure in research areas of economic importance to the state

$6 million for signing bonuses and loan forgiveness for math and science teachers

a new Math Initiative to increase Idaho student performance on the Direct Math Assessment

$3 million for the Promise Scholarship Program (created in 2000, but unfunded), which would provide $500 to Idaho's top high school graduates to use toward attending an Idaho college or university

a $500,000 state matching grant program to provide 1:1 match for local and regional economic development assistance

$400,000 expansion of the Gem Communities Program to provide economic development training and planning for rural communities

The 62-page Idaho Science and Technology Strategic Plan may be downloaded from http://www.idoc.state.id.us/news/ScienceTech.html

Governor Dirk Kempthorne’s State of the State Address and Budget Message can be found at: http://www2.state.id.us/gov/Speeches/2001/01speeches.htm

Return to the top of this page

Tech-Talkin’ Governors III: The State of the State and Budget Addresses
Editor's Note: The third installment of SSTI's look at recent speeches and budget
proposals to demonstrate the priority governors are placing on tech-based economic development and math & science education.

Georgia
Governor Roy Barnes, FY2002 Budget Address, January 11, 2001
– new and increased funding
http://www.ganet.org/governor/speech/press.cgi?prfile=PR.20010112.02

$500,000 for distance learning programs to provide expert teacher training

$4.5 million in additional funds for the Yamacraw Mission, the centerpiece of the state's tech-based economic development strategy

Indiana
Governor Frank O’Bannon, State of the State Address, January 17, 2001
– new initiatives and new funding, reauthorization of existing efforts
http://www.state.in.us/gov/state/2001/2001sos.htm

$50 million school readiness program with several initiatives, including a middle school summer math program and 500 master reading and math teachers in the selected schools

$30 million quality teaching initiative to fund professional development in areas including reading and math achievement

reauthorization of the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and investment of an additional $50 million in it over the next two years

Nebraska
Governor Mike Johanns, State of the State Address, January 11, 2001
– creating new programs and increasing higher education funding
http://gov.nol.org/Johanns/sos2001/

a new program to match Nebraska entrepreneurs with Nebraska investors, keeping both risk-taking entrepreneurs and capital investment within the State’s borders

called for creation of a major endowment dedicated to biomedical research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Boys Town Research Hospital and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The endowment would be funded through tobacco settlement proceeds.

South Carolina
Governor Jim Hodges, Executive Budget for FY 2001-02, January 3, 2001,
and State of the State Address, January 17, 2001
– new programs and initiatives
http://www.mySCGov.com/

proposed investment of $5 million in a Higher Education Research Investment Fund to enable colleges and universities to expand their research efforts and compete more successfully at the national level by leveraging state dollars with federal and private funds

urged the legislature to use the education lottery to make technical and 2-year college education free to anyone who wants it; give a $2,000 HOPE scholarship to every South Carolina student who earns a "B" average; and make South Carolina first in the nation for per-pupil spending on technology

created the Rural Task Force for South Carolina to explore ways to improve job retraining programs for displaced workers, focus on making high-speed Internet access affordable in rural communities, and support small business incentives to diversify the job base in agricultural areas

Utah
Governor Mike Leavitt, State of the State Address, January 16, 2001
– increased funding and new initiatives
http://www.governor.state.ut.us/html/2001state.html

announced funding to add to the physical capacity of Utah’s universities, ensure qualified faculty and up-to-date equipment. Referred to a need for 15,000 engineering and computer science students by 2005

proposed financial incentives for teachers in math and advanced technology areas who commit to staying in Utah schools for four years: a one-time benefit of as much as $20,000 on top of their existing salaries. Outstanding teachers in other disciplines would also be eligible; the state will pay for their master's degree in technology or their certificate in math and give them a retention contract when they graduate. Goal of adding at least 850 teachers who have master's degrees in learning technology.

Return to the top of this page

Texas Workforce Plan and Governor’s Budget Priorities In Sync
With his past efforts to strengthen the state’s position in the tech-based economy, new Texas Governor Rick Perry’s budget priorities — $251 million in new spending for college scholarships and math & science programs —
should come as no surprise.

According to a recent article in the Austin American Statesman, Governor Perry’s budget recommendations will include $211 million in increased funding for college scholarships for lower-income students and $40 million for a new Master Math Teacher program to encourage more K-12 math instruction. Governor Perry cited a technically skilled workforce, built on a strong math and science education, as being needed for the state’s technology economy.

The move, consistent with Perry’s activities while serving as Lieutenant Governor, may foreshadow the Lone Star State taking a more active role in encouraging tech-based economic development.

In the fall of 1999, Perry established the state’s Advisory Council on the Digital Economy. This past October, the Council released Bringing Digital Opportunity to All Texans, a comprehensive strategy designed to create a technically trained workforce for the Lone Star State. Among the panel’s recommendations are the creation of a new position of State Technology Commissioner and a State Technology Council to advise the governor and state leaders on technology strategies and opportunities concerning economic development and state services.

Key education-related recommendations included:

Focusing on teacher professional development, including the use of greater funding for training and tech support through new Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) monies.

Providing more incentives for excellence in math and science by expanding the “Master Teacher” designation to math specialists, similar to a Master Reading Teacher program that awards $5,000 annual stipends to certified reading specialists, and creating math and science camps.

Encouraging greater classroom involvement from high-tech industry leaders to show the connection between math and exciting and lucrative professional opportunities to encourage students to study in science and technology-related fields. The council recommended streamlining the alternative certification process, creating adjunct teacher positions in technology, and encouraging greater collaboration between schools and high-tech companies in addressing community issues.

Creating a new scholarship program at two-year colleges would be designed to encourage economically disadvantaged people to pursue technology-related jobs.

Doubling the number of engineering graduates within five years at Texas’ four-year institutions.

Recommendations in non-educational issues included:

Establishing a non-profit clearinghouse to coordinate with the Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce boards to direct technology donations to job training centers and the homes of disadvantaged Texans desiring skills that will make them marketable in the digital economy.

Adopting the “America’s Promise” model in utilizing technology and the Internet to positively influence the development of Texas youth.

Expansion of tele-health opportunities, including the formation of a pilot program targeting a specific population or region with special health care needs.

Bringing Digital Opportunity to All Texans is available for download at
http://www.txdigecon.bus.utexas.edu

Return to the top of this page

Minneapolis Collaboration Offers Approach to Addressing Digital Divide & Expanding IT Workforce
An initiative to provide computer training to local teenagers to help jumpstart their information technology careers was launched earlier this month in Minneapolis. The Community IT Learning Center is the result of a partnership involving a North Minneapolis-based youth development organization, two local technology training companies, and Microsoft. While the training is designed to help close Minnesota’s Digital Divide 12 students at a time, the center is putting in place mechanisms to increase the impact beyond each class.

Upon completing the first round of semester-long classes, students will receive A+ Certification, the first step to an IT career as hardware technicians. The training will be provided at no expense to the students, and the program will pick up the fees for the students to receive A+ Certification. Students receiving certification will receive an after-school and summer internship with a Minneapolis company and earn a minimum of $10 per hour, possibly up to $20 per hour. Students will also have the option of pursuing additional certification levels.

In exchange for the free instruction and work experience, center graduates will perform 20 hours of volunteer community service upon certification and must help mentor the next class.

The 12-student computer lab was donated to Hospitality House Boys and Girls Club (home of the Community IT Learning Center) by Mindsharp, a Twin Cities technology training company. REALskills, a technology training partnership of several companies, created the 14 week training program, while Microsoft donated the software.

More information is available at http://www.hospitalityhouse.net

Editor’s Note: The Community IT Learning Center is one of many programs across the country that is providing IT training. While this project did not involve public funding, $205 million is available from the U.S. Department of Education for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The funding will support approximately 400 grants ranging in size from $35,000 to $2,000,000. The centers must be connected to public schools. More information is available at: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg/grantann/q101/010301b.txt

Return to the top of this page

Business First Stop Will Assist Appalachian Entrepreneurs in Three-State Region
A new resource for tech-based businesses in rural Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, and West Virginia was launched last week. The Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative (AREI) is expanding its efforts to support growth of a technology-based entrepreneurial economy in Appalachia Ohio and neighboring states through a new website, http://www.bizfirststop.com

Business First Stop enables users to locate information and resources, seek out other area entrepreneurs, identify and solve problems, and find out about relevant area events. Contact information for business services and assistance in the areas of finance, management, business tools, marketing, and government can be found on the site for each state. Listings of informational sessions on financial, international trade, internet/e-commerce, management, sales and marketing, and technology topics comprise part of the Ohio information.

In addition, AREI will assist businesses to take advantage of newly available venture capital funding through the Appalachian Ohio Development Fund. Based at Ohio University, AREI also supports regional economic development organizations interested in providing technology-related training and technical assistance to local businesses. As part of this endeavor, an e-commerce curriculum is being developed which can be used by economic development organizations to assist their small business clients in development of their own e-commerce strategy and web sites.

For more information about Business First Stop or the Appalachian Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative, visit http://www.arei.org

Return to the top of this page

MaineScience.Org Provides Portal to State's S&T Community
The Maine Science and Technology Foundation has launched http://www.mainescience.org -- a single website clearinghouse for businesses, researchers, educators, students and the public looking for information on science and technology in Maine. Under the headings of Quest, Brainpower, Happenings, and Commerce, the site:

provides the latest science and technology news in Maine;

offers an inventory of high technology resources including databases of research capabilities and results;

identifies research grant opportunities;

lists sources of business financing;

lists technology-intensive businesses in the state and showcases some of their successes;

contains links to job opportunities in science and technology positions;

identifies educational institutions in Maine that offer courses in science and technology-related subjects; and,

provides links to science resources for teachers and educational information for students.

The idea for a science and technology information clearinghouse originated in 1997 when a special commission reviewed the state’s high technology industries. The commission offered recommendations for improving Maine’s ability to attract and retain high-tech industry and proposed creating a clearinghouse to serve as a single source of information for persons developing high-tech businesses in the state.

More information on the Maine Science & Technology Foundation can be found at: http://www.mstf.org/

Return to the top of this page

State Science & Technology Institute
5015 Pine Creek Drive
Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: (614) 901-1690
Fax: (614) 901-1696
Email: ssti@ssti.org