In the March 22, 2002 Issue:

Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2003. 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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Michigan Governor Signs Bills to Speed Broadband Deployment
Michigan Governor John Engler recently signed Senate Bills 880, 881 and 999 to help make high-speed Internet connections available and affordable to consumers across the state. Almost unanimously approved in the Michigan House and Senate, the Governor’s broadband initiative was supported by a coalition of more than 50 statewide associations, local groups and companies. The bills are as follows:

The broadband initiative should have a significant impact on the Michigan economy, according to a study released in December 2001 by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Performed by Gartner Consulting, an international information technology consulting group, the study showed that accelerating the build out of a statewide broadband infrastructure in Michigan would result in an increase of $440 billion over the next 10 years in Michigan's gross state product, compared to the increase that would occur if the broadband network expanded at its present rate. The network also would result in 497,000 more new jobs for Michigan during the same period, the study held.

More information on Governor Engler's initiative and the MEDC study are available at http://www.michigan.gov/

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Tech Sector Partnership Effort to Help Close Industry's Skills Gap
Responding to the demands of business leaders to close the nation's workforce skills gap, the National Skill Standards Board (NSSB) has created the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Voluntary Partnership to represent the telecommunications, computer and information industry sector.

By bringing together representatives from business, labor, education and community-based organizations, NSSB is facilitating the creation of a system of skill standards, assessments and certification that is expected to help the nation's businesses compete in the global economy and improve worker productivity. ICT is the fifth industry-led Voluntary Partnership recognized by NSSB; the other partnerships cover the manufacturing, sales and service, education and training, and hospitality and tourism industry sectors.

ICT is spearheaded by several major organizations, including the  Computing Technology Industry Association, the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, and the Information Technology Association of America. The creation of ICT is a nationwide effort in the growing IT and telecommunications sector that aims to equip a vast workforce with skills that may be used across the industry sector.

For more information about NSSB, visit http://www.nssb.org.

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NASA Develops Blueprint to Address Aviation Issues
NASA's Office of Aerospace Technology has released an integrated strategy, or blueprint, that suggests developing new technology will lead to a new era of aviation. The strategy, while not completed in time to be reflected in the Administration's 2003 budget request, will be used to guide federal aeronautics investments in research, education and development.

The NASA Aeronautics Blueprint: Toward a Bold New Era of Aviation identifies four elements on which NASA will focus — the digital airspace, revolutionary vehicles, security and safety, and a state-of-the-art educated workforce — to address critical issues in aeronautics. NASA must work closely with the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, academia and industry to be successful, according to the blueprint. With respect to the four elements above, the following points are made:

The NASA Aeronautics Blueprint is available at: 
http://www.aerospace.nasa.gov

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Harvard Institute Publishes Profiles on State Economies
As a means of highlighting the performance and composition of state economies, Harvard's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, led by Dr. Michael Porter, has published profiles on all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The profiles, available at http://www.people.hbs.edu/mporter/stateprofiles.htm, include data based on the Cluster Mapping project — a multi-year effort to statistically define clusters and analyze regional economies in the U.S. Relevant economic areas for companies and metropolitan areas, as defined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, are outlined. The profiles are arranged by the following topics:

The profiles were prepared under the guidance of Porter and are the work of the Council on Competitiveness, Monitor Company and the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness. Special thanks to Friday Facts, the weekly e-newsletter of the Southern Growth Policies Board, for tipping off SSTI to this story.

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Useful Stats: 2000 Manufacturing Employment & Pay by State
The Census Bureau report released last week, 2000 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Geographic Area Statistics, provides annual data from 1997 through 2000 on the number of all manufacturing employees, number of production workers, value added by manufacturers, cost of materials, value of shipments, and new capital expenditures for manufacturing establishments by state. The data cover manufacturing industry groups such as food, apparel, lumber, chemicals, computers and transportation equipment.

Due to the adoption of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in the 1997 Economic Census, approximately half of the industries in the manufacturing sector of NAICS do not have comparable industries in the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system that was used in the past. As a result, comparability of current and historical data is severely impacted, and the report only presents data from 1997 through 2000.

Total manufacturing employment in the U.S. shrunk by 0.74 percent between 1997 and 2000. Average pay per employee, however, grew by 9.3 percent (Note: this figure is not based on constant dollars). Twenty-seven states saw total manufacturing employment decline during the time period.

While total manufacturing employment declined in Idaho, those remaining in their jobs enjoyed the greatest growth in their paychecks compared to other states over the four years. At 36.12 percent, the Idaho increase was nearly four times the national average of 9.30 percent and almost twice the climb posted by second-place Maryland at 18.31 percent.

SSTI has prepared a table presenting the state rankings for the percent change between 1997-2000 for total manufacturing employment, total payroll and average pay per employee.

2000 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Geographic Area Statistics is available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/m00as-3.pdf.

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SBA Offers Free, Online Entrepreneurship Course
The U.S. Small Business Administration and My Own Business, Inc., have jointly created a free, online entrepreneurship course for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The announcement was made at the Conference on Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.

The 11-session interactive course was developed by My Own Business, Inc., a Los Angeles-based, non-profit firm founded in 1992 by a successful entrepreneur, to develop and provide educational materials on entrepreneurship. The course includes audio sound bytes, quizzes, feedback and an online tool to create business plans. Each of the individual components of the virtual business seminar can be pursued in sequence or independently.

The 11 segments are:

Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business, along with several other courses at SBA's online classroom, is available at http://www.sba.gov/classroom

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State and Local Tech-based ED RoundUp

Arizona
The Arizona State Legislature has agreed to pull $10 million from the Arizona Job Training Program due to a current budget crisis, according to the Arizona Daily Star. A temporary agreement until the Legislature adopts the state budget, the cut in funding for the  program would preserve grants that have been approved but have  not been awarded. About $400,000 for program funding would remain until July 1. The training grants provided through the program enable companies to administer formal training to boost their employees' skills; it is the only state program in Arizona that provides in-house training.

Cleveland, Ohio
The Lubrizol Corporation recently presented CAMP, Inc. with a major intellectual property donation valued at $22.4 million. The donation, which includes patents and related know-how for intelligent fluids, systems and related software, will be used to develop new manufacturing companies in Northeast Ohio. CAMP's Manufacturing and Technology Complex, which will house the donated Lubrizol technologies, is expected to serve as an incubator. Currently, CAMP is helping launch 10 new manufacturing and technology companies.

Colorado
In an effort to integrate two fields of study, the University of Colorado at Denver's Bard Center for Entrepreneurship is concluding this week a two-weekend workshop designed to give 50 engineers and technical professionals hands-on training in business. The center's Art and Business of Innovation workshop has included discussions on visionary leadership, concept development and strategy analysis, among other topics, and is the first in a series of business innovation programs to be held. The Colorado Institute of Technology awarded UCD a $150,000 grant for the programs.

Iowa
Higher education officials across Iowa are pushing for passage of the Between the Rivers program to retain graduates through forgivable loans, according to the Telegraph Herald. Under the program, up to $5,500 over four years would be offered to high school graduates, GED recipients and returning armed forces personnel who attend any two- or four-year institution. In addition, a post-graduation tax incentive of $200 per year or $600 for 10 years would be offered to those not receiving the full award. Program proponents hope to receive $6.1 million in pledged support from Iowa businesses and industry, as the total bonded indebtedness after four years of the program is anticipated at $143 million.

Mississippi
Plans for the Stennis Technology Park, including a shared resources building valued at almost $3.5 million, are nearing finalization, according to the Associated Press. At least 100 acres will be purchased for the park, but the cost of the land is unknown. The initial development cost for infrastructure, such as roads, utilities and wideband fiber-optics, is expected to exceed $15 million.

North Dakota
As a means to promote their region as ideal for business expansion, organizations in Traill, Griggs and Steele counties have formed the East Central Technology Council, the Grand Forks Herald reported. The partnership includes the Traill County Economic Development Commission, Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone, Traill County Technology Center, Cooperstown/Griggs Development Center and economic development organizations in each of seven cities.

Ohio
A new online resource, www.OhioTechNet.org, is giving entrepreneurs expanded access to patented technologies developed by Northeast Ohio's research institutions and increasing the technologies' chance for commercialization, Crain's Cleveland Business recently reported. Stored at the site are roughly 500 pieces of patented intellectual property, including polymer developments, fuel cells and the life sciences. Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University, the portal's two founding  institutions, are among several key players supporting the site, which is open to anyone.

Wyoming
Governor Jim Geringer recently gave new life to the Wyoming Business Council, signing a bill that will allow the council to continue operating for five more years. The public-private agency was set to expire in July 2003. This information is courtesy of the Associated Press.

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Ohio Department of Development Seeks Grants Administration Manager
The Ohio Department of Development, which works collaboratively with businesses, communities and the Ohio Legislature to develop financial and technical programs, seeks to fill the position, Grants Administration Manager. The position's duties include managing the outside Grant Administration Team, assessing project results and progress, and performing other duties assigned by the Deputy Director of the Technology Division. Candidates must show the following: a Bachelor of Science in Business or Public  Administration or a related area of study; a minimum of five years  experience in public administration, economic development or a related field; proficient in the use of computers (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, database spreadsheets); and excellent written & verbal communication skills. Candidates also must be able to travel up to 40 percent of time. Previous supervisory experience is  preferred. More detailed information is available on SSTI's website at: http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm

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