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Economic Development Administration: $250 million to address long-term economic distress in urban industrial cores and rural areas distributed based on need and ability to create jobs and attract private investment.In addition to the Economic Recovery plan, the incoming Administration has two more opportunities pending to see some or all of these proposals addressed. Congress has yet to approve a final budget for the current fiscal year, which is now 4.5 months old and existing on a Continuing Resolution which expires in March. The Obama Administration will be in a position to influence the FY09 budget at the same time it is preparing to submit its first full budget request for FY10.
Brownfields: $100 million for competitive grants for evaluation and cleanup of former industrial and commercial sites - turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Last year EPA was only able to fund 37% of Brownfields applications.
Tech
Talkin' Govs, Part II
The
second installment of the Tech Talkin’ Govs series includes highlights
from state of the state, budget and inaugural addresses delivered by
the governors of Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas,
Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oregon and Vermont.
Arizona
Gov. Janet Napolitano, State of the State Address, Jan. 9, 2009
“Arizona
must stay on the path toward a greener future.…We also must
work to limit our greenhouse gas emissions through the Western Climate
Initiative, and move forward in building a strong renewable energy
sector, particularly with respect to solar energy. The entire nation is
going in this direction – and Arizona has much to gain by being a
leader.”
Colorado
Gov. Bill Ritter, State of the State Address, Jan. 8, 2009
“By
reviving the Colorado Credit Reserve Program, we can give thousands
of small businesses vital access to credit and capital. ….
“… By
enacting House Bill 1001, the job-creation tax credit I announced last
month, we can level the playing field with other states when it comes
to attracting new companies and new jobs. ...
“… I’m
equally excited
about … the Renewable Energy Financing Act, which will facilitate
financing for residential and business clean-energy projects. “While
investments in the New Energy Economy and transportation are essential,
the best economic strategy is an education strategy. … So this session
we will bring you a statewide concurrent-enrollment plan that will give
high school students an opportunity to earn college credits while
finishing high school. …
“… We
are proposing a comprehensive, statewide
approach that will guide high school students who are taking college
courses. This is an efficient student-centered concept that will give
kids a reason to stay in school and accelerate their progress toward
degrees and workforce-readiness.”
Georgia
Gov.
Sonny Perdue, State
of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2009
“We are
also proposing differentiated pay for math and science
teachers. … We must introduce a market dynamic into the salary schedule
to address these critical needs areas."
Idaho
Gov.
Butch Otter, State
of the State/State Budget Message, Jan. 12,
2009
“My plan
for growing Idaho’s economy and creating good jobs for years
to come [Project 60] already is under way – and showing results. … One
of its goals is nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurial giants. …
“The
initiative is driving our retooled Innovation Council, which is
going to take the lead in technology transfer and commercialization.
The Innovation Council’s marching orders are to provide a practical and
business-oriented approach to turning ideas into jobs and economic
activity. That means working more closely with the Idaho National
Laboratory as it enters its seventh successful decade in Idaho. It
means coordinating the efforts of our colleges and universities and
other research partners – public and private – to quickly and
efficiently determine what works and how it can be applied in the
marketplace.”
Kansas
Gov.
Kathleen Sebelius, State
of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2009
“I ask
the Kansas Legislature to work with me on a green energy
proposal which has already been endorsed by two of our major utilities
and includes net metering, new building codes, and statutory goals for
renewable energy in Kansas. This legislation will send a clear signal
to private investors and renewable manufacturers that Kansas is
embracing a clean energy future, and will help to spur investment and
innovation.
“Finally,
I am pleased that Len Rodman, CEO of Black and
Veatch, a Kansas company that provides strategic advice throughout the
world on green energy initiatives, has agreed to Chair my newly created
GreenWorks Advisory Council, to expand our opportunities to add more
renewable energy jobs in Kansas.”
Mississippi
Gov.
Haley Barbour, State
of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2009
“Education
is the number one economic development and quality of life
issue in our state and every state. When I say education, I include not
only K-12 but also workforce development at our community colleges,
commercially viable research at our universities. …
“We’ve
got to
help more of our workers upgrade their skills. We owe it to them, and
it is key to our economic growth.
"Now,
here’s the problem: More than
$20 million a year of our job training budget comes from a diversion of
one-third of the unemployment insurance tax paid by Mississippi …. But,
if the balance in our unemployment insurance trust fund falls below a
certain level, we will lose that diversion … I urge you to replace
these funds with state funds if it becomes necessary.
“As you
prepare
the FY 2010 budget I ask you to fund higher education at levels that
allow it to play the critical roles it has in generating economic
growth. This is essential to job creation, especially during a
challenging economy like this recession.”
New
Hampshire
Gov.
Jim Lynch, Inaugural
Address, Jan. 8, 2009
“
(T)oday I am proposing a new Green Jobs Initiative, funded from part
of the proceeds of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the
Renewable Energy Fund. …
“…
(W)e should provide training so our
citizens can learn the new skills needed for this new and growing
industry.”
Oregon
Gov.
Ted Kulongoski, State
of the State Address, Jan. 12, 2009
“We’re
also going to have to innovate, educate, and invest. That means
more research and development into energy efficiency and conservation.
Creating a larger science infrastructure that will attract and train
scientists and engineers.”
Vermont
Gov.
Jim Douglas, Inaugural
Address, Jan. 8, 2009
“(F)ew
things are more important to establishing a strong and growing
economy than the education and training of our workforce. That’s why,
despite budget challenges, I propose a 20% increase in early and higher
education as a first step to address spending disparities and prepare
Vermonters, young and old, for future success. ...
“… As part of last year’s Economic Growth Initiative, we provided a higher level VEGI incentive to green industries. By expanding this successful program to technology-based employers, such as software developers, we can encourage growth in this fast moving sector of our economy.”
A
Matter of Scale: Florida Governor Outlines “Small” Business Stimulus
Package
Facing
a $2.3 billion deficit in FY 2010, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has
proposed a new financing program to promote small business growth
through the current financial crisis. Calling it an Economic Stimulus
Plan, the governors.’s proposal will target small Florida-based
companies
with high-growth potential through direct loans and other support
services. By focusing on small businesses, the state can target
companies with good prospects for growth with a modest investment of
taxpayer dollars, according to the press release accompanying the
announcement. The price tag? Only $10 million.
An $8.5 million pilot program would provide loans of up to $250,000 per
business to cover the cost of capital purchases, employee training and
salaries for new jobs. Only Florida-based small businesses with between
10 and 99 employees would be eligible for the loans. Thirty-four of
Florida’s 67,400* active companies in that size range would receive
loans if the modest loan maximum were reached for each project.
The loans would carry a two percent interest rate over a period of five
years. Gov. Crist believes that the program will help address the
lack of capital available to small businesses as bank rein in their
willingness to extend credit.
The remaining $1.5 million will be used to provide technical assistance
to smaller firms.
The governor’s plan is an outgrowth of work done last year by the
Florida Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development’ s Project
Green Jeans. That initiative worked with regional economic development
organizations to craft a unifying “economic gardening” strategy for the
state, alongside the governor’s small business taskforce. Despite the
governor’s announcement, other state-funded programs to help companies
are being cut. Last week, legislators agreed to reduce funding for the
state’s Quick Action Closing Fund by $24 million, according to the Miami
Herald. Many other programs, including a variety of
business incentives, also face cuts as the state attempts to address
the looming deficit.
For more information on the governor’s plan, visit: http://www.flgov.com/otted_econstimplan.
Note: * Active firms in 2005 (latest year available) from Census
Bureau’s Business Dynamics Statistics
SSTI
Brought 1,400+ Funding Opportunities to Subscribers in 2008
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