SSTI Digest

Margie Emmermann has been named Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. For the past seven years, Ms. Emmermann has been the state's policy adviser to Mexico and liaison to the Hispanic Community.&nbsp

Arizona In spite of a tight budget resulting in cuts of $600 million, the Business Journal reports the Arizona state legislature has appropriated $3 million to launch implementation of the strategic plan developed by the APNE, the Arizona Partnership for the New Economy (see the Jan. 26, 2001 issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest for a story on the plan). The funds, to be focused primarily on rural telecom initiatives, will be administered by the Department of Commerce. For more information on APNE see: http://www.commerce.state.az.us/neweconomy/APNE.htm Colorado The 12-year-old Boulder Technology Incubator has changed its name to the Colorado Technology Incubator. According to an article in the Daily Camera, the new name better reflects the non-profit's existing presence in Boulder and Longmont and a planned third branch to be located elsewhere in the state this year. Nampa, Idaho A nearly $2 million grant from the Economic Development Administration is paving the way for construction of a 40,000 sq. ft high technology business center…

Jackie Norton, director of the Arizona Department of Commerce for the past five years, has announced she will be leaving the position this summer.

With as much emphasis on accessing and applying technology as on creating it, the final report of the Arizona Partnership for the New Economy (APNE) outlines several recommendations to improve Arizona’s position and performance in a tech-based economy. “While it is important to have industries that produce technology and continually improve it, the real impact of [the new economy] will be felt by the application of technology across a wide range of industries and activities,” says the 36-member task force appointed by Governor Jane Dee Hull. Released earlier this week, An Economy That Works for Everyone is developed around four elements: K-12 and higher education; telecommunications infrastructure; government leadership in support of technology, R&D and access to capital; and, enhancing government services through the application of technology. The elements are labeled respectively Learning, Linking, Leading, and Living in the 37-page report. Specific APNE recommendations for the state include: $250,000 of seed funding from the state to develop a business plan…

Editor's Note: We continue our look at the priority Governors are placing on tech-based economic development and math & science education with highlights from recent speeches and budget proposals. Based on this week's announcements, it appears 2001 appears will be a third strong growth year for state and local tech-based economic development activities. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, State of the State Address, January 9, 2001, and accompanying legislative agenda -- new initiatives http://www.state.ar.us/governor/state_of_state_2001/index.html a new Arkansas Biosciences Institute to foster biotechnology development and research  the establishment of a chief information officer for the state and an advisory council a new Arkansas Technology Infrastructure Fund so high-speed connectivity is accessible to every Arkansan a new Arkansas Venture Capital Fund, combining many existing state economic development programs into a single incentive program passage of a Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, providing legal recognition by the…

All States Whether or not to tax e-commerce has become a states’ rights issue. The industry-led Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce has recommended to Congress that it extend the current ban on e-commerce sales taxes for five years; the moratorium is set to expire in October, 2001. While governors in several states have been vocal in their opposition of any e-sales taxes, 42 governors have submitted a joint letter to Congress blasting the ban as a special interest tax break that interferes with state sovereignty. More information is available from the National Governors’ Association web site: http://www.nga.org/Releases/PR-12April2000Internet.asp Arizona State legislation has been passed to provide 100 percent tax credits of up to $1,500 per year per person toward costs associated with information technology (IT) training for IT skills determined to be in short supply by the Arizona Department of Commerce. HB 2442/SB 1332 were passed with the aim of addressing the shortage of skilled IT workers. For copies of the act, visit: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/bills.htm …

Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull has announced the formation of the Arizona Partnership for the New Economy, a 35-member steering committee appointed to purse the following goals: Define the New Economy and its importance to Arizona; Assess Arizona’s current readiness and establish benchmarks for measuring progress; and, Develop strategies for correcting any perceived deficiencies in responding to the opportunities presented by the New Economy. Alan Hald and Ted Ferris were named as co-chairs of the committee. Hald is co-founder of MicroAge and Ferris serves as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and policy advisor on economic matters. Other members of the committee come from high-tech industry, financial and investment firms, business and trade associations, academia, the media, and the general public. The Governor asked the Partnership for the New Economy to conclude its work by October 2000, so that she can present a comprehensive set of recommendations to the Legislature seated in January 2001. More information may be found on the web at: http://www.governor.state.az.…

Jack Haenichen has been promoted to Deputy Director for the Arizona Department of Commerce.