SSTI Digest

The third installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs' series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Utah. The first and second installments are available in the Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 editions of the Digest. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, State of the State Address, Jan. 19, 2012 "Following up on the recent "Imagine Delaware' forum sponsored by the News Journal, we are finding new ways to support entrepreneurs. Over the last months, we studied best practices at entrepreneurial support centers around the country... Working with Representatives Lavelle and Bryon Short and groups like First State Innovation, we will apply what we have learned to further support emerging start-ups and growing companies in Delaware." Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, State of the State Address, Jan. 23, 2012 "Not only is it important to emphasize brick and mortar, we must also build an infrastructure for technology to meet the demands of the 21st century. This is the intellectual and social infrastructure that we must have to provide opportunities and experience for our people to become an advanced workforce that can compete in the global marketplace. "We…

The Idaho Department of Commerce has named Gynii Gilliam as its new chief economic development officer. Gilliam brings more than 20 years of experience to the position. Most recently, she served as executive director of Bannock Development Corporation. David Kerr, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, will step down from the position Dec. 31. Tim McLaughlin and Bob Merritt have been selected for leadership positions within the Delaware Economic Development Office. McLaughlin, formerly with the Delaware State Housing Authority, is taking over as director of business development, overseeing DEDO's recruitment efforts. Merritt, who was vice president of the First National Bank of Wyoming's loan department, joins DEDO as capital resources director, overseeing management of Delaware's Strategic Fund. TechColumbus has appointed Tim Haynes, vice president for membership and marketing, as interim CEO beginning Jan. 1. Previously, Ted Ford, who spent six years as the organization's CEO, announced his plans to leave the post at the end of this year. Joe Reagan, the president of Greater Louisville Inc. has been hired to…

Lawmakers in several states wrapped up their 2011 sessions in time for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1 for most states, allocating funds and passing bills in support of tech-based economic development. Read more... Delaware lawmakers established a new Job Creation Tax Credit and extended the scope to include clean energy technologies. Read more... Maine Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill expanding the state's Seed Capital Tax Credit. Read more... Nevada legislators passed a bill reorganizing the state's economic development efforts. The bill also establishes a Catalyst Fund and creates a Knowledge Fund to encourage technology commercialization. Read more... North Carolina's recently enacted budget continues to support the state's life sciences industry, but at a reduced level. Overall, appropriations for life science activities are reduced 3.9 percent in the coming year. Read more... Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the 2012-13 biennial budget, which includes funding for the state's two major economic development funds — the Emerging Technology Fund and the Texas Enterprise Fund. Another bill passed during the…

The fourth installment of SSTI's Tech Talkin' Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, and Vermont. The first three installments are available in the Jan. 5, Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 issues of the Digest. AlaskaGov. Sean Parnell, State of the State Address, Jan. 19, 2011"That's why this year I know we can work together to enact the energy strategy that I've submitted. This comprehensive plan puts us on track to achieve the renewable energy goal we established, together, that Alaska will derive 50 percent of our electrical power from renewable sources by 2025. To get there, I'm asking you to move decisively and aggressively with me. Let's work together this year to invest at least $65 million to jump start planning, design, and permitting for the Susitna Hydro Project; provide at least $25 million for renewable energy grants ..." DelawareGov. Jack Markell, State of the State Address, Jan. 20, 2011"And to drive home the message that Delaware is the best place to start and grow a business, we must promote job-creating capital…

Maine Governor Paul LePage named Phillip Congdon as the new commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Cogndon is a licensed professional engineer who spent more than 20 years with Texas Instruments in Dallas. He replaces Acting Commissioner Thaxter Trafton. Ohio Governor John Kasich announced Mark Kvamme, a partner at Sequoia Capital, will serve as the interim state development director. The Silicon Valley venture capitalist has agreed to do the job for a dollar. Former NorTech CEO Dorothy Baunach will be Cuyahoga County's interim economic development director. Ken Bloemer, executive director of the U.S.A. National Innovation Marketplace, will replace Phil Doepker as director of the University of Dayton, Innovation Center. Richard Chapas has been appointed the state project director for Delaware EPSCoR. He will succeed Steve Borleske, who has retired after more than eight years of service. Choose New Jersey has selected Tracye McDaniel as its first chief executive officer. Previously, McDaniel served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Greater Houston Partnership. Battelle…

Want to participate in a new concept in innovation clusters? The Southern Advanced Materials in Transportation Alliance (SAMTA) is a regional innovation cluster that promotes the research, commercialization, and production of new and specialized materials important to the automotive and aerospace industries. Although traditional clusters are based on geographic concentration, SAMTA will use telecommunications networks to minimize geographic distance and facilitate the industry network. The Economic Development Administration has provided seed funding for this project. If you are a researcher, businessperson, or advocate, working in, or with facilities in the South and want to be on the mailing list, email Scott Doron at sdoron@southern.org.

Joining a growing number of states investing in clean energy to promote economic growth and remain competitive, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed into law four renewable energy bills that he says will create new jobs by fostering the expansion of renewable energy industries such as wind and solar. Expanding the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and updating the Green Energy Fund to address a backlog in recipients waiting for grant dollars are among the new laws in the Clean Energy Jobs Package detailed below. SS 1 for SB 119 extends and expands Delaware's RPS so that 25 percent of the state's electricity must come from renewable sources by 2025, up from the current target of 20 percent by 2019. The bill also includes solar energy targets and provides incentives for local labor and manufacture of solar energy targets. SB 266 authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to adjust grant levels to achieve maximum renewable energy deployment and reallocate existing Green Energy Fund revenues to address a current backlog in recipients waiting for grant dollars. The fund provides grants for renewable energy installation,…

Adding to a growing number of states seeking to increase their percentage of power from renewable sources, Gov. Jack Markell last week introduced the Delaware Clean Energy Jobs Act.  A key component of the legislation is increasing the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which governors often say generates job growth. The overarching goal of the Delaware bill is to create a competitive climate for the clean energy market, which is addressed under four main goals, including: Setting a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the state to receive 30 percent of its energy supplies from renewable sources by 2029 (up from 20 percent); Facilitating job creation through modifications to the existing RPS and expanding local manufacturing to establish Delaware as a national leader in the adoption of renewable energy; Driving local economic development by creating a new "local generation" component to the RPS and incentives for the use of systems manufactured in Delaware through enhanced renewable energy credit values; and, Modernizing the Green Energy Fund by establishing a market-based method for financing renewable energy projects.   A…

The third installment of SSTI’s Tech Talkin’ Govs’ series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Delaware, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin. The first and second installments are available in the Jan 13 Digest and Jan. 20 Digest, respectively. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, State of the State Address, Jan. 21, 2010 “We have a proud legacy of technology innovation that we will build on. Together, we will create a Delaware where entrepreneurs and inventors imagine the new products and services that make life better, more productive and more enjoyable for millions, and workers make good livings delivering these wonders to the world. “That is why I am supporting in this year’s bond bill plans to provide a center for high-tech laboratories, health sciences, alternative energy research and development, and other emerging industries at the old Chrysler site.” Maine Gov. John Baldacci, State of the State Address, Jan. 21, 2010 “… In the coming weeks, I will submit legislation to continue our aggressive pursuit of offshore…

Gov. Jim Douglas plans to merge the Vermont Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Community Affairs. Douglas's deputy chief of staff Betsy Bishop was appointed commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. She replaces Mike Quinn, who stepped down after serving six years in the position. Linda Brander resigns as program manager of the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership Program to begin a new job as the Restoration Coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. John Collar has been named Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association. The Tech Council of Maryland has announced that chief executive office Julie Conns is resigning her post. Matt Dugener resigned from the LEAP (Lansing Economic Area Partnership). Denyse Ferguson, Executive Vice President, has agreed to serve as the interim president. Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma has been elected chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Saul Kaplan resigned as the executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Kelsey Kohler has left her position as executive director of the…

Eleven gubernatorial elections were held across the U.S. on Tuesday, resulting in the selection of three new governors - with TBED initiatives spread throughout their campaigns' messages. Only one of the races resulted in a change of party affiliation in the top state position, Missouri, where Democrat Jay Nixon defeated Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof after current-Governor Matt Blunt declared he would not seek another term. Democrats now hold twenty-nine governorships, expanding on their significant gains in 2006. Governors retaining their seats include John Hoeven (R-ND), Christine Gregoire (D-WA), Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), Jon Huntsman (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mitch Daniels (R-IN), John Lynch (D-NH), and Jim Douglas (R-VT). Several of the governors-elect made economic development and TBED a part of their platforms throughout their candidacy. Here is a sampling of policies and programs announced by some of the governors-elect on their official websites as collected by SSTI: Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell (D) notes in his economic development plan that he became Nextel's 13th employee in 1989, in addition to being a colleague of…

Delaware Economic Development Office announced Ken Anderson as its new director of entrepreneurial and small business development.