SSTI Digest

In an attempt to make college more affordable and accelerate the number of students completing degree programs in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo has proposed a new program guaranteeing two years of free college for Rhode Island students. The program, Rhode Island’s Promise, would cover the entire cost of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time students who qualify for in-state tuition earning an associate’s degree and graduating on time from the Community College of Rhode Island. At Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, the scholarship would cover tuition and fees for a student’s junior and senior years. The governor’s office noted in its press release that there is an immediate need for more Rhode Islanders to obtain a higher degree in their education, and projects that more than 70 percent of jobs in the state will require a post-secondary degree in the coming years. The press release states that the $30 million cost of the program would be paid for through new revenues made available as a result of economic growth and fiscal savings if the legislature approves the plan. Full details about the plan are…

Bond issues supporting higher education goals got mixed results in Tuesday’s election. A bond issue in Rhode Island to be used for the renovation and construction of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Engineering buildings was a winner in this year’s election, receiving 59.3 percent approval. The bond issue that would have created the Montana Biomedical Research Authority was not as lucky, with 56.9 percent of voters there rejecting the measure. Two other economic development measures fared well with Arkansas voters approving (65.22 percent) a referendum removing caps on state-issued bonds to help finance economic development projects and services. Alabama voters also approved (59.22 percent) an amendment giving communities the power to create zones to attract industry to the state. Other education funding initiatives had limited success. Proposition 51 in California authorizing $9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund improvement and construction of school facilities for K-12 schools and community colleges passed (59.41 percent). New Mexico voters approved authorizing $142.356 million in bond issuance for certain higher educational,…

A bipartisan group of 17 governors signed the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future – a joint commitment to support the deployment of renewable, cleaner and more efficient energy technologies and other solutions to make the U.S. economy more productive and resilient as well as spur job creation in member states. The multi-state effort will work to implement clean energy policies and initiatives in four areas: clean energy, clean transportation choices, a modern electrical grid, and plan for a new energy future. Although the accord doesn’t provide specific efforts, senior advisors to participating governors are expected to convene shortly to discuss initial steps to pursue their shared priorities and commitments according to solarindustrymag.com. The 17 signatories are: Gov. Jerry Brown (CA); Gov. Dannel Mallory (CT); Gov. Jack Markell (DE); Gov. David Ige (HI); Gov. Terry Branstad (IA); Gov. Charlie Baker (MA); Gov. Rick Snyder (MI); Gov. Mark Dayton (MN); Gov. Brian Sandoval (NV); Gov. Maggie Hassan (NH); Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY); Gov. Kate Brown (OR); Gov. Tom Wolf (PA); Gov. Gina Raimondo (RI); Gov. Peter Shumlin (VT);  Gov. Terry…

Last week, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo proposed more than $51 million in investments focused on reinvigorating the state’s economy through innovative industries with the release of her fiscal year 2017 budget request. The governor’s Make It in RI jobs plan incorporates many of the recommendations from a strategic plan developed by the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, Battelle Technology Partnership Practice (now TEConomy Partners, LLC) and Monitor Deloitte. One of the key investments is a $20 million brick-and-mortar innovation district where entrepreneurs, businesspeople and academics can interact. In her budget address last week, Gov. Raimondo strongly backed the idea that advanced industries and cutting-edge research were vital to modern economic prosperity. “It’s pretty simple,” she said, “Advanced industry jobs create high wages and economic growth.” In order to stimulate employment in those industries, the governor introduced a number of proposals based on Rhode Island Innovates: A Competitive Strategy for the Ocean State, prepared by Brookings, Battelle and Deloitte. The authors of the report identify a…

Governors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have released details about their plans to boost innovative businesses in their respective states. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker offered a strategic plan to guide his administration’s economic development efforts, with an emphasis placed on fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the launch of three new incentive programs aimed at research-driven companies. Opportunities for All: The Baker-Polito Strategy and Plan for Making Massachusetts Great Everywhere avoids specific program recommendations, for the most part, but outlines a number of areas for action to boost the statewide economy. The administration notes that Massachusetts is a nationwide leader in educational attainment and innovation-related employment, but both business formation and job growth have fallen in recent years. New policies are needed to address the growing skills gap for middle-skill jobs and growing regional inequality. As the global economy pivots toward knowledge-intensive industries, the Baker administration perceives an opportunity for Massachusetts to leverage its advantages…

Over the past few months, SSTI has followed proposals issued by governors in their budget requests, State of the State Addresses, Inaugural Speeches and other events. Now that many governors have signed spending bills, the SSTI Digest will check on the status of these proposals, and examine the state of technology-based economic development funding in the states. This week, we review actions in Florida and Rhode Island. FloridaGov. Rick Scott signed a $78.7 billion FY16 budget (SB 2502-A) on Tuesday, vetoing $461 million in spending. The lengthy list of vetoed funding for projects includes: $23.1 million for the State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund; $15 million for a downtown Orlando expansion of the University of Florida through a partnership with the Florida High-Tech Corridor Council; $10 million for equipment for the International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research; $9.25 million for biomedical research at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the Torry Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, the Roskamp Institute for Oncology Drug Development, the Scripps Research Institute and the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute;…

Late last week, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo’s released her proposed $8.6 billion FY2016 budget proposal.   The budget focuses on three guiding principles: building skills, attracting entrepreneurs and investment, and fostering innovation. Raimondo, who had previously served as the state’s treasurer and founded Rhode Island’s first venture capital fund, prioritized economic development and released a detailed jobs plan during her election campaign, much of which is reflected in the budget. With the goal of building skills, Raimondo’s budget proposes: A $35.5 million increase in K-12 education; Establishes a loan forgiveness program for graduates that stay in Rhode Island and work in priority fields; Aligns job training with industry needs; Restructures existing higher education grant programs to create a last-dollar scholarship program for Rhode Island students; and, Invests in Prepare RI, a dual enrollment program that makes earning degrees or industry certification more affordable and attainable. The proposed budget also would eliminate 27 licensing requirements and other regulatory burdens and fees, such as a commercial sales tax…

In case you missed it, the midterm elections were on Tuesday, resulting in Republicans taking control of Congress, several new governors, and five states endorsing minimum wage increases. Although the 146 state ballot measures up for vote were a quarter-century low, several proposals were relevant to the TBED community, as highlighted in a Digest article last week. Voters ultimately approved many of these proposals, although initiatives related to higher-education in North Dakota and Oregon both failed.  Issue Three in Arkansas was approved by voters, officially banning lobbyist gifts to state officials, prohibiting direct corporate and union contributions to candidates, and doubling the time needed before former politicians can become lobbyists. It appeared that the measure was headed to defeat, largely because in addition to these provisions, Issue Three also increases term limits to 16 years per office.  Colorado voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 105, an initiative to label genetically engineered foods, with more than 68 percent of voters saying no to the labeling. About $900,000 was contributed in support for the initiative, mainly from…

On November 4, 42 states will vote on 146 ballot issues across a wide array of issues. In addition to initiatives on gun control, bear baiting, and the minimum wage, several initiatives relevant to the TBED community are also up for decision. SSTI has gathered information on many of these and will discuss their results after next week’s elections. Arkansas voters will decide on Issue Three, an initiative that seeks to establish an independent citizens’ commission to evaluate salaries for public officials, eliminate free meals and gifts to state politicians, prohibit politicians from receiving donations from corporations, and restructure term limits for state senators and house representatives. Currently, Arkansas’ state representatives can serve six years in office, while senators can serve eight. Issue Three will allow politicians to serve 16 years in either chamber, rather than forcing them to switch chambers after serving at the current limits. The bill will also force legislators to wait two years before they can become a lobbyist. In Colorado, residents will vote on Proposition 105, which would require any prepackaged, processed food or raw…

Having world-class facilities to train workers or support research in fields most likely to benefit the state is a draw for many reasons. Attracting outside investment, retaining talent and generating buzz are just a few of the benefits. Last year, Connecticut lawmakers dedicated more than $2 billion to expand science and technology education on the campuses of the University of Connecticut, including construction of new STEM facilities and for build research and teaching labs. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is the latest state leader to announce funding proposals aimed at either building new facilities or making capital improvements for training students in high-wage, high-demand fields. Following years of cuts to higher education during the recession, many states are poised to dedicate significant funds for scholarship programs, tuition freezes and for training more students in STEM fields – a common theme during the State of the State addresses. Supporting the notion that a college degree is worth the cost, a recent analysis from the Pew Research Center found the widest earnings gap for college graduates in 48 years. The report, The Rising Cost of Not Going to…

Several common themes surrounding higher education have emerged as governors across the country unveil investment priorities for the upcoming fiscal year or biennium. In many states, governors have proposed more funding to increase affordability by freezing tuition or creating new scholarship funds. Support for expanding research capacity, technology-related infrastructure and job training in high-demand industries are some of the proposed measures aimed at competitiveness.   College Affordability Governors in several states are requesting additional funds for higher education in exchange for holding tuition steady. The FY15 budget outlined by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal proposes new funding streams to encourage more students to attend technical schools. For example, $5 million in new lottery funds would provide additional financial assistance above what is covered by the state’s HOPE scholarship for students pursuing in-demand certificates or training programs. A new Zell Miller grant also would be established to provide full tuition for students in technical schools who maintain a 3.5 grade point average, and the state’s traditional HOPE…

The second installment of SSTI’s Tech Talkin’ Govs series includes excerpts from speeches delivered in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Virginia. The first installment is available here. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, State of the State Address, Jan. 14, 2014 “We must create greater opportunity for Alabamians to acquire the skills needed for higher-paying jobs. Companies are looking for and jobs are waiting for skilled workers. ... “... We will present legislation creating a Statewide Workforce Council of business and industry leaders who will advise educators and colleges on the workforce needs on the types of jobs needed in each region. “We will expand the number of Career Coaches. We will expand Dual Enrollment Programs, so that students may attend high school and a 2-year college at the same time. ... Once implemented, this program will improve high school graduation rates and increase the number of higher-skilled workers.” Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, State of the State Address, Jan. 13, 2014 "This year I am calling on the legislature…