SSTI Digest

Over the last few months, three states have announced new strategies to encourage regional tech-based economic development. Several states have experimented with how best to support or encourage regional TBED in the past, resulting in both successes and failures. In some cases, state sought partnerships at the local level in the creation of new programs while other states took a more hands off approach, such as providing seed funding to create regional technology councils.  

Which strategies should rural areas employ to encourage future growth? Many states and community leaders are asking themselves this question as they attempt to compete in a global economy. Several regions recently proposed to build ethanol plants in their areas to capitalize on the energy-production market. Other rural areas are promoting their cultural assets and natural resources to attract tourism. But what works best for each individual county? 

California accounted for 22.4 percent of the nation’s total industrial R&D in 2004, leading the U.S. with $46.6 billion in total industrial R&D expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Survey of Industrial Research and Development: 2004. Michigan ($15.2 billion), Massachusetts ($11.8 billion), New Jersey ($11.0 billion), and Texas ($11.0 billion) rounded out the top five.   When ranked by industrial R&D intensity, Michigan placed first at 4.14 percent, followed by Connecticut (3.93 percent), Massachusetts (3.78 percent), Washington (3.49 percent), Rhode Island (3.15 percent) and California (3.07 percent). The national average in industrial R&D intensity for 2004 was 1.79 percent.  

Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The Georgia Medical Center Authority (GMCA), a state authority whose mission is to develop the life sciences industry in Georgia, is seeking an executive director. Reporting directly to the GMCA board, this individual is responsible for managing the Augusta BioBusiness Center, the provision of bond financing for life science R&D and manufacturing facilities statewide, leadership in developing a research park in east central Georgia, recruiting companies, and performing other duties. The successful candidate ideally will have educational and work experience related to life sciences business development and bond financing, and be a proven executive with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

The Arkansas Department of Economic Development has been renamed the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Leadership Oklahoma announced that Doug Fuller will be the organization's new director, effective May 7. Beth Gorin stepped down as CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Rick Homans will step down as secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department to become executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, effective May 1. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council has named Robert Hooley as vice president of emerging technology.

The Arkansas Department of Economic Development has been renamed the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Leadership Oklahoma announced that Doug Fuller will be the organization's new director, effective May 7.

Beth Gorin stepped down as CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.

Rick Homans will step down as secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department to become executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, effective May 1.

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council has named Robert Hooley as vice president of emerging technology.

The Montana SBIR Outreach Program is changing its name to the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership.

J.D. Stack replaces Oleg Kaganovich as the new CEO of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance.