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Useful Stats: SBIR Awards, Proposals by State, FY 2005

Nineteen states that applied for assistance under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program in fiscal year 2005 saw an award-to-proposal conversion rate greater than the national average of 16.4 percent. Of those states, five experienced rates of greater than 20 percent ­- Nebraska (29%), Maine (27.3%), District of Columbia (25%), Montana (21.8%), and Washington (20%). The top 10 states with the most awards in FY 2005 were California (816), Massachusetts (508), Virginia (242), Colorado (205), Maryland (204), Texas (198), Ohio (191), New York (186), Pennsylvania (176) and Michigan (111).  

A Resource Guide for Technology-based Economic Development: Ideas for Fostering Entrepreneurship

With Entrepreneurship Week, you and your colleagues may be more inspired to take steps to encourage entrepreneurship. But where to begin? What approaches should you consider? Or perhaps you are having problems developing an entrepreneurial culture? Wouldn't it be great if there was one guide that you could turn to that captures the wisdom and experience of more than 50 experienced practitioners? One publication that would describe more than 14 ways that are being used across the country to encourage entrepreneurship? One publication that offers these suggestions from one seasoned practitioner:

Job Corner: GDEcD Seeks Director for Innovation and Technology Office

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is seeking a director to run its Innovation and Technology Office. The director is responsible for implementing and expanding a statewide technology and innovation-based economic development program that encompasses a full range of sales, marketing, business recruitment, business development, community development and public relations activities. A bachelor's degree in the life sciences, engineering or a closely related field is required; a master's degree in these fields is preferred. A full description of this opportunity and others is available through the SSTI Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.

People

Sheri Stickley, vice president of SSTI, will be leaving SSTI on March 2 to accept a position with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Sheri was one of the primary authors of A Resource Guide for Technology-based Economic Development, and we wish her well in her new position. Oklahoma's gain is our loss, but we look forward to benefiting from her advice and wisdom as she enters a new chapter of her career. Willem Bakker was named president of the Technology Entrepreneur Center and executive director of the Information Technology Coalition, both in St. Louis. Jan Lesher was named director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, replacing outgoing Gilbert Jimenez.

People

Sheri Stickley, vice president of SSTI, will be leaving SSTI on March 2 to accept a position with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Sheri was one of the primary authors of A Resource Guide for Technology-based Economic Development, and we wish her well in her new position. Oklahoma's gain is our loss, but we look forward to benefiting from her advice and wisdom as she enters a new chapter of her career.

People

Willem Bakker was named president of the Technology Entrepreneur Center and executive director of the Information Technology Coalition, both in St. Louis.

People

Jan Lesher was named director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, replacing outgoing Gilbert Jimenez.

People

Dick Munson is stepping down as executive director of the Northeast Midwest Institute to help start Recycled Energy Development, LLC.

People

Sherrie Preische resigned as executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology to accept a position in the private sector.

People

Connecticut Innovations appointed Dr. David Reed to the position of executive in residence.

People

The Maryland Technology Development Corp. has appointed Renée Winsky as its new executive director.

Tech Talkin’ Govs, Part IV

This is the fourth installment of SSTI’s look at the Inaugural, Budget and State of the State Addresses delivered in the past week. Earlier installments, published Jan. 29, Jan. 15 and Jan. 8, are available through: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/2007/headlines07.htm   Selected excerpts of the most recent batch of speeches are provided below:   Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, Budget Address, Feb. 7, 2007 “I am also bringing vitality to our state’s job picture and economy throughout my budget ... in expanding the state’s job creation tax credit to entice more new development, in increasing support for small business innovation research, in assisting the CT Center for Advanced Technology with subsidies to develop a fuel cell cluster.”   Iowa