SSTI Digest

The previous issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest (June 27, 2003) included a story with the headline "Québec Investing More Than $500M for Biotech." It was the kind of big initiative with a hefty price tag that a few states have launched and most others salivate to replicate. A perfect item for the Digest.

The problem is that big initiative never actually happened.

Had the story run before June 12 – the day the first budget of recently elected Québec Premier Jean Charest was released – it would have been accurate. However, the new Liberal government cancelled all of the biotech initiatives mentioned in that Digest article, and the budget eliminated or reduced several other government programs and tax incentives promoting science and technology (S&T):

Business-led partnerships looking to train workers in high-skill, high-tech occupations may get a boost from a series of instructional conferences to be held later this month and in August. The U.S. Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will hold three conferences in 2003 to assist prospective applicants for its H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants competition, under which approximately $50 million is available for new awards.

Among other purposes, the conferences will serve to instruct prospective applicants on the goals and principles of the training grants program, with an overview of the Department of Labor's policies and emphases. Participants also can expect to gain an understanding of the required elements of a grant package, the grants review process, and the experiences of successful H-1B grantees.

Providence was listed among the top 50 cities in the U.S. in which to do business in a June issue of Forbes Magazine. Now, a new initiative to jumpstart economic development in the Rhode Island capital is aimed at solidifying the ranking.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline announced on July 1 the creation of the initiative in an effort to position Providence among the nation's best cities in terms of economic development. Under the initiative, the Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP) will be established as a public-private partnership to provide services ranging from logistical support for start-ups to loans for new and existing businesses.

The Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City announced on Monday it will award grants of up to $5 million to 5-7 U.S. universities to make entrepreneurship education a common and accessible campus-wide opportunity. The Foundation works with partners to encourage entrepreneurship across America.

In June, the Foundation chose 15 universities out of 30 schools invited to demonstrate interest by developing a preliminary concept to compete in the Kauffman Campuses initiative. Each of the 15 universities selected was awarded a $50,000 planning grant to assist with the development of a comprehensive proposal to be presented this December. At that time, 5-7 universities will be awarded grants of up to $5 million, each based on their creativity and commitment to make entrepreneurship training and experiences available across college departments and to students of diverse disciplines. Universities also must demonstrate their ability to raise matching funds.

A new book released by the Sierra Business Council (SBC), Investing for Prosperity, suggests new ways for rural regions to achieve long-term prosperity. The 148-page guide brings together many of the latest innovations rural communities across North America are using to grow their economies, improve their towns and build their social capital.

SBC, a nonprofit organization that promotes the Sierra Nevada region, finds that communities in the Sierra Nevada can diversify and expand their economies in ways that were not possible over the last 150 years, thanks to new technologies and the market premium put on the Sierra's natural assets and livable communities. The same finding applies to many other fast-growing rural regions in America, including New England and the Pacific Northwest.

In response to recent requests from SSTI sponsors and affiliates, SSTI has compiled a table summarizing total funding distributed within states in the form of grants and awards by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The table <http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Tables/071103t.htm> includes total amounts and state rankings for NIH awards for each of the years 1998-2002.

The first director of the new Automation Alley Technology Center will be Thomas Anderson.

Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has appointed Richard Baier as the state's first rural development director. Baier will work closely with the new Nebraska Rural Development Commission.

Colorado State Representative Tim Fritz is resigning his seat to become director of Colorado's Office of Aerospace and Aeronautics.

John Hansen is the new Secretary of Technology for the State of Colorado. Hansen retains his position as Chief Technology Officer as well.

The first director of the new Automation Alley Technology Center will be Thomas Anderson.

Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has appointed Richard Baier as the state's first rural development director. Baier will work closely with the new Nebraska Rural Development Commission.

Colorado State Representative Tim Fritz is resigning his seat to become director of Colorado's Office of Aerospace and Aeronautics.

John Hansen is the new Secretary of Technology for the State of Colorado. Hansen retains his position as Chief Technology Officer as well.

Gwinnett County (GA) Commission Chairman Wayne Hill is the new president of the National Association of Regional Councils.