SSTI Digest

The nation's metropolitan areas were responsible for "driving the economic performance of the nation as a whole last year," accounting for 98 percent of job growth and 86 percent of national economic growth, according to a new report prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors by DRI/WEFA.

The Role of Metro Areas in the U.S. Economy contains data on each of the nation's 319 metro areas, including 2001 gross metropolitan product, as well as growth and employment figures. Economic forecasts are also provided for the 20 largest U.S. metro areas.

As engines of economic growth, job and income creation, metro economies hold the key to the future of the U.S. economy, the report observes. Some of the findings include:

The Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis at Florida State University has completed a New Economy index for Tallahassee, showing how the Florida capital compares with 66 MSAs and, in a second analysis, a comparison of 20 Florida MSAs. Tallahassee ranks 11th among all MSAs assessed, a finding the authors suggest confirms "the city's economy has a number of very strong advantages."

The new index strives to build on the The Metropolitan New Economy Index, a study released by the Progressive Policy Institute in April 2001 that established a framework within which to rank the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas.

Today's online issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education reports Microsoft Corporation is contributing $750 million to China to support computer science education, basic research, software training, and business growth.

To give a sense of the magnitude and potential importance of Microsoft's investment on the Chinese and global IT market and workforce: the $750 million (to be allocated over three years) is currently equal to 50 percent of the entire Chinese software industry's annual revenues.

The article reports $24 million would be used to create five software colleges in the leading Chinese universities while the balance "will go directly into joint-ventures with Chinese manufacturing firms and software companies."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced 51 grant recipients will share $6.1 million for rural economic development. Funding for the projects comes from the USDA's Rural Business Opportunity Grants Rural Development and Rural Business Enterprise Grant programs.

The 2002 awards are distributed across 24 states: Arizona - $265,221; California - $450,000; Florida - $399,600; Georgia - $183,279; Illinois - $874,500; Kentucky - $398,000; Louisiana - $50,000; Maine - $445,000; Mississippi - $372,923; Missouri - $319,999; Montana - $63,260; Nebraska - $50,000; New Mexico - $200,960; New York - $250,000; North Carolina - $300,000; North Dakota - $236,290; Oklahoma - $211,070; Oregon - $250,000; South Carolina - $163,450; South Dakota - $100,000; Tennessee - $288,247; Utah - $46,545; Washington - $149,271; and West Virginia - $92,930.

A new report assessing Maine's seven targeted technology sectors represents the first systematic attempt to analyze the growth of the state's industry clusters. The report, Assessing Maine's Technology Clusters, was prepared for the Maine Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) by the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School.

The MSTF report begins by defining clusters as more than geographic concentrations of firms in a similar industry. Clusters occur when a network of relationships between companies, suppliers, service providers and supporting institutions provide a competitive advantage to all related firms in the region, the report states.

Florida's High Tech Corridor and LaGrange, Georgia, have been named two of the world's top seven "intelligent" communities in a recent report by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a project of the New York-based telecommunication group World Teleport Association.

In The Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2002, the Corridor is recognized for its work in developing the region's high-tech workforce and as an effective collaboration between academia, the private sector and local and state government. Other ranked communities include Bangladore, India; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; and Sunderland, UK.

The ICF's yearly award honors the seven top communities or regions it sees as pioneers or role models for the development of vibrant "Digital Age communities." To be chosen, the communities must meet at least one of the five Intelligent Community Indicators defined by ICF:

California A $30 million tax break tentatively approved by the state Board of Equalization will benefit the software industry but hurt other groups, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday. Software companies, which have lobbied for years with state tax officials on the tax code covering maintenance contacts, has wanted the tax on the contracts eliminated, the article states. Under existing law, entire contracts are taxed.

The state technology-based economic development community is losing one of its most dynamic and longest-serving leaders by the end of the year. Jamie Kenworthy, executive director of the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF), has announced his retirement effective December 1.

Prior to taking the ASTF directorship seven years ago, Jamie served on the organization's board from its founding in 1988. He also ran Michigan's tech-based economic development initiatives during the 1980s for the Blanchard Administration and has been an active contributor nationally on state-federal science and technology policy issues.

With Jamie's departure pending, ASTF is seeking an executive director with experience in establishing working partnerships, market orientation and excellent communication skills.

Enterprise Florida has named Darrell Kelley as its new president and chief executive officer effective August 5. Kelley currently is the president of the defense-related technology incubator, MILCOM Technologies.

Two of North Carolina's state-created non-profit science and technology centers announced new leaders last week. David Rizzo is the new president and chief executive officer of MCNC. and Leslie Alexandre will serve in the same position for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

Matthew McClorey is the new president and chief executive officer of Kansas Innovation Corp. McClorey formerly served as vice president for business development & portfolio management at KTEC, a position now filled by Michael Peck.

Enterprise Florida has named Darrell Kelley as its new president and chief executive officer effective August 5. Kelley currently is the president of the defense-related technology incubator, MILCOM Technologies.

Two of North Carolina's state-created non-profit science and technology centers announced new leaders last week. David Rizzo is the new president and chief executive officer of MCNC. and Leslie Alexandre will serve in the same position for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

Matthew McClorey is the new president and chief executive officer of Kansas Innovation Corp. McClorey formerly served as vice president for business development & portfolio management at KTEC, a position now filled by Michael Peck.