SSTI Digest

Buffalo The Buffalo News reports InfoNiagara, a technology council serving 230 IT companies, has signed a reciprocal membership with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce to increase the benefits offered to both organizations' members. The chamber's 2,300 members gain access to InfoNiagara's training and professional development programs, according to the paper, while the tech council is able to offer its members a variety of insurance programs the chamber has in place. Cleveland A portion of a struggling three-story, upscale mall in downtown Cleveland may become part technology incubator, according to the May 6 issue of Crain's Cleveland Business. The article reports several alternate scenarios are being discussed by civic leaders to use sections or an entire floor of the 130,000 sq. ft. glass building to house nascent software development and other IT companies. Fort Worth, Texas The University of North Texas is consolidating several departments to create a new college of engineering, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The new school, which…

Gary Neil Drummond has been elected chairmain of the board for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Alabama  To help rural Alabama communities work with existing industries toward job training and creation, Governor Don Sielgelman is creating a Center for Economic Growth within the Alabama Department Office. The new initiative is intended to help businesses in the rural communities cope with pressures to keep and retain qualified workers once the recently announced $1 billion Hyundai automotive plant begins hiring up to 2,000 employees. The center also will help the areas develop industrial recruitment strategies, according to the Associated Press.  Arlington, Texas  The Arlington Technology Incubator opened April 1 at the University of Texas at Arlington in cooperation with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, according to stories in the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The center, to be housed in a building to be constructed in downtown Arlington, will help spin off research from the school's nanotechnology program. Former Mayor Richard Greene will serve as the first director, and the chamber's foundation…

Gov. Don Siegelman has named Anne Payne to director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Payne has been serving as ADECA's assistant director since last August.

Alabama Senate Bill 130, which would create $80 million in tech-based venture capital funding if passed, was introduced during the current special session of the Alabama state legislature. Using the certified capital company or CapCo model, the bill allows insurance companies to redirect tax payments into qualified investment firms. According to a recent Birmingham Business Journal article, backers of the bill concede the current fiscal environment and short session will probably lead to the bill’s reintroduction when the regular session begins in January. Atlanta, Georgia The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has created a task force to develop a strategy to position the region as a center for biotech innovation, capital, talent and business. Working in conjunction with the Georgia Research Alliance, the task force includes leaders from the business community, academia, public health organizations and research. Implementation of the Atlanta region biotech strategy is expected to begin later in 2002. More information is available at: http://www.…

Alabama The State Legislature recently approved income tax relief for small businesses who locate in 23 economically distressed counties and in areas previously known as Enterprise Zones, according to The Associated Press. The counties are said to have "high employment, low incomes and no growth," and the bill gives breaks to companies investing $500,000 and hiring at least five employees. The state reportedly will rank the counties according to their population change, per capita income and employment and will revise the list annually. Arizona Chairmen of the Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development (GSPED) recently launched the Arizona Technology Industry Development Association (ATIDA) — a non-profit organization formed to unite organizations interested in developing technology industries in Central and Northern Arizona. ATIDA's membership is comprised of representatives from GSPED's five technology clusters and foundations, economic development organizations, and university and community colleges. California…

If the corporate leaders, educators, scientists, and technology entrepreneurs who make up the Birmingham Area Technology Task Force have their way, Birmingham, Alabama in the 21st century will be a mecca for technology-based businesses and jobs. A cooperative effort of the City of Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid and the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, the “BATT Force” is charged with developing a strategic plan aimed at fostering the start-up, growth, attraction, and retention of technology industries to the Birmingham area.  At its initial meeting in late August, the 150-member BATT Force divided into six Work Groups, each of which will spend roughly the next nine weeks studying a specific area related to technology-based business development. The Work Groups will issue reports on their findings, including up to 10 recommendations for action. The Work Group reports will be the basis of the Birmingham Area Strategic Plan for Technology Development, to be presented to the City and the Chamber of Commerce by mid-November.  The areas to be…

Birmingham, Alabama A $90 million building and as many as 2,000 more jobs are in the works for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, reported The Associated Press July 25. Construction costing up to $125 million would provide more than 1.4 million sq. ft., doubling the university’s research space. The new building is among the university’s plans for an additional three buildings that would add up to 500,000 sq. ft. and 2,000 jobs. The announcement of the building follows Gov. Don Siegelman’s $35 million recent pledge to build the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Institute — an 11-story building and $90 million project expected to create 1,400 jobs. School officials anticipate the project also will create $100 million in new research dollars annually. Franklin, Virginia Local officials in Franklin have announced plans including $2.3 million in renovation costs to develop a business incubator center, according to a July 19 article in the Virginian Pilot. State and federal grants will help fund the renovation of nearly 40,000 sq. ft. on four floors…

Governor Don Siegelman has named Norm Davis as the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Mr. Davis had been serving as the State Banking Superintendent. Jim Hayes, director of the Alabama Development Office, has announced his resignation.

Editor's Note: The sixth and final installment in our review of the Governors' inaugural addresses, state of the state addresses, and budget messages for 2001. Previous weeks' installments are available on our website http://www.ssti.org/Digest/2001/headlines01.htm  Alabama  Governor Don Siegelman, State of the State Address, February 6, 2001  http://www.nga.org/governors/1,1169,C_SPEECH^D_684,00.html Requests an appropriation of $10.3 million to create the Alabama Virtual High School, to continue funding the Virtual Library, and to train teachers in technology to provide students with computer skills and information to compete in the 21st century.  Pennsylvania  Governor Tom Ridge, Budget Presentation and supporting press releases, February 6, 2001  http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/Speeches/010206-add.html  Budget in Brief at http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/budgetadd.html A large number of tech-based economic development initiatives and…

Alabama The Alabama Commerce Commission, appointed by Governor Don Seigelman last year, has released an executive summary report of recommendations for a long-range strategic plan for economic development in the state. The Commission recommends the creation of a scholarship program with no minimum grade point average requirements to provide free tuition to high school graduates who enter targeted vocational and technical programs in two year colleges or technical schools. The Commission also recommended the creation of privately run Alabama Research Alliance involving the state’s six research universities. The Alliance would distribute an unspecified amount of funding for research projects designed to produce new products, businesses, and jobs. Arkansas Fiscal worries for 2001 threaten state S&T efforts that were started with unexpected budget surpluses in 1999, according to reports in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The chair of the Joint Budget Committee anticipates potential problems finding more funds in 2001 for the College of Information Science and Systems…

Technology-based businesses and investors in Alabama may be eligible for several new tax credits if legislation recently introduced passes the state legislature. The Incentives for Targeted Growth Act of 2000, Senate Bill 571, was introduced April 19 to encourage the growth and expansion of Alabama’s technology community. The bill was developed after the Alabama Commerce Commission, while developing a new economic development strategy for Alabama, found the state’s current capital investment tax credit program was not particularly attractive for research firms, start-ups, and technology-based businesses. If passed, S.B. 571 would: Create a jobs tax credit equal to $5,000 for each new employee hired. Credits can be used annually for up to 20 years. Minimum job creation figures and base wage requirements would apply. The program is similar to the state’s existing capital credit program but not tied to minimum capital investment requirements. The capital credit would not be available to new projects after December 31, 2002, and would provide that persons claiming the jobs tax credit…