SSTI Digest

Operating with a $152 million surplus for the current fiscal year, Gov. Mike Easley unveiled his recommended budget adjustments for FY 2008-09 earlier this week, providing additional funding for university projects and expanding TBED initiatives. North Carolina is one of a shrinking number of states to still project black ink for its next fiscal year.   Lawmakers approved the FY 2007-09 biennial budget last July, allocating $20.7 billion each fiscal year and making appropriations for fiscal year 2008 (see the Aug. 1, 2007 issue of the Digest). The proposed $21.5 billion budget for FY 2008-09 includes reductions, expansions and adjustments among state agencies, reflecting $396 million in general fund budget cuts and tax increases for alcohol and cigarettes. Appropriations recommended by the governor for the Department of Commerce include:

John Austin is the newly appointed executive director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan.

Tom Cech announced he will return to the University of Colorado at Boulder next year to pursue laboratory research and teaching after eight years as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Sarah Djamshidi was selected as executive director of the Chesapeake Innovation Center.

John Hardin was named the acting executive director for the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology.

Wayne Hicks announced he is stepping down as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati Business Incubator to focus on other interests, including his work as executive director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.

The Beaver County (Pa.) CO-OP announced it will change its name to StartingGate. The incubator will continue to assist entrepreneurs and new business start-ups and help expand existing businesses.

Joe Dedman was chosen as the first executive director of the Southeast Indiana WIRED.

Brian DuBoff was named the director of Maryland's southern region Small Business Development Center, which is hosted by the College of Southern Maryland.

Barbara Goodman has joined the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization as its executive director.

Mark Long has stepped down as the CEO of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp.

BioConnect of Greater Charlotte, a new networking group for Charlotte, N.C.-area workers in life-science-related fields, held its inaugural meeting earlier this month.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has hired Yonnie Butler as business development director of its business and technology development unit.

The North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, for a long time serving mostly in an advisory capacity to Gov. Mike Easley, increasingly is more involved in the direct delivery of technology-based economic development programs. The latest addition to its growing portfolio of programs is a $1 million Green Business Fund to help small businesses commercialize promising green and alternative energy technologies.   Under the new program, the Board will provide grants of up to $100,000 to North Carolina-based small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. The award process will be competitive, with priority given to proposals that aid in the following:

Peter Hermann was selected as the N.C. Technology Association's new CEO. Hermann replaces Joan Myers, who took a position with a software company.

The Idaho communities of Greenleaf, Homedale, Grand View, Marsing, Melba, Parma and Wilder have formed the Western Alliance for Economic Development.

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. Following its corporate mission of "turning knowledge into practice," RTI International is launching an initiative aimed at eliminating underdevelopment and unlocking opportunity in economic growth centers throughout the U.S. and worldwide. For this initiative, RTI seeks to immediately fill two important positions: (1) a program manager for innovation-based economic development who will play a key role in leading this initiative with other professionals across RTI and (2) an economic development analyst who will design, manage, and support technology-based economic development research and implementation projects. Each position has its own set of responsibilities and qualifications.

Complete descriptions of these opportunities and others are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The Office of Extension, Engagement and Economic Development at North Carolina State University (NCSU) is seeking someone for the position of director of the NC Economic Development Partnership. This position will have primary responsibility for building alliances for economic development and connecting the unique strengths of NCSU to appropriate agencies and industry clusters. These alliances include a significant partnership the North Carolina Department of Commerce. An M.A.or M.S. degree in an appropriate discipline and three years of experience in economic development program delivery in extension, outreach or public service, or a combination of suitable educational background and professional certification in economic development are required.

Tom Clarkson was named the new director of Wake Forest University's Babcock Demon Incubator, replacing Paul Briggs.

Tom Clarkson is the new chief executive officer of Wake Forest University's Babcock Demon incubator. Clarkson replaces Paul Briggs, who retired.