Wisconsin Governor Proposes Investor Tax Credit Expansion, Funds for Advanced Workforce Training
Gov. Jim Doyle unveiled today an economic stimulus plan for Wisconsin that includes a proposal to enhance tax credits for angel and venture investors in support of start-up technology companies. A coalition assembled to improve Wisconsin's existing investor tax credits law applauded the governor's announcement to refine the four-year-old program.
Wisconsin Gov Proposes Tax Credits for R&D, Funding for University-based Research
Gov. Jim Doyle unveiled last week several proposals to boost university-based research and commercialization efforts in emerging fields and encourage private industry R&D and job growth through the creation of several new tax credits.
TBED People and Organizations
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation has named Jim Carroll as director of its Center for Entrepreneurial Growth.
Budget Proposals Focus on States' Investment in Research, Workforce Training
New Initiatives in Wisconsin and Ohio Feature Specialized Life Science Pushes
TBED People
Southern Growth hired Ted Abernathy, Jr., former Executive Vice President & COO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, to serve as its Executive Director, filling the vacancy created by Jim Clinton's resignation in September.
People
Jim Rice, with the Information Technology Association of Wisconsin, announced his departure as the organization’s first president.
People
Tucker Fagan announced he is retiring as CEO of the Wyoming Business Council to join his sons in starting a Wyoming high-tech company.
Two New Initiatives Aim to ‘Innovate’ and ‘Accelerate’ Wisconsin
Gov. Jim Doyle announced two new initiatives focusing on investments in manufacturing R&D and increasing angel and venture capital investment to grow new businesses.
People & TBED Organizations
President Bush announced he will nominate Assistant Secretary of Commerce Sandy Baruah to serve as the administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce has created the Economic Development Partnership to help businesses relocate to or expand in the county.
U. of Wisconsin Opens First Building of $600 Million Medical Research Project
As many stories in this issue of the Digest point out, academic institutions serve a critical role in performing R&D for the nation’s innovation pipeline. While most of the attention of national policymakers is directed toward the size of federal and industrial investments in R&D, the burden of financing the infrastructure to support much of that research activity falls on states and institutions of higher education. And that burden has a steep price tag.
Incubator RoundUp: Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Supporting Tech Commercialization
Technology-focused incubators are an important component to fostering entrepreneurial development in a region by nurturing businesses in the earliest stages of development and helping them grow into larger companies that employ high-wage workers and bring new technologies to the market. The following select announcements provide an overview of new incubators from across the nation, illustrating the vital role of entrepreneurial development in growing high-tech regional economies.
TBED People
John Hindman announced his resignation as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Governor Rick Perry recently announced Alan Kirchhoff of Austin has been promoted to director of Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). Kirchhoff replaces longtime Perry advisor and former TETF director Mark Ellison, who left the Governor's Office to become associate vice chancellor of economic development for the Texas A&M University System beginning Oct. 1, 2008.
People & TBED Organizations
Lori Broyles was appointed coordinator of the Women's Business Center in Oklahoma City.
Wisconsin's Bio-based Ag Industry Receives $5M
In signing the state budget last Thursday, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle approved spending $5 million for two new programs supporting agricultural and forestry bio-based industrial development. Bio-based industries convert the carbohydrates in plants into fuels, polymers, fabrics, and other chemicals.
People
Pat Dillon has taken a position with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network, an initiative to support high tech, high growth companies in Wisconsin.
Nearly $200M Proposed for New Economic Development Corp in WI Budget
Established to focus solely on job creation and replace the state's Department of Commerce, Wisconsin's new public-private partnership would receive nearly $200 million over the next two years for operating expenses and to administer economic development programs. Lawmakers also will consider measures to improve existing tax programs focused on enhancing angel investments and eliminating capital gains taxes during the upcoming legislative session. Gov.
Legislative Wrap Up: West Virginia and Wyoming Pass Budgets
Budgets recently approved in West Virginia and Wyoming will dedicate new funds for TBED initiatives in the coming year. TechConnect West Virginia is slated to receive $250,000 for its efforts to develop immediate and long-term strategies to capitalize on the state's technology strengths.
TBED People
Steve Biggers, deputy director, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology has retired after 31 years of service to the state. He has served at OCAST for the last 19 years.
Research Park RoundUp
Included below are recent development plans and groundbreaking news for research parks announced by officials in Connecticut, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
TBED People and Job Opportunities
James Weyhenmeyer has been named the vice president for Research and Economic Development at Georgia State University.
New Milwaukee Initiative Intends to Connect Design Talent with Manufactures
The Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) announced Innovation in Milwaukee (MiKE) — a new $500,000 initiative designed to align southeastern Wisconsin's global and advanced manufacturers with the region's design, technology and innovation companies. MiKE will be built around three core elements:
TBED People
Jill Kline has been named the State director of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center.
Daniel Hasler has been named the Indiana Secretary of Commerce, effective Sept. 16. He will replace Mitch Roob who is leaving the post to accept a position in the private sector.
The National Governors Association named David Moore as the director of its NGA Center for Best Practices.
Grant Fund for Biotech Companies on Wisconsin's Legislative Agenda
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is the latest governor to call a special session focused on economic development proposals he says will create jobs (see the Sept. 7, 2011 issue of the Digest). Gov. Walker issued the executive order last week, calling it a "Back to Work Wisconsin" special session.
Report Calls for a Collaborative Infrastructure of Technology Transfer in SE Wisconsin
In Technology Transfer in Southeast Wisconsin, a new report from the Public Policy Forum, researchers call for a "full-fledged collaborative infrastructure" that is adept at transferring technologies developed at the region's research institutions to entrepreneurs that will use them to create businesses and jobs in the region.