Partial Funding Restored for Technology Based Economic Development (TBED) Initiatives in Idaho Budget

Idaho’s entrepreneurial support centers managed to survive the legislative session with half of their annual appropriation intact in the fiscal year 2009 state budget, despite being zeroed out in Gov. Butch Otter’s budget recommendation earlier this year.

Lawmakers allocated $150,000 for the TechConnect http://www.idahotechconnect.com/Home/ Centers within the Department of Commerce – down $150,000 from the previous two years. The legislation requires TechConnect to report to the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee at the interim spring meeting on all activity dating back to FY06, including detailed information on all interactions with businesses, the amount of time and money invested, and the outcome of the investments.

The Department of Commerce will receive $33.9 million, down from the estimated $54.9 million in FY08 expenditures. This includes $600,000 for the Business and Jobs Development Fund, $100,000 for the Rural Initiative Program and $100,000 for Small Business Assistance Grants. No funding was included for the Entrepreneurial Fund.

The total funds appropriation for colleges and universities in FY09 is $422.8 million, down from $445.1 million in FY08. Lawmakers also restored funding of $1.6 million for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at University Place in Idaho Falls. The State Board of Education requested $3.8 million to operate a 50,000-square-foot facility expected to serve as headquarters for the program, which was zeroed out by the governor, according to the Post Register.

The approved budget also includes $1.4 million for program goals of the Higher Education Research Council and a one-time appropriation of $1.6 million for competitive research grants. Another $1.5 million is earmarked for instructional projects within the State Board of Education specifically designed to foster innovative learning approaches using technology and to promote the Idaho Electronic Campus.

Community colleges will receive a slight increase in funding for a total of $30 million, including $5 million in ongoing funding for the new College of Western Idaho.

The corresponding budget bills are HB 610 http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0610.html#daily , SB 1489 http://www3.idaho.gov/oasis/S1489.html and SB 1494 http://www3.idaho.gov/oasis/S1494.html.

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