World Congress on Information Technology 2006 to Bring Status and Dollars to Texas

Gov. Perry announced this week that the Texas Economic Development Corporation will contribute $1 million dollars to the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT), due to arrive in Austin in just over two years. The WCIT conference, scheduled for May of 2006, is expected to attract more than 2,000 global leaders in the fields of information, technology and education. For more than 25 years, eminent academics, researchers, corporate executives and policy makers from all over the world have participated in this event.

According to a study by an Austin-based economic research firm, the city of Austin will garner a direct economic impact of approximately $44 million from the five-day conference. Local and state firms and entrepreneurs stand to gain in indirect ways as well, as the event will present many opportunities to interact with investors and international IT leaders looking to develop new ideas and technologies.

The conference, which is to be held in Athens, Greece this year, traditionally elevates its host cities to the position of global information technology hotspots and triggers significant foreign investment. At this week's launch event, local supporters cited the success enjoyed by Fairfax, Va., who hosted WCIT 1998, as an example of how Austin could benefit from the conference. Eleven foreign-owned companies opened offices in Fairfax in the months following WCIT 1998, resulting in 211 jobs.

The $1 million from the Governor's development fund represents a significant contribution to the cost of the conference. Officials estimate that hosting the event will cost the city and state around $10 million dollars. WCIT 2006, a nonprofit group acting as the main fundraising vehicle for the Austin conference, is looking to a number of sources to help shoulder the cost of the event, including government entities, private-sector firms, and donations. Already their lobbying efforts have been successful, on both the state and federal levels.

WCIT 2006 convinced the federal government to set aside money in this year's budget for the international event: as part of the FY 2004 omnibus bill, Austin will receive a $400,000 grant for renovations to the Austin Convention Center. That money, which came out of the Housing and Urban Development Department's budget, will be used to expand the convention center's technology infrastructure, so that it can support all the event's demonstrations and exhibitors. WCIT 2006 is looking to team with other members of the Texas congressional delegation and obtain more funding for FY 2005.


Communities to Receive $1.3 Million in FQHC Incubator Grants

Twenty-one Texas communities will receive more than $1.3 million in state incubator grants to assist communities in developing and expanding health care services to low-income and uninsured Texans.

The funds, awarded through the Texas Department of Health (TDH), are part of Senate Bill 610. The legislation established an incubator program in an effort to draw additional federal funds to increase the number of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Texas. Last October, $3.6 million in assistance was announced in the first round of grants. Both the state and federal grants aim to encourage the use of, and expand access to, preventative and primary care among low-income and uninsured populations. The goal is to provide a more cost- and time-efficient means of meeting the needs of this group that, lacking affordable and accessible options, often uses emergency room services for non-critical care.

TDH was responsible for reviewing grant applications and determining award amounts. The incubator grants will help a community assess its needs and develop a health care delivery model, or assist in the federal grant application process and acquisition of additional equipment to establish a FQHC.

FQHCs are designed to provide health care to people in medically underserved areas, including many without health insurance. Texas has 181 FQHCs in 58 counties providing health care to 483,452 patients. More than 59 percent of those patients were uninsured.

Of the 21 state incubator grants awarded, the top five allocations are as follows:

  • $240,000 to Midland Community Healthcare Services
  • $239,730 to Spring Branch Community Health Center in Houston
  • $192,250 to El Centro Del Barrio in San Antonio
  • $175,000 to Pasadena Health Center
  • $154,500 to Mt. Enterprise Community Health Clinics

Increasing the number of federally qualified health centers in Texas is a key component of the governor's health care plan.


Texas A&M-Texarkana Expansion Approved

Texas A&M System's Board of Regents accepted a gift of about 300 acres from the city of Texarkana this week. The land will be used to construct a new home for A&M's Texarkana campus, which is currently operating on a portion of the Texarkana College campus. University officials said they hope to begin construction in 2005. Officials expect that building will progress in phases over the next 10 to 15 years.

University President Stephen Hensley says the 1,500-student campus plans to expand from a two-year to a four-year institution by 2008. Seventy-two percent of the area's college-bound high school graduates leave the community and never return, according to Texarkana Mayor James Bramlett. Having a four-year institution in Texarkana should keep more students home and draw additional people to the area, says Bramlett.

The Legislature has approved $17 million for the university, which will be used for a science and technology building on the new campus. Officials plan to ask for additional funding for the new campus construction.


South Austin Community Center Receives Sizeable Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has given the Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department $491,782 to renovate the South Austin Multipurpose Center. Renovations to the center, which provides health care, child care and other services to thousands of low- to moderate-income residents, will include conversion of space into offices for public health nurses and interview rooms.

UTSA Research Program Awarded a $10 Million Grant from NIH

The Minority Biomedical Research Support Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), a program that strives to engage minorities in scientific research, has received a four-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The grant will be used to fund 11 separate faculty research projects at the university, including a study on age-related changes to bone strength and the development of treatments for Alzheimer's.

Austin's Job Market One of Nation's Hottest

Austin ranks fourth on Business 2.0 magazine's list of the 20 U.S. cities with the hottest job markets. By 2008, the city will have experienced a 12 percent increase in job growth, according to the magazine. Austin employers such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Seton Healthcare Network are said to have the potential to hire more workers and demand for software and systems engineers, surgical technologists and public relations specialists is expected to grow. The only other Texas city to make the magazine's list was Dallas, at number 18.

Privatizing Bus Service Could Save School District Millions

The Mansfield School District, in Central Texas, is considering privatizing the district's bus system in order to save some of the $4.5 million it will spend this school year bussing 6,000 students to and from school. The district is looking for ways to cut costs because expenses are expected to outstrip revenue by about $7 million in the coming budget year.

Governor Calls First Meeting of New Council

The Governor's Management Council, which consists of the heads of 11 executive branch agencies, met for the first time this week. The meeting, which was not open to the public, drew some criticism from open government advocates. Gov. Rick Perry stated that his goal in calling a private meeting was to facilitate a free flow of information among the agency directors. The group discussed fraud prevention, agency budget "transparency," physical health of Texans, and economic development, according to documents issued by the Governor's office.

Robert Black of the Governor's press office stated that the meeting was prompted by the major reorganization of some of the State's largest agencies such as the Texas Department of Health during the last legislative session. "We wanted to bring everyone together under one umbrella to better facilitate communication among the largest agencies and the Governor's office," he said. While the council has no set meeting schedule, Black says they will meet when there is a need to do so, and definitely will meet more than once or twice a year. Black says written information on topics and ideas discussed in future meetings will most likely be released to the public.


Event Links

Austin Mobility Roundtable 2004: The Future is Unwired - 3/11/04 - 3/12/04

Wireless Future Conference, Austin - 03/12/04-03/16/04

Texas Police Chiefs Association: Mid-year Conference 2004 - 4/13/04 - 4/16/04

Texas Fire Chiefs Officers Conference and Exhibition - 4/20/04 - 4/23/04

NASCIO 2004 Midyear Conference - 4/25/04 - 4/27/04

TASSCC 3rd Annual Technology Education Conference - 4/28/04

Texas State Agency Business Administrator's Association 24th Annual Conference - 6/7/04 - 6/9/04

NCLS Annual Meeting: The New Legislative Reality - 7/19/04 - 7/23/04

Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards 44th Annual Convention - 09/17/04-09/20/04

NASCIO 2004 Annual Conference - 9/19/04 - 9/22/04


NEW SPI GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE

As a follow up to its successful roll out of The Guide to the Texas State Government Marketplace, and because of repeated requests, SPI is announcing a new procurement information package.

SPI has a dedicated Information Services (IS) Department that researches governmental entities and analyzes data for future and current business opportunities. IS provides these key services:

  • Future Opportunities - email notification of new opportunities as they are discovered and updates to opportunities as new information becomes available


  • Bid Notifications - timely email notification of current procurement opportunities for over 500 state agencies, institutions of higher education, cities, counties, school districts, airports, and ports.


  • Customized Research - specific intelligence on entities, opportunities, markets, trends, products, competitors, etc.


Please contact SPI's Michael Mojica at mmojica@spartnerships.com for more details.


Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott Nabers

Health care arena filled with outsourcing deals - 2/23/2004

River authorities pumping opportunity in Texas - 2/02/2004

Millions in security funds sailing into Texas - 1/19/2004

Believe It! It Is Possible to Win Government Business Without Having to Bid For It! - 12/4/03


Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 2 Issue 7 - 2/20/04

Volume 2 Issue 6 - 2/13/04

Volume 2 Issue 5 - 2/6/04

Volume 2 Issue 4 - 1/30/04

Volume 2 Issue 3 - 1/23/04

Volume 2 Issue 2 - 1/16/04

Volume 2 Issue 1 - 1/8/04

Volume 1 Archives 11/7/03 - 12/31/03


News from Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

SPI Invites Suggestions for Upcoming Legislative Communications Conference

As we here at SPI gear up for next fall's Legislative Communications Conference, we'd like to hear what issues and speakers our readers and colleagues would like to see on the program. Please email us at editor@spartnerships.com with your ideas.


Upcoming Event: Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., will address the DFW Homeland Security Alliance on March 25 in Dallas. The DFW Homeland Security Alliance was created to promote economic growth in Texas and support partnerships between universities and industries related to Homeland Security concerns.

Upcoming Event: Business Success Center and Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Networking Luncheon, March 9

The Texas State Government Marketplace: Billions of Dollars of Current Commercial Opportunities Identified!

We are living in historic and revolutionary times. State and local governments are being forced to address critical issues at an alarming pace. That translates into commercial opportunities for private sector companies!

Crystal Kuhs of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) will talk about the billions of dollars being spent in the Texas government marketplace, a marketplace where 80% of the decision makers are located in Austin, Texas. Crystal will tell you where immediate opportunities for vendors exist and offer tips on how to successfully maneuver through government bureaucracy to capture new business.

For more information or to RSVP, visit http://www.bscusa.com.

Upcoming Event:The LBJ School of Government Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) have scheduled the next Legislative Communications Conference for October 7, 2004. The day long conference will again be held at the JJ Pickle Center.

Resources

NASBO Fiscal Survey of the States

Fiscal Year 2003 Quality Assurance Team's Annual Report

New Texas Fact Book 2004

Public Hearings

Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade-- 9:00 am, March 4, 2004, El Paso County Court House, Commissioner's Court Chambers

Senate Committee on Water Policy-- 1:00pm, March 11, 2004, Marfa High School Auditorium, Marfa

House Committee on Regulated Industries-- 10:00am, March 23, 2004, Capitol Extension E2.012

House Select Committee on State Health Care Expenditures-- 10:00am (Interim Charge 5) and 2:00pm (Interim Charge 2), March 24, Capitol Extension E1.010

Insights from Government Insiders:

"Water availability is a critical component of all future economic health and economic development. We are just beginning to implement the state water plan and must use every tool, from water conservation to developing new supplies. We must also ensure adequate freshwater inflows to maintain our fisheries and the ecological health of our coastal systems. -- Margaret Hoffman, Executive Director TCEQ (volume 1 issue 5)

"LCRA is unlike most organizations because it is a governmental agency that must function as a business. It funds the services it provides to the public with revenues from the sales of energy, water and other operations. We are like a business in that we don't receive legislative appropriations and we have no authority to tax anyone. That means we have to be efficient -- conducting ourselves like a business and earning our own way." -- Joe Beal, General Manager LCRA (volume 2 issue 2)

Sunset Commission 101

By Michelle Luera, SPI Account Executive, formerly of the Sunset Commission.

The first in a series of articles covering this important and unique agency.

Created by the Legislature in 1977 to identify and eliminate duplication and inefficiencies in state government, the Sunset process periodically assesses the continuing need for state agencies. About 150 agencies are subject to a Sunset review date on which agencies are abolished unless legislation is passed to continue them. State agencies typically undergo a Sunset review every 12 years. Sunset reviews allow state government a valuable opportunity to make needed changes and improvements to the mission, operations, and policies of state agencies. Each legislative session 20 to 30 agencies go through the process.

The Sunset review process is overseen by a 12-member commission, comprised of legislators and public members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House. Currently, Representative Burt Solomons serves as Chair of the Sunset Commission. Working extensively with agencies under review, the staff of the Sunset Commission assesses the need for each agency, presents their conclusions and recommendations to the Commission, and coordinates the drafting of legislation needed to implement recommendations adopted by the Commission. Since its inception, the Sunset process has abolished 47 agencies and consolidated 11, and saved the State more than $736 million between 1982 and 2003.

Agencies currently under review this cycle include the Public Utility Commission, Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, Texas Education Agency, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. For a complete list of agencies, go to http://www.sunset.state.tx.us.

Open Source: Is Linux Ready for Government?

Hosted by Novell, as part of the Technology Today Series sponsored by the Department of Information Resources, at the J.J. Pickle Research Center, on March 25. The presentation will cover the significant impact Linux has had and will continue to have on the computing world, as well as covering basic questions about how and where to implement Linux for the best return. For more information, visit http://www.dir.state.tx.us/education/linux/index.htm.

The Corridor NanoBioTech Summit

Sponsored by The Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council and Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C., at Texas State University, San Marcos, on March 29. The forum will unite academic, economic development, government and business leaders from throughout the San Antonio-Austin Corridor. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will deliver the keynote address. The Summit is designed to create a catalyst for the economic development of the Corridor into a world-class technology center for research, development and commercialization of new technologies resulting from the convergence of nanoscience with bioscience, biomedicine and information technology. For more information, visit http://www.corridornanobiotech.org/.

4th Annual Internet Security Forum for Texas State Government

Sponsored by TASSCC and DIR as part of the IR Management Series, at the J.J. Pickle Research Center, Austin, on April 27. The event will include an address by Ed Serna, the Interim Executive Director of DIR and cover the challenges SPAM email creates for the government, as well as Internet and Email Security Solutions. For more information and to register, visit http://www.dir.state.tx.us/education/secforum/index.htm.
Kelly Kordzik

Texas Nanotechnology Initiative Elects New President

Kelly Kordzik, a shareholder at Winstead Sechrest & Minick PC and chair of the firm's nanotechnology practice group, has been named president of the 3-year-old Texas Nanotechnology Initiative, a group working towards positioning Texas as a nanotechnology superpower. Nanotechnology is the science of building materials on a molecular level. The field has potential applications in electronics, communications, manufacturing and medicine.


Gonzales to Join the Texas Military Facilities Commission

Gov. Rick Perry has announced the appointment of Regino "Reggie" Gonzales of Galena Park to the Texas Military Facilities Commission. The commission constructs, maintains and renovates facilities for the Texas National Guard.

Gonzales is a Galena Park municipal court judge and has served as a school district truant officer. Gonzales retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1996 after 30 years of service. He is a Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm veteran. Among his many military service awards, he received the Presidential Citation Award, National Defense Ribbon with Star, Unit Citation Award and Navy Citation Award. His volunteer activities include the United States Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program, Richmond State School and St. Joseph's Catholic Church's youth group. He also organized the Hispanic Students for a Better Democracy program at Galena Park High School. His term, which requires Senate approval, will expire April 30, 2009.


Gov. Perry Appoints Five to Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointment of one individual and the reappointment of four others to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. These appointments stem from the board's reorganization established in House Bill 7 passed in the 2003 Third Called Legislative Session. The board makes parole decisions for Texas prison inmates, determines conditions for parole and mandatory supervision, and makes recommendations on clemency matters to the Governor.

Jose Aliseda Jr. of Beeville is a private practice attorney and rancher. He served as Bee County Attorney from 1988 to 1996, and as Bee County Judge from 1999 to 2003. He is a member of the American, Texas, and Bee County Bar Associations and serves as a member of the Bee County Chamber of Commerce. Aliseda received his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. His appointment will expire on Feb. 1, 2009.

Lafayette Collins

Lafayette Collins of Round Rock was appointed to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1999. He is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service where he served as a special agent in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Austin. A veteran of the United States Army, Collins served seven years as an Army counter-intelligence officer and received the Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Vietnam Service Medal. Collins received his bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University, where he was named distinguished military student and a Harvard, Yale, Columbia Intensive Studies Selectee. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2005.

Linda Garcia of Deer Park was appointed to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1999. She previously served as Assistant District Attorney in Harris County, where she was assigned to the child abuse division. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and volunteers with the Youth Victim Witness program. A graduate of the University of Houston, Garcia received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she was an honor's graduate. Her appointment will expire Feb. 1, 2007.

Juanita Gonzalez of Round Rock was appointed to the Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1997. A 10-year employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) parole division, she previously served the department as program service administrator and director of information services. Gonzalez is a member of the Texas Corrections Association, the National Hispanic Institute and the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas. A graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Gonzalez received her master's degree from the Worden School of Social Services. Her appointment will expire Feb. 1, 2009.

Rissie Owens

Rissie Owens of Huntsville, has served on the board since 1997 and was named chair of the board in 2003. She is a licensed social worker and a licensed chemical dependency counselor. She is a member of the Texas Correctional Association, Southern States Correctional Association, and Association of Paroling Authorities, International. Owens earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University and a master's degree in behavioral science from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Her appointment will expire Feb. 1, 2009. She will continue to serve as chair at the pleasure of the governor.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

DHS Selects Small Businesses from 23 States for First Small Business Research Awards

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division announced that 66 small businesses, in 23 states have been selected for contract negotiations. These firms were chosen by the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) from applicants to the Department's first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program solicitation in November 2003.

The sixty-six firms will receive a total of $6.5 million, with individual firms each receiving up to $100,000 for a period of six-months. In Phase I, awardees will define the scientific, technical and commercial merit of a particular concept. Firms whose concepts prove successful in Phase I may be invited to apply for a two-year Phase II award not to exceed $750,000 to further develop the concept, usually to the prototype stage.

Participation in the HSARPA SBIR Program is restricted to for-profit small businesses in the United States with 500 or fewer employees, including all affiliated firms.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division serves as the primary research and development arm of the department.