NYSHEI News

“The universities are definitely feeders into the economy,” said Sandy Parker, CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, in a important analysis for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

The article discusses the important role of academic based research in fostering the small businesses that are needed to revive the moribund New York State economy.  The article is a great illustration of the need for ARIA.

NYSHEI Executive Director Jason Kramer will Monday deliver testimony to the New York State Legislature Joint Budget Committee Hearing on Economic Development.

“The public and private academic and research libraries of New York are looking for a genuine partnership with business and industry,” according to Mr. Kramer.  “This partnership can be mutually beneficial and lead to inestimable economic growth opportunities for New York.”

The written testimony is available here.

The New England Law Library Consortium is hosting a grant writing workshop at the Albany Law School.

Interested persons should contact NELLCO.

The workshop will take place on March 18 and 19, 2010.

Participants will learn how to write winning proposals including:

• The essential components of a grant proposal package.
• How to customize a proposal to match a grant maker’s interest.
• How to initially approach a funder.
• The differences between government and foundation proposals.
• How to report on a grant’s progress and impact.
• How to develop working relationships with grant makers.
• What to do if your proposal is denied (don’t give up!).
• The behind-the-scenes decisions that determine proposal acceptance and denial.

Participants will also learn how to find and track relevant grant opportunities:

• Where to find foundation grant programs that can help you accomplish your goals.
• Where to find federal and state grant makers that meet your needs.
• Where to find corporate giving programs whose giving goals match your funding needs.
• How to stay on top of your targeted opportunities.

NYSHEI Executive Director Jason Kramer today submitted testimony to the New York State Legislature Joint Budget Hearing on Higher Education.  The joint budget hearings begin the legislature’s response to the Executive Budget Proposal for fiscal 2010-2011, offered by Governor Paterson.

In acknowledging the lingering problems of New York’s economy and the crushing deficits resultant of the recent national economic climate, Kramer argued that the old ways of doing business were not sufficient.

“If it is to master the problems, not merely of the current environment, but of the 21st century, business as usual is not good enough.  New York must – and can – be smarter, faster and more efficient,” said Kramer.

Toward that goal Kramer offered ARIA as an example of mitigating cuts, creating cost efficiencies, and exploiting economies of scale.

“An investment in ARIA would bring immediate relief and lasting results,” Kramer argued.

The full testimony is available on-line.

The background to the 2010 State of the State is a multi-billion dollar state deficit that will grow to a $17 billion deficit when the federal stimulus money runs out in FY 2011-12.  In his response to these hostile challenges Governor David Paterson offered a fresh start in his speech.

The Governor admitted that something – if not everything – had to change if New York were to avoid descent into bankruptcy.  In his State of the State address the Governor offered an overhaul of state finances that would include significant budget cuts, a dramatic retooling of government practices and ethics that would include term limits, and a vision to reignite the “Innovation Economy” in New York.  This is a difficult agenda that is already being met with reticence from the legislature.

A list of all initiatives referenced in the State of the State is available online.

Of particular interest to academic and research libraries may be some of the ideas contained in the Governor’s economic development proposals.  While it is difficult to predict specifics in advance of the release of the Executive Budget proposal (January 18, 2010), there were encouraging moments during the speech.  When Paterson discussed the importance of an innovation infrastructure, the role of colleges and universities, and information age economic growth, many heard an argument in favor of the Academic Research Information Access (ARIA) act.

The Excelsior Jobs program, as a described successor to the Empire Zone program, may provide one opportunity for ARIA to seek enactment.  So too the Governor’s call to include small business in research and development entrepreneurial incentives.

The legislative session has begun.  With no money in the bank, a closely divided Senate, a unpopular Governor placing blame on an even less popular legislature, and looming elections, 2010 will be an unusually difficult year.  May analysts predict that gridlock and in-fighting will be the hallmarks of the session.  Only time will tell.

NYSHEI, like every other group in the state, will face formidable challenges.  Creativity and hardwork will be needed as never before, but may still not be enough to achieve progress.  Rather, nearly every interest in the state will need to muster all their resources to minimize losses rather than realize gains.