Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents University of Northern Iowa Annual Economic Development Report FY 2006 Section 1. Institutional Economic Development and Technology Transfer programs UNI’s economic development services focus on the needs of the client in our niche strengths within the University: community and economic development, market research, environment, metal casting, executive development, new Iowans and entrepreneurship. The programs that deliver our niche assistance comprise the University’s Business and Community Services Division (BCS), emphasizing hands­on assistance to businesses and communities to meet the individual needs of each client. As our hands­on Business and Community Services staff are at the front doors of businesses in every Iowa county, we work to continuously assess and address their needs. In doing so, we are able to bring these needs back to our university community – the faculty, staff and students – for practical assistance in which all can play crucial roles. Outcomes achieved in key economic development and tech transfer programs during FY 2006 are outlined below. Summary Cumulative Overview
· BCS programs leveraged $6 in private or federal support for each state $1 invested in the programs.
· In aggregate, BCS programs served more than 2,900 business and community clients in FY 06.
· Communities and businesses in all 99 counties were served.
· 140 faculty members and more than 1,450 students participated in economic development and technology transfer projects. Entrepreneurship, Business Incubation and Intellectual Property
· Launched the statewide rollout of MyEntreNet – a rural entrepreneurship program. Four new counties were selected for participation in the program – Poweshiek, Carroll, Decatur and Marion Counties.
· 800 rural entrepreneurs and small business owners registered on MyEntreNet and 268 were provided one­on­one technical assistance.
· The three incubator/accelerator programs helped start or expand 80 ventures, which have created more than 200 jobs. An additional 1,200 small businesses received counseling and training through the Small Business Development Center and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.
· Eleven new disclosures were received in FY 2006.
· Three new patents filed.
· Two new license agreements negotiated.
1 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Business Incubation
· The Regional Business Center’s downtown Waterloo incubator graduated three additional tenants into commercial space.
· Incubator graduates occupy more than 13,000 square feet of space downtown commercial space.
· An urban accelerator program was launched in Northeast Waterloo.
· Incubator and MyEntreNet programs helped launch 44 new businesses into the Iowa economy. Student Entrepreneurship
· Five student entrepreneurs were tenants in the temporary student business incubator this year and one launched a business in the Iowa economy.
· Permanent student incubator space is under construction. Market Research
· Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) assisted 21 business clients with 50 projects.
· Companies using the services of SMS report an average increase in employment of 16%.
· Market research was provided to six tech transfer projects. Local Economic Development
· The Institute for Decision Making (IDM) added 35 new community clients to its Community Partners Program.
· IDM has served more than one­half of the communities in Iowa since inception.
· Community economic development organizations report that 1,500­2,000 jobs per year are created as a result of IDM’s technical assistance.
· IDM assisted eight regional economic development groups with planning, marketing and capacity building.
· The highly regarded Heartland Economic Development Course, a nationally accredited economic development course created and directed by IDM, achieved record enrollment of 71 participants. Waste Reduction and Environmental Assistance
· The Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) provided environmental technical assistance and on­site reviews to more than 276 small businesses in the past year.
· Twenty companies adopted new environmental technologies through a special federal grant program.
· The IWRC developed and commercialized a virtual reality painting and coating training system.
· One hundred military personnel received training through the STAR4D program in the past year. Executive and Professional Development
· 85 workshops were provided to 1,400 businesses professional in 60 businesses in the past year by the Executive Development Center
2 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Metal Casting/Foundry Assistance
· Fifty individual research projects were conducted in 2006
· Technical assistance was provided to 20 foundries
· Federal funding was received to research bio­based foundry binders Section 2. Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property FY 2006 ISU 1. Number of disclosures of intellectual property 2. Number of patent applications filed 3. Number of patents issued 4. Number of license and option agreements executed on institutional intellectual property 5. Number of license and option agreements yielding income 6. Royalties/license fee income 7. Revenue to Iowa companies as a result of licensed technologies 8. Total sponsored funding 9. Sponsored funding for research 10. Corporate­sponsored funding for research and economic development and revenue generation (excludes corporate philanthropy) 11. Iowa special appropriations for economic development and technology transfer FY 2007 12. Iowa special appropriations for economic development and technology transfer UI UNI 11 5 5 2 11 $32,004 $5,900,000 $19,966,355 $1,113,248 $1,760,925 361,291 $361,291 Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs UNI outreach services for community and economic development activity are outlined in a table format on the following five pages. The format provides a brief overview of each program, its purpose, who is served and outcomes. Together, the programs served approximately 2,900 communities and/or businesses in the past year.
3 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Section 3. Overview of UNI’s Economic Development Programs (continued) Programs Services Those Typically Served Biobased lubricants National Ag­ research, testing Based Lubricants services, performance (NABL) Center standards and Formerly ABIL certification Serving companies and individuals developing or using biobased lubricants Hands­on community and economic Institute for Decision Making development guidance and (IDM) research Serving economic development organizations, chambers, communities and others John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) Research, education and linkage to seed and venture capital resources Serving student and faculty entrepreneurs at UNI, new ventures and rapidly growing small companies FY 2006 Results Cumulative Results ü Developed soy­based wood preservative ü Over 30 soy lubricants, technique to replace toxic creosote and greases, metalworking fluids CCA’s currently in use. and specialty products ü Investigated energy efficiency gains from developed to date. use of soy­greases and industrial soy­based ü Forming a national testing hydraulic fluids. and certification center to ü Expanded laboratory capability to better become the national leader in serve biolubricants users and biolubricants biobased lubricants. industry. ü Served 475 communities, ü Hands­on community and economic counties and groups in nearly development assistance and research all of Iowa’s counties to date. provided to 48 community partners and 9 ü Community clients report regional development groups. 1,500 – 2,000 new jobs ü 29 economic impact analyses were annually as a result of IDM completed this year. assistance. ü Three UNI student businesses entered the statewide business plan competition. ü The $1.6 million Cedar ü More than 80 attendees enjoyed the UNI Valley Venture Fund is Entrepreneurship Symposium. managed by the UNI JPEC ü 1239 businesses and individuals were and has invested in five new assisted. Iowa business ventures.
ü 5 students were served as tenants in the temporary student business incubator. 4 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Rural UNI Regional Entrepreneurship Business Center/ development system, Small Business online Development entrepreneurship Center resources, business (RBC/SBDC) consulting, business training, incubator Small and medium sized business, entrepreneurs, service providers to entrepreneurs Free, confidential, Iowa Waste non­regulatory Reduction Center environmental (IWRC) assistance for small businesses Serving small businesses throughout Iowa Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration (ICILI) Helping Iowa communities and businesses accommodate the needs of newcomers ü Rural Entrepreneurship Development System (MyEntreNet) launched in Carroll, Decatur, Marion and Poweshiek counties in FY 2006. ü More than 800 rural entrepreneurs registered on MyEntre.Net. ü 78 trainings, workshops or seminars hosted, serving 1,069 participants during FY 2006. ü 268 entrepreneurs served with 1:1 technical assistance. ü MyEntreNet system is active in 10 Iowa counties statewide. ü RBC incubator has graduated 25 companies, creating 47 new FTE jobs, $1.9 million in investment and 9,000 sf in downtown infill. ü SBDC has served an average of 900 small companies annually since 1998, with technical assistance or training services. ü Environmental technical assistance and on­ ü More than 3000 on­site site reviews were provided to 276 small reviews have been conducted businesses. with Iowa small businesses. ü Approximately 100 military personnel received training at the STAR4D facility. ü Assistance in accommodating the needs of newcomers has ü Jointly created a new manual for been provided to more than Serving communities, immigrant entrepreneurship in Iowa. 100 Iowa companies. faith­based ü Worked with 20 companies and organizations and ü More than 20,000 copies to communities to better meet the needs of businesses date of four different newcomers. guides/manuals (and untold electronic copies).
5 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) Serving Iowa counties, state and Research, techniques, federal agencies, education and source­ commercial identified seed for producers of source restoration and identified seed, the preservation of native community of vegetation educators and students and others ü Roadside vegetation research for restoring right­of­ways was provided to the Iowa Department of Transportation and native seeds distributed to 50 counties in Iowa. ü Hosted National Roadside Vegetation Management Assoc. annual meeting in Des Moines. Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE) Innovative educational and technical advice related to energy, environment and community­based agriculture Serving Iowa teachers, classrooms, and farmers ü Energy efficiency, environmental education assistance, and local economic development assistance was provided to 306 educational institutions, farmers, and food vendors in 121 different communities and 50 counties. Executive Development Center (EDC) Management and professional training workshops and certificate programs Serving Iowa businesses and organizations ü Specialized business management training provided in 85 workshops to 1,400 business professionals in 60 businesses during the past year. ü More than 10,000 acres of roadway right­of­way have been restored to native vegetation. ü Energy efficiency, environmental education assistance, and local economic development assistance has been provided to 2,016 educational institutions, farmers, and food vendors in 140 different communities and 56 counties. ü Since 1998, has provided training in 979 workshops to 17,255 business professionals.
6 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center (RRTTC) Metal Castings Center (MCC) Strategic Marketing Services (SMS) Recycling and by­ products research, education and outreach Metal casting technologies, applied research, testing and training Market research and analysis Sustainable Sustainable tourism Tourism and planning and policy Environment assistance Program (STEP) Serving Iowa businesses the recycling industry and Iowa citizens. ü Research project funding and outreach services related to recycling and reuse were provided to 30 companies and organizations. ü Over 35 RRTTC funded research projects. Over 160 reports and publications available. ü Outreach and services provided to over 3200 individuals each year, including business/industry, K­12 students and teachers, and Iowa citizens. Serving Iowa foundries and foundry suppliers ü Maintained active contracts with 12 companies, provided outreach projects to 2 Iowa foundries and technical assistance to 20 additional foundries. ü Received federal funding for research into bio­based foundry binders. ü Over 50 industry funded research projects have been completed to date. ü Market research and analysis services were provided to 18 Iowa companies. ü Since 1990, market research and analysis services have been provided to 242 Iowa companies. ü Tourism training and technical assistance was provided to 5 county tourism groups and 1 multi­county regional sustainable tourism project. ü Market research feasibility and economic impact studies have been provided to 40 counties or communities.
Serving businesses, entrepreneurs and non­profit organizations Serving businesses, government and non­ government organizations, and special interest and community groups 7 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Materials Innovation Service (MIS) Geoinformatics Training, Research, Education and Extension Center (GeoTREE) Mechanical, physical and chemical tests of Serving Iowa metals, polymers and manufacturers and cementitious suppliers materials ü Technical assistance provided to more than 100 individuals. Testing contracts from nine companies. ü Technical assistance or testing provided to approximately 100 individuals each year. Over 14,800 hours of testing provided since the beginning of the program. Geospatial technologies, education, research, and outreach activities for federal, state, local and tribal agencies ü 5 educational workshops held at UNI in new computer teaching lab with over 100 people in attendance ü Worked in conjunction with DNR and Public Health to apply geospatial data to solve problems ü GeoTREE Center was established in January 2006.
Serving federal, state, local and tribal (FSLT) government agencies (NASA) 8 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Section 4. Collaboration for Economic Development IDM and IDED Launch Existing Business Initiative IDM provided six Existing Business Initiative workshops in a collaborative effort with the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) during December 2005 and January 2006. More than 125 economic developers from utility companies, community colleges, Council’s of Government, along with county­wide and city development groups attended the half day interactive sessions. These workshops are the initial proactive efforts by IDED to support local economic development organizations in implementing or increasing their existing business retention and expansion efforts. In addition, IDM worked with IDED to create an Existing Business Initiatives Tool Kit that is accessible through the www.iowalifechanging.com website. IDM Collaborates with Iowa Workforce Development The Institute for Decision Making (IDM) and Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) worked together on a number of projects in FY 2006. IDM worked with faculty and students from UNI’s Mathematics Department. The Workforce Model that IWD uses to estimate the total potential labor force for laborshed analysis was updated by IDM staff. The update involved a statistical analysis of the laborshed surveys that have been completed over the previous two years. The results of that analysis are then utilized to make adjustments to the Workforce Model. IDM staff also completed a research report for IWD entitled Characteristics of Laborshed Respondents Over Time: 1999­2005. To complete the project, IDM staff created a master dataset of 39,000 laborshed surveys that had been completed between July 1999 and October 2005. As part of the report, IDM provided IWD staff with recommendations for tracking laborshed data trends and improving the laborshed sampling process to better reflect the population. In addition to working with IWD on laborshed research, IDM partnered with IWD to conduct a regional cluster analysis for two different regional economic development efforts in Eastern Iowa. In completing the regional cluster analyses, IDM worked with IWD staff from multiple bureaus within IWD’s Policy and Information Division as well as staff from the IWD Workforce Center that serves the two regions. Tallgrass Prairie Center and Iowa DOT Pursue joint Projects In cooperation with the Iowa DOT, the Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) reconstructed a 20 acre prairie in Plainfield Iowa (Bremer County) and will monitor the long­term effects of mowing, haying and burning on native plant composition. In addition, a study of the effects Canada Wild Rye has on native plant establishment and growth when seeded as a nurse crop in a reconstructed prairie is ongoing with the DOT.
9 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents UNI and ISU Conduct Collaborative Laboratory Tests The National Agriculture­Based Lubricants Center’s (NABL) collaboration with Iowa State University stands out as an especially successful example of UNI’s cooperation with other educational institutions. In one of several ongoing projects, NABL scientists are conducting laboratory tests as part of research being conducted by Dr. Robert Brown, ISU Office of Biorenewables Programs. This testing will investigate the potential to collect byproduct gases from the gasification and eventual pyrolysis as a revenue­bearing addition to future biorefinery processes. Two distinct joint projects are on the horizon requiring teamwork from both Iowa State University and NABL: one involves research at both institutions, targeted at eventual bioproduct development and commercialization; the second project involves educational outreach for biolubricants and the state’s growing bioeconomy. The NABL Center has collaborated with ISU professors on at least two research grant proposals submitted in the past year. CEEE Collaborates with ISU and U of I on Research Report to Iowa Legislature In the autumn of 2005, the Iowa Legislature requested that the Board of Regents assemble an expert faculty group from the Regents’ universities to prepare a report on renewable motor fuels. The intent of the request was to provide legislators with science­based information on ethanol, biodiesel and other bio­based alternative fuels. The report included energy balance, performance, tax incentives and mandates, and environmental sustainability. The Director of CEEE was appointed as co­team leader for assessment of “environmental sustainability,” and worked with seven other professors from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa in preparing the final report. The group met four times during the fall semester, and consulted with members of the Board of Regents and the Iowa House and Senate. The final report was presented to the Iowa General Assembly in the House Chamber of the Iowa State Capitol on January 12, 2006. Regent Universities Provide Joint Research for US Department of Defense The US Army needs to develop and deploy new, advanced weapons systems with more firepower, speed, and mobility. Integrating cast steel components in place of iron or titanium is critically important to the success of this effort, because steel components can achieve more complexity of design and higher performance, with greater reliability, reduced weight, lower cost, and easier repairability. Unfortunately a number of technical challenges in the steel casting process have impeded greater production and use of cast steel components. In 2005, however, the Department of Defense and the Steel Founders’ Society of America recognized a unique collaborative opportunity among Iowa’s three Regents Universities to overcome these technical obstacles. 2006 marks the beginning of an unprecedented, five­year research and development effort, with each university providing its special expertise:
10 Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents · University of Iowa: leading edge computer engineering for casting design and performance simulation;
· Iowa State University: new manufacturing processes and inspection methods;
· University of Northern Iowa: industrial­scale, in­house foundry for making and testing prototype parts and proving out new processes. In addition, the Iowa universities will partner with the Rock Island Arsenal, Sivyer Steel, and Matrix Metals—Keokuk, to bring the new processes and technologies into full­scale industrial production. BCS Outreach Services – FY 2006 No. No. No. No. Students Faculty Students Teachers (UNI) (UNI) (K­12) (K­12) Project ­ CEEE 424 8 4728 258 2 19 Project ­ EDC Project ­ GeoTREE 5 5 50 4 Project ­ ICILI 13 6 Project ­ IDM 4 35 Project ­ IPC 12 0 0 0 Project ­ IWRC 658 33 20 2 Project ­ JPEC 17 2 50 10 Project ­ MCC 7 6 0 0 Project ­ NABL 2 1 164 49 Project ­ RBC/SBDC Project ­ 250 14 1800 76 RRTTC/MIS 16 1 Project ­ SMS 28 2 400 3 Project ­ STEP 12 1 14 Project ­TPC Total BCS 1500 137 7162 412
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Economic Development Report to the Board of Regents Business & Community Services Funding – FY 2006 BCS Division CEEE Federal $0 State State Corp/Private Appropriations Contracts* $0 $369,199 $10,000 In­Kind Generated Revenue Grand Total $53,838 EDC $433,037 $239,616 $239,616 GeoTREE $744,000 $2,854 ICILI $120,000 $15,000 $35,000 $2,000 $172,000 IDM $147,000 $294,150 $196,051 $133,156 $770,357 IPC $77,500 IWRC $3,618,130 $612,000.00 $699,319 JPEC $88,360 $0 $0 MCC $0 $68,646 $1,474,326 $251,900 $264,550 $155,000 NABL RBC/SBDC RRTTC/MIS SMS STEP TPC Total BCS Funding $746,854 $212,447 $44,433 $97,480 $120,000 $5,600 $375,000 $6,836,966 $10,600 $115,000 $150,000 $1,821,623 $1,702,102 $77,500 $0 $4,929,449 $20,000 $0 $276,912 $385,272 $230,000 $60,000 $0 $358,646 $104,287 $14,068 $1,844,581 $12,800 $55,552 $487,902 $70,500 $13,420 $340,800 $581,922 $799,402 $40,000 $56,200 $10,000 $650,000 $383,300 $220,979 $1,326,646 $12,291,616
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