Regents back joint economic blueprint

The state Board of Regents on Thursday conceptually approved a joint governmental effort to use the state’s university system as a springboard for economic development.

By ALLISON FARRELL – IR State Bureau

http://helenair.com/articles/2004/01/16/montana/a06011604_03.txt

Sheila Stearns, the commissioner of higher education, and Dave Gibson, who serves as Gov. Judy Martz’s chief economic development officer, spent the past few months designing a process they think will help spur economic revitalization.

The scheme calls for two teams made up of Montanans from all walks of life to design and implement economic strategies.

‘‘The progress made on this has been extraordinary,” said Regent John Mercer of Polson. ‘‘I definitely think we’re on the right path.”

The university system has been positioning itself to coordinate economic development in Montana ever since Mercer brought the concept forth last spring.

Now that Stearns and Gibson, with the help of other governmental representatives, have developed the blueprint for action, all that’s left to do is define what economic development action the state should undertake.

And officials say that this will be the hard part. But they expect to have solid proposals together by May.

Some of the economic development concepts the group is considering include improved access to higher education, workforce development as well as entrepreneurial and small business development.

Now that the regents and the governor’s office have given conceptual approval, the Legislative Postsecondary Education Policy and Budget Subcommittee will hear the pitch Tuesday.