NSFGRANT2004
GRANT Team:
Something for consideration at the Automation Alley meeting with OSMTech parents committee today.
[ Fri Apr 30, 03:55:21 AM | James Ross
Folks:
A little insight on significant issues for the Automation Alley meeting.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/043004/loc_20040430071.shtml
blogger
http://www.freep.com/money/business/walsh30_20040430.htm
blogger
County's job market will stage recovery by 2006, economists say
By GARY GOSSELIN
Press Business Editor
TROY - The burning questions for University of Michigan economists Thursday were: "Has Oakland's economy turned the corner and is it returning to sustained growth?"
And the answers were an emphatic "yes and yes."
Jobs lost in the last three years will be recovered by 2006, said the economists at Oakland County's annual Economic Outlook in Troy, and after that, job growth will start setting records.
And, according to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, the county's new Emerging Sectors project will ensure job creation and growth beyond 2006. The program was created to identify the top 10 companies in the top 10 emerging and growing industries and attract them to Oakland.
"It is a privilege to lead a county that's this dynamic and exciting; we buck all the trends and are leading in so many areas; the numbers are very positive going forward," Patterson said.
"This Emerging Sectors program may well be a Patterson administration legacy project," showing the potential importance of that project.
Although half of the 48,000 jobs lost since 2000 have been in manufacturing, 90 percent of the job gains have been and will continue to be in the service sector, said George Fulton, an economist at the U-M Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations.
But these service sector jobs aren't all flipping burgers and retail sales, Fulton said.
"Conventional wisdom views this sector as being made up of low-wage jobs," he said. "To the contrary, within this sector there are wide variations in earnings, including high- middle- and low-wage industries," he said, noting 18 percent of such jobs will be low wage but 40 percent will be high wage.
The only significant manufacturing jobs created in the next three years will be at the General Motors Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, which will add about 1,000 jobs when it starts an additional shift next year. Other manufacturing jobs will account for about 200 additional jobs.
In addition to jobs already created, other service sector jobs created by 2006 will include professional and business services (15,200 jobs); financial activities (5,900 jobs); education and health services (4,600 new jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (4,400 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (4,100 jobs), he said.
From the end of 2003 to the end of this year, 15,600 jobs will be created, 16,400 through 2005, and 13,800 through 2006, he said. The unemployment rate for the county will drop from 5.2 percent to 4.2 percent by the end of 2006.
"We've really seen an upward trend in the last quarter, more people seeking (jobs), more interviews," said Jennifer Llewellyn, luncheon attendee and program coordinator at the Troy Career Center. "Employers are being cautious but are looking more."
It's important to keep in mind that education, regional cooperation and infrastructure improvements are vital in keeping the region strong, Fulton said, noting that Automation Alley's outreach is a significant step in maintaining and attracting the kinds of high-tech and high-paying jobs that will be needed to sustain the economy in the 21st century.
"(Automation Alley) started off with 43 members, then on its own merits started to expand, and now we have over 500 members in seven counties including Wayne County and Detroit - who'd have thunk it? It speaks volumes for this region and a new era of cooperation," said Fulton.
Better communication is also necessary to retain and attract young and educated workers, Fulton said, addressing the issue of "cool cities" being promoted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Youngsters just don't have a clue what's available to them in Southeast Michigan, neither professionally nor culturally. That has to change, he said.
"The coolest thing that can happen in Southeast Michigan is alternative fuels," Fulton said. "And in 20 years, it will be the coolest thing in the country, it will be the IT of today," he said, noting the Emerging Markets project as an attractor of those industries.
"This report is hugely positive, (job gains by 2006) puts us back at the height of employment before the recession started," Patterson said. " 'Happy Days are Here Again' should be our theme song."
In addition to the local numbers, Fulton and associate Donald Grimes, another economist at ILIR, projected Gross Domestic Product growth of 4.1 percent this year and 3.7 percent next year; said the national unemployment rate will drop from the March rate of 5.7 percent to 5.3 percent in 2004 and 5.1 percent in 2005; and 30-year mortgage rates will be in the 5.9 percent range by 2005.
TOM WALSH: Oakland looks for next areas of job growth
April 30, 2004
BY TOM WALSH
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Oakland County officials are fond of describing Oakland as the economic engine of Michigan, with its wealthiest citizens and five straight years of leading the state in development activity.
But even mighty Oakland is not immune to the powerful forces of productivity gains and global sourcing that have stifled job growth.
"We're losing manufacturing work to Asia. That's a fact of life, we have to deal with that," Dennis Toffolo, Oakland's community and economic development director, told a group of county commissioners this week.
"Even some of our technology industries are going to India," he added.
In fact, Oakland lost more than 40,000 jobs in the past three years, according to a study by University of Michigan economists released Thursday. A modest bounceback of 15,000 jobs is expected this year.
So what's a county to do?
Well, get ready hear a lot about "emerging sectors" from Oakland -- and perhaps from Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm too -- over the next few years.
Fields of promise
Prodded by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Toffolo and his team began working recently to identify the 10 most promising fields -- or "emerging sectors" -- where more jobs are being created than in older industries like, say, auto parts or even the last decade's darling, computer software.
Within those sectors, the top companies worldwide will be identified. Those that don't have a U.S. presence will be targeted for contact and a potential trade mission visit.
Initial research, Toffolo said, indicates that medical devices, nanotechnology and quantum cryptography -- a new way of securely encoding and transmitting information -- could be among the promising sectors.
Toffolo was surprised to find that industry leaders in many emerging sectors are foreign companies.
On one hand, that's an opportunity: Oakland County has become a popular place for foreign firms to locate; 629 foreign-owned firms from 24 countries are there today, compared to 389 firms in 1992.
To woo emerging-sector firms, though, will require trade missions and travel dollars. And Oakland's budget, like those of other counties and cities, is pretty strapped.
Toffolo's team first calculated that they could launch an effective emerging-sector campaign by investing about $656,000 a year for research staff, travel and recruitment expenses. But after initial forays to scout for funding, they've quickly whittled the expected outlay to about $200,000 a year.
Strategy on emerging sectors
Patterson and Toffolo presented their emerging-sector strategy to Granholm on March 15 in Lansing, to good reviews. Granholm promised support, if not money.
Toffolo has visions of Granholm leading the first emerging-sector recruitment mission, with Patterson alongside. In fact, a printed timeline for the campaign envisions such a trip in November or December of this year.
Granholm's press secretary Liz Boyd confirms that the governor is evaluating possible trade missions, and that Oakland County would be among the logical partners. But no firm plans have been made "that we can announce yet," she said.
There's no guarantee that a government crusade to court emerging-sector companies will create new jobs for Michigan. But it's a better strategy than pulling up the drawbridge, mining our harbors and pretending we can hang onto our old jobs by wishing that they be spared.
Contact TOM WALSH at 313-223-4430 or twalsh@freepress.com.
Best,
Jim
[ Wed Apr 28, 12:49:28 AM | James Ross | edit ]
Friends:
More FUEL for your convergence fire in the Alley.
Hydrogen grants announced in Detroit: U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham Tuesday announced $575 million in federal funding for research toward a hydrogen economy. Abraham made the announcement at TechOne, the first building completed in Tech Town, Wayne State University's technology and research park, in an event hosted by NextEnergy, the state's alternative energy development and
education effort, which will be based in a new building across the street from TechOne. Included will be major efforts toward hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler A.G., and major projects at the University of Michigan and Michigan Technological University, and a fuel cell project at Delphi Corp. Detailed dollar figures for the grants were not yet available, NextEnergy officials said. But Abraham said the effort intends to make "a hydrogen economy is not just an abstract idea but is something real and achievable that will help us deal with some of our most vexing economic and environmental issues."
Best,
Jim
GRANT Team:
Something to help shape our thoughts.
That's hardly the only sophisticated technology in the area around what they used to call the Furniture City. (Those furniture companies, by the way, built the offices of the dot-com boom, and have suffered badly in the bust, but they're still around.) Here's an example, released last week to virtually zero press fanfare: A United Kingdom research house, Robert Huggins Associates, announced last week that the Grand Rapids area ranked third in the world among 125 metropolitan areas in its "World Knowledge Competitiveness Index." Grand Rapids moved up from ninth place last year on the index, which measures global leaders in building sustainable knowledge-based economies. The index is an integrated and overall benchmark of the knowledge capacity, capability, and sustainability of regions across the globe, and the extent to which this knowledge is translated into economic value. The index compares 19 knowledge economy benchmarks including employment levels in the knowledge economy, patent registrations, R&D investment by the private and public sector,
education expenditure, information and communication technology infrastructure, and access to private equity. The Grand Rapids area actually ranked No. 1 in the world in R&D spending by business per capita and private equity investment per capita. The study includes 55 North American regions, 45 from Europe and 25 from Asia-Pacific. More at www.hugginsassociates.com.
bloger
Best,
Jim
GRANT Team:
We are scheduled to meet Friday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. with the Executive Director of Automation Alley, Ken Porter. If
you are interested in attending please let me know.
Thanks!
Beth
[ Fri Apr 23, 03:28:40 PM | Beth Nuccio | edit ]
What about an Automation Alley Academy/ OSMTech Academy? What better way to demonstrate?
"The complex is expected to contribute $15 million to the surrounding community and generate 100 jobs. Future plans include technology shows, demonstrations, exhibitions and networking mixers for showcasing, analyzing and assisting emerging technology."
OSMTech Academy a training ground or pre-apprentice program?
Beth
[ Sat Apr 24, 05:35:20 AM | James Ross | edit ]
Beth:
This is beginning to sound like the NSF Grant initiative we have been devloping to me. As an original (inception) member and promoter of Automation Alley this would make sense and be a perfect fit for the marriage/convergence of local real-world high technology expertise, K-12 education, and perhaps become a national model (OSMTech) for same as we have previously discussed.
Things are beginning to resonate.
Best,
Jim
Grant Team:
Letter from Convergence Education Foundation via Beth Nuccio
Chuck Locklear, Dean
OSMTECH
8211 Big Lake Rd.
Clarkston, MI 48346 April 23, 2004
Dear Chuck,
The Convergence Education Foundation is excited about the incredible learning project development currently underway with your school. With your wonderful reputation acknowledged by senior corporate leaders in the region and CEF Board members, I have been encouraged to do what I can to create the proposed new projects to benefit the students impacted by the OSMTech. It is clear to us that the type of teaching happening at OSMTech is what we are seeking. Teachers that empower students to discover, explore, and create through well thought-out projects results in increased achievement scores. Our CEF projects are all based on this approach and we have higher standardized test scores, improved attendance data and more engaged learners to prove it!
The current three-fold project as presented to us speaks directly to what the best type of learning opportunities look like. A new Fuel-Cell Technology curriculum, well connected to supporters from industry and local universities, will become the core around which new excitement will be generated. Of particular interest to us is the targeting of middle school students (particularly females) to become influenced by the project. The digital technology partnership with local industry component of the CEF/OSMTech project is already poised for success. I have a commitment from the Vice President at Jabil Circuit to work directly with your students, creating opportunities for them to work directly with Jabil engineers on real projects that are in motion at their nearby facility. Jabil is anxious for this project to move ahead. Lastly, we feel the leveraging power of the new Science and Math Corps. With OEMTech students leading the way, hundreds of middle school students will benefit from the excitement and competence of your student/engineering leaders. The relevance of math and science classes will come alive to these young people through their contact with your corp of ambassadors. Not only will this validate the existing classes available to them, but it will also excite the middle school students about opportunities to connect with the OSMtech curriculum in their very near future.
Your staff is dynamic. We want to work with them because they represent what we know works in public education. In times when decisions are being made that tend to steer our focus away from the best ways to educate, it is critical that projects such as these are maintained, celebrated and enthusiastically promoted. CEF is ready to assist you, not only with this beginning series of steps, but through our vast network of corporate partners and well-networked learning community. We are ready to dedicate at least the next three years to facilitating and funding these ideas with you.
The Convergence Education Foundation is looking forward to a future with the OSMTech teaching and student teams.
Karl
Karl Klimek
Vice Chairman/Project Development Consultant
Convergence Education Foundation
2 Perspectives, Learning Through Leadership Consultant
413 Lincoln Rd.
Grosse Pointe, MI 48230-1606
313-647-9993
Ed:
Absolutely outstanding! You have certainly given us some superior "skeleton bones" to hang some meat on. In fact the body of same sounds like purely seminal research based educational elements to me, which of course is the essence of this particular endeavor. I was speaking with Kyle (in Atlanta U.S. FIRST Competitions / TEAM RUSH!) this morning and conveyed my enthusiasm for what you have developed to date. She will have much to add regarding that "real world" project upon her return.
I also concur regarding the time-line constraint of May 10, 2004. I believe we all agree that this is becoming something much larger then a typically rushed NSF offering. However, I think we should continue to use the date-certain to establish urgency. I like working to deadlines. lt sharpens the focus.
I think things are about to become very productive. You have graciously provided the outlined program directives. Now lets see what empirical data can be collected and what dynamics can be created and crafted to fashion a truly robust and compelling proposal that will resonate with all whom are called to this particular mission.
My hat is off to your work to date. Oakland Schools is indeed fortunate to have you aboard sir!
Best,
Jim
GRANT Team:
A little something to get the neurons firing.
Article: Oakland Press / American Education Needs Overhaul to Make the Grade
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/041004/opi_20040410009.shtml
blogger
Best,
Jim
GRANT Team:
Excellent meeting yesterday! The transformational learning has begun. Alignment is the order of the day and it's coherence (Ed Stanulis) will determine our success. Let's see if the information collected can be codified into knowledge which becomes actionable. In other words "fill the empty vessel."
Best,
Jim
GRANT Team:
I was contacted by LaMoine Motz and asked to attend a meeting at OSMTech regarding the NSF Grant 2004 tomorrow Thursday, April 8, 2004 at 2:00PM. The intent is to brainstorm possibilities for the grant intitiative.
More to come.
Best,
Jim
Grant Team:
Kyle Hughes and myself met yesterday at the observatory for a couple of hours to discuss the NSF Grant 2004 opportunities and possibilities. I believe a lot of progress was made regarding the alignment of priorities, objectives and goals for the proposal which is due on May 10, 2004. I believe she is meeting informally with LaMoine Motz (Principal Investigator for the Grant Initiative) and director of the Oakland Schools Science, Math, and Technology Center on Wednesday morning to share some of those discussions.
Stay tuned, more to come.
Best,
Jim
Hi Sherry: Ref: Meeting to discuss NSF Grant 2004 grant initiative
I will bend my schedule to meet what works for others. I contacted Kyle and the only thing that works for her is an opening from 3:30PM to 5:30PM on Tuesday. After that she is off to the National First Competition. Let me know what works for you and the others.
Best,
Jim
