|
|
| |
| Sat, Aug. 30, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Beebe releases nearly $1 million to boost development of knowledge-based economy Saturday, Feb 16, 2008 By Jason Wiest Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Beebe on Friday released $950,000 in funds to help a group working to build a knowledge-based economy in Arkansas do economic research and support start-up companies. Accelerate Arkansas, a four-year-old group of 60 business and economic development leaders statewide laid out a plan last October to raise the state's per capita income, which currently ranks 48th nationally, to the U.S. average by 2020. The bulk of the funding will go to Innovate Arkansas, a program established by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to support start-up companies that are "fast growing, high paying and technology or knowledge based," according to Accelerate Arkansas. "The funding sets in motion the necessary framework vital for building the state's knowledge-based economy," Accelerate Arkansas chairman Jerry Adams said in a release. Experts say that because of the difficulty in recruiting established knowledge-based businesses, the state will have to foster such businesses, allowing them to start-up and grow in Arkansas. The Arkansas Research Alliance will receive $250,000 in start-up funding for research that will help create knowledge-based and technology jobs. The Taskforce for the 21st Century Economy, charged with sorting out economic development issues and identifying opportunities, received the last $100,000. The taskforce was established in cooperation with the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority and AEDC. |
