October, 2007

2007 TAI Celebrity Open earns high marks
New programs to grow Iowa's tech industry
Boost high-tech training dollars for employers
Promote small and large company collaboration
Fund prototype and concept development with pre-seed capital
Connect students with IT companies through Internship Program
Reach more jobseekers with improved state website
Stretch your marketing dollars with Cooperative Marketing Program
Tech workers generally happy, but stressed
IT Olympics coming to Hilton Colliseum
Angelbeat's 2007 tour to stop in Des Moines
UNI presents Quality workshop
Wired Differently Explodes!
Too cool/way hot

The 2007 TAI Celebrity Open provided a sold-out crowd with a day of sunny weather and networking fun. Technology leaders from across Iowa came together for this premier fundraising event. Proceeds will directly support TAI's efforts to grow a successful technology sector in Iowa. Click here for photos and results.

New programs have recently been introduced to strengthen and grow Iowa's technology sector as a result of HF 829, legislation that was passed last spring and strongly supported by TAI. See descriptions below of initiatives to:

1. Boost high-tech training dollars for employers;
2. Promote small and large company collaboration;
3. Fund prototype and concept development with pre-seed capital; and
4. Connect students with IT companies through Internship Programs.

Training budgets for high-tech worker skills just received an exciting boost! $500,000 is available through IDED to help Iowa employers address the costs of high-level IT skills training.

Iowa-based companies or departments of Iowa companies engaged in the delivery of information services are eligible for up to $25,000 in assistance.

• Covered costs include training tuition, instructor, materials, facility rental, travel and subcontracted services.
• 1:2 match: The state will provide $1 for every $2 matched by companies.
• Training must take place within 90 days of receiving an award.

If you are involved in development and working with a large company, consider this opportunity. The State has introduced a new program to provide financial and technical assistance to encourage joint-venture development of “orphan” IT innovations. Orphan IT innovations are those technologies which have commercial potential but the generators of the technology do not wish to further commercialize the innovation themselves. The primary purpose of this program is to encourage Iowa IT-user companies and IT-producer companies to work on joint R&D programs to develop the next generation of specialized IT products and services.

For details on the Information Technology Joint Venture Fund, click here. For an application, click here.

Awards up to $150,000 are available through the Demonstration Fund, a new program that provides pre-seed capital to encourage prototype and concept development activities by small and medium-sized Iowa firms with high growth potential. The purpose of the fund is to encourage commercialization of innovation. Companies seeking capital go through a rigorous due diligence process and are judged in terms of marketability, ROI and economic development impact.

An eligible business must be developing a unique and competitive product, technology or process that can be protected in the marketplace. Applicants must demonstrate the commercial viability of their technology and their ability to develop and lead a commercially successful venture. For more program details, click here.

The Targeted Industries Internship Program will connect undergraduate students with existing information technology, biosciences and advanced manufacturing companies statewide. The program is for students at Iowa’s private colleges, community colleges and regent institutions. Iowa-based companies with fewer than 500 employees and engaged in one of the above targeted industries are eligible to apply.

Program funds are available for summer 2008 internships. The applicant’s internship must last a minimum of eight weeks averaging no less than 30 hours per week. Students must be within one to two years of graduation. Awards are available up to $3,100 for any single internship. A company can apply for a maximum of three internships or a maximum $9,300 award per company.

IDED will make program details available on November 1, and will accept applications beginning December 1. TAI will provide member companies with more information as it becomes available.

Iowa employers can post job opportunities at no cost on the new and improved IowaJobs.org, a one-stop-shop for jobseekers to connect with Iowa opportunities. It is part of the state's overall marketing effort to promote career opportunities to jobseekers within Iowa and around the world, and to attract new Iowans to the state. For more information, click here.

The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) has once again teamed with the Technology Association of Iowa to address the unique marketing needs of Iowa tech firms. The 2007-08 Technology Co-op Marketing Program allows Iowa-based tech companies to receive matching funds for their out-of-state marketing initiatives. Eligible firms can receive up to $7,500 of matching funds for out-of-state activities that include trade shows, print advertising, Internet, billboards, radio and/or television.

For complete program details and to apply, click here. Application deadline is November 30 for costs incurred from January 1 to June 30, 2008.

Dice.com reports that technology professionals seem to be happy with their jobs, but they are also extremely stressed and likely to recommend careers in other fields to their friends. Results of the third Dice Tech Appeal Index show that tech professionals continue to be overwhelmingly satisfied and loyal to the technology field. 91 percent of respondents report that they are somewhat or very satisfied in their current job and 92 percent say they intend to stay in the IT field for at least the next six months. However, the Index uncovers notable shifts in their likelihood to recommend a tech career to others and their openness to other industries. 86 percent of tech professionals are still likely to recommend technology as a career to others. However, recommending jobs in financial services went up by almost 10 percentage points to 56 percent, as it did for media and entertainment, which moved to 44 percent from 34 percent.

IT-Adventures is an innovative and exciting program that engages Iowa high school students in exploration and experimentation with IT through content delivery, competitive events and service learning projects. It represents a partnership between the ISU Information Assurance Center, TAI, IDED, InfraGard and others to address the local effects that stem from declining numbers of students selecting careers in IT-related fields.

The capstone event for students who participate in the program is a two-day competition dubbed the IT-Olympics slated for April 25-26, 2008 in Hilton Coliseum. This year 700 students representing 75 high schools are expected to compete in cyber defense, robotics and game design events.

Businesses are key to the success of this program through their support of these areas: Exhibiting in free corporate booth at the IT-Olympics to demonstrate the types of available IT opportunities; Provide employees who are interested in mentoring a local high school teams; and Pledge financial sponsorship of the IT-Adventures program and the IT-Olympics event.

For details, visit www.it-adventures.org. Contact Leann Jacobson at TAI if you are interested in mentorship, a corporate booth or financial sponsorship.

For more information and to sign-up, go to www.angelbeat.com.

The conference is free. To register, send contact information to deb.blanchard@uni.edu. Questions call: 319-273-2631.

To see the entire line-up of presentations and for more information, click here.

Dorsey & Whitney has been selected by Working Mother magazine as one of the nation's 50 "Best Law Firms for Women." D&W was recognized for programs designed to attract, engage, retain and develop felmale attorneys.

Principal Financial Group ranks 21st on this year's Computerworld magazine list of top workplaces for IT professionals, noted for it's commitment to employee development, including job coaching, hands-on training classes and mentorship programs. The company moved up eight spots from last year. It is the sixth consecutive year PFG has been recognized.

Ensoft of Ames won the top prize of $25,000 in the Iowa Business Plan Competition presented by venture capitalist John Pappapjohn. Ensoft makes software tools for engineers to quickly spot small differences in computer files and prevent wrong computer codes in computer-assisted design.

BioForce Nanosciences of Ames was recognized by the Iowa Small Business Innovations Research program for the "Most Successful Commerciali

Rockwell Collins expanded its support for science, technology, math and engineering education by committing $1.3 million to help bolster participation in the FIRST program that is designed to motivate students to pursue opportunities in those fields. FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, an inventor of the Segway motorized scooter. Rockwell Collins' initial investment is aimed at creating 100 FIRST LEGO League teams in Iowa and 60 teams near Rockwell Collins' locations throughout the country. Company employees will be active volunteers in the program, and teachers serving as team coaches will receive financial support.

Inc. magazine released it's first-ever Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. Ranking is based on percentage growth in company net sales over a five-year period. Congratulations to the following TAI member companies that were ranked on the list: MortgageHub (672), Geonetric (1853), GeoLearning (2811), LightEdge Solutions (No. 2,888), MediNotes (3039), Alliance Technologies (No. 3,956), Kingland Systems (3968), Spindustry Group (No. 4,022) and The Palmer Group (No. 4,704). Click here to see all Iowa companies making the list; click here to see complete information including company profiles.

John Gillispie, Iowa government's CIO, has been elected president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Gillispie has more than 25 years of private-sector telecommunications and IT management experience, including his current roles as executive director of the Iowa Communications Network and COO of the Iowa's Department of Administrative Services.

Professional Computer Systems (PCS) of Dennison has teamed with AudioTel to provide PCS customers automated payment processing solutions. AudioTel’s Remit Plus solution provides the ability to capture images of checks submitted for payment and creates the payment entry to the customers’ account for the CIS system without manual entry.

Des Moines based Alliance Technologies acquired the network management services portion of Johnston-based ANE Technology Services from Perimeter eSecurity. ANE specializes in outsourcing services to small and mid-sized business, with expertise in serving community banks. The acquisition is the second for Alliance Technologies in less than a year.

Iowa State University is moving forward with plans to implement a new Ph.D. program in business and technology. The degree will prepare students for academic careers in research, teaching and public service.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Iowa's undergraduate business school 33rd in the nation; Iowa State's was ranked 83rd. Conversely, Iowa State's undergraduate engineering program was rated 33rd, while UI's came in at 57th.

Generation Iowa a task force created last session by the Iowa General Assembly in an effort to retain and attract young workers, launched its new website. Click here to see it!

Got a hot tip or news lead? Email it to info@technologyiowa.org.

Remove My Name From the List