Economic Vitality
While higher education institutions are not typically engaged directly in economic development, many programs and activities contribute to the state’s economic vitality.
These activities include:
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Adult Basic Education and Workforce Education programs at community and technical colleges.
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Customized training for businesses or industry groups.
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Extension programs and continuing education.
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Enrollment and degree production in high-demand fields of study.
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Efforts to increase the pipeline of students prepared to study in high-demand fields such as Tech-Prep, teacher preparation and professional development, and College in the High School.
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Business education and entrepreneurial training.
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Basic and applied research and activities supporting the commercialization of research products.
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Industry sector or cluster projects that include career pathway development and research commercialization activities.
In the past, the Higher Education Coordinating Board has been responsible for granting funds to higher education institutions to support high-demand enrollments. See Enrollments.
The HECB also issues a State and Regional Needs Assessment
report that looks at the employer demand for workers with specific education attainment levels, and the available supply.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board also is responsible for implementing two new economic vitality programs that were enacted by the state Legislature in 2007:
Innovation Partnership Zones
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Health Sciences and Services AuthorityHouse Bill 1705 created “health sciences and services authorities” (HSSAs). The HECB is charged with designating and overseeing a local health sciences and services authority in Washington state. (A local authority is a special-purpose district authorized by an ordinance or resolution passed by a city, town, or county government.) The HSSA has the authority to make and execute agreements and contracts, establish special funds, hire staff, leverage its public funds with moneys received from other public and private sources, hold funds in trust, and make grants. Its purpose is to promote bioscience-based economic development and advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease and promote public health. Questions and Answers for HSSA RFP |
For more information contact:
John Lederer,
Associate Director
Phone: 360-753-7822
Email: johnle@hecb.wa.gov
In the News5/8/2008
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