Newsletter June 2010

Volume 1 Issue 8                                                                                                                                                     June 2010

 

LEDC Awarded Industry Partnership Grant

Last week at the Workforce Development Council's 2010 Workforce Summit, LEDC was awarded a $30,000 Stage 1 Industry Partnership Solutions Grant. The Department of Workforce Services' Industry Partnership Solutions (IPS) seeks to develop regionally-based, targeted industry approaches to building and sustaining economic competitiveness. The goal of this initiative is an employer-driven partnership that includes training providers, community organizations and other key stakeholders that convene around a specific industry. These partnerships work closely together to identify the workforce needs and solutions of that industry, allowing all stakeholders to streamline their efforts and resources.

Industry Partnership Solutions advance through two stages:
1. Development of the partnership and initial activities - studies, surveys, evaluations, etc.
2. Implementation activities - training initiatives, curriculum development, recruitment, etc.

Technology Sector
LEDC will use the IPS grant to develop the Laramie Technology Workforce Project (LTWP). The main purpose of the LTWP is the sustainable development of Southeast Wyoming's technology sector workforce. Over the last 15 years, the technology sector in Laramie has experienced strong growth. At LEDC's annual dinner, Dr. William Gern with the University of Wyoming revealed that before 1994 the technology sector in Laramie was only composed of nine companies. Currently, there are 50+ technology businesses operating in Laramie, with additional businesses based in Cheyenne.

The continued advancement of the technology sector is not only important for Laramie's economy, but vital to the future of our entire state. Technology based companies typically pay high wages and provide strong benefits. They also develop products and services that are sold outside of the area, which introduces new dollars to the region to support local service providers and retail locations.

Partnership Strength
The partnership that was established for the LTWP is one of the major strengths of the project. Nine private sector employers are involved that represent all stages of business development. In addition, local educational institutions, economic development organizations, and the Department of Workforce Services are included. This diverse group of organizations will allow the partnership to take a comprehensive look at the region.  According to Mike Peck, Chairman of LEDC's Board of Directors, "the Industry Partnership Solutions Grant is a great opportunity for LEDC to work with its partners to determine the workforce needs of the technology sector. This will ultimately lead to increased economic development by helping technology businesses grow and increasing educational opportunities for technology sector employees".

Employers
Pronghorn Technologies
Happy Jack Software
Medicine Bow Technologies
Falcon Technologies
Firehole Technologies
Intevac Photonics DeltaNu, LLC
Handel Information Technologies
Coffey Engineering & Surveying
Trihydro Corporation

Educational Institutions
University of Wyoming - Center for Advising and Career Services
Wyoming Technology Business Center
Laramie County Community College - Albany County Campus

Economic Development Organizations
Laramie Economic Development Corporation
Cheyenne LEADS

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services - Laramie Office

Project Scope
Over the next 18 months the LTWP will meet with each of the 50+ identified technology-based businesses in Laramie as well as companies based in Cheyenne in order to develop sector-wide trends from primary data. Each company will be interviewed to elicit information on current and future workforce needs, past and present strategies for finding qualified workers, and details about those strategies. Detailed information about the types of jobs needed, numbers of openings, particular skill sets, cost of searches, length of searches, advertising, outcomes, and other circumstances will all be important in developing sector-wide trends.

Outcomes
The LTWP partnership will produce two reports. The first will clearly present primary data about current workforce needs, projected workforce needs, past search strategies, and current search strategies within Laramie's technology sector. The second report will highlight LTWP's analysis of the data. It will illustrate the major workforce issues and industry trends decided by the partnership and the appropriate solutions for these issues. This report will be the starting point for the second stage of the Industry Partnership Grant and be used to develop the work plan.

For more information please contact LEDC at 742-2212

 

 

LEDC June Client Report

As always, we encourage you to contact us for more information about our activities.

Click Here for all of the "Hot" clients as of 6/22/10. In the meantime, please remember the best leads for Laramie come from existing businesses and residents.

Please note: all of LEDC's clients are kept confidential unless they specify otherwise.

 

 

Partner Recognition

Intevac Photonics DeltaNu (DeltaNu)

Based in Laramie, Wyoming, DeltaNu is a leader and recognized innovator of materials identification and verification products.  The company manufactures complete and ready-to-use, low-cost, high-performance Raman spectrometers for defense, education, research and industry.  The product line includes Raman microscopes, bench-top Raman spectrometers and handheld Raman spectrometers for field use. Raman spectrometers are used to quickly identify materials by illuminating the material to be identified with a small laser and measuring the characteristic bands of light emitted from the material. In addition to the Raman instruments, DeltaNu also provides a range of accessories and low light sensitive cameras.

DeltaNu was co-founded in 1997 by Dr. Keith Carron, a professor of chemistry at the University of Wyoming, together with another chemistry professor, Robert Corcoran and seasoned entrepreneur Gene Watson, a founder of successful high technology companies.  The company won more than 20 grants between 1997 and 2007.  These were mainly gained from the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.  Dr. Carron received the 2007 Bravo Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by the Wyoming Business Report, the Wyoming Business Council, the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Wyoming Business Alliance, the Heritage Foundation and the Wyoming Economic Development Association.

In 2007, the company was purchased by Intevac (NASDAQ:IVAC), a leading Silicon Valley-based semiconductor equipment and photonics company. The significance of the acquisition is that DeltaNu employees were able to keep 100% of the equity within the company by using SBIR funds to perform R&D and help commercialize products.  In addition, DeltaNu is able to leverage the advanced photonics technology developed by Intevac.

DeltaNu is now part of Intevac Photonics, a business unit of Intevac, Inc. and Michael Kayat, a seasoned high technology executive brought in by Intevac, is the Vice President and General Manager.  Dr. Kayat is responsible for growing the company through direct sales, global distribution channels, strategic manufacturing partnerships, contract R&D projects and government programs together with managing engineering, R&D, product development, marketing, operations, finance and administration.

DeltaNu is located in a new 12,000 square foot facility located at the Laramie Regional Airport Business Park. This facility, which was designed specifically for DeltaNu, has centralized all manufacturing, product development, application labs, and administration.  The facility is fully ISO9000 compliant and can be scaled up to higher manufacturing volumes.

DeltaNu is expanding and hiring electrical, electronics, mechanical and software engineers.  As product volumes increase, the company will hire additional assembly and test technicians.  The company is positioned to be a leading employer in Wyoming’s growing technology sector.  For more information, please visit www.deltanu.com

 

 

Innovation Engineering Seminar

"Former Procter & Gamble marketing whiz Doug Hall goes to any length to encourage a fresh perspective...clients say it works."
-Wall Street Journal

"Eureka! Ranch's unconventional approach has won raves from some of the biggest corporations in the country."
-CNN
 
"America's #1 New Product Idea Man"
-Inc. Magazine
 
"America's #1 Idea Guru"
-A&E Top 10

Doug Hall, founder of Eureka! Ranch, will be presenting a 3-day Innovation Engineering seminar in Casper on August 25, 26 & 27.  Innovation Engineering gives business, government and not-for-profit leaders the tools and confidence to lead the Creation, Communication & Commercialization of meaningfully unique ideas.
 
The cost of the seminar is listed at $1,995, but through a special partnership with Manufacturing Works, the cost for the Casper event is only $495. It includes all course materials, plus breakfast and lunch for each day of the conference. To access this price, please enter mwinnovation in the "promo code" line of the registration. 

For more information about Doug Hall and Eureka! Ranch, the complete Innovation Engineering Seminar agenda, and details on how to register for this great event, please click here.

Also, be sure to utilize the Workforce Services' Business Training Grant, which will cover 60% of program and transportation costs for existing positions and 100% of program and transportation costs for newly created positions!  Click here for more information as there are some requirements and limitations.  Feel free to contact LEDC for assistance.

 

 

Wyoming First Program

The Wyoming First Program is designed to assist Wyoming companies with the identification and promotion of their Wyoming made products or substantially enhanced products and services.  It is a way to identify and showcase great products made in Wyoming. Wyoming First is a program of the Wyoming Business Council.

The opportunities for Wyoming First members include: the ability to use the Wyoming Bucking Horse and Rider stickers and tags, notification of marketing opportunities, listing on the program's web site, eligibility for Trade Show Incentive Grants, Wyoming First posters, and more!

Over 250 businesses around Wyoming participate is the Wyoming First Program. For more information about those businesses or how to become a Wyoming First Member, visit www.wyomingfirst.org