Pierce County pledges $500,000 to support UW Tacoma Tech Institute
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2001
Pierce County pledges $500,000 to support UW Tacoma Tech Institute
Pierce County has pledged $500,000 in support of the University of Washington, Tacoma technology institute, County Executive John Ladenburg announced today.
The county's pledge brings the funds raised for the technology institute to $2.07 million and continues momentum toward the goal of raising $4 million in non-state funds to make the institute a reality.
"A critical reason behind creating the institute is to spread the economic benefits of the tech economy to additional portions the state, and that benefit will be centered right here in Pierce County," says Ladenburg. "Higher education is the most powerful economic development tool for attracting relocating companies, launching new ones, and ensuring that existing companies have the supply of qualified workers they need. The UWT technology institute will magnify the successes we've had in Pierce County attracting technology companies, while providing benefits to industry and individuals across the state."
In December, Governor Locke proposed creating a statewide technology institute at the University of Washington, Tacoma, to help address the shortage of workers prepared with bachelor's and master's degrees in the high-tech fields, as well as to spread the benefits of the tech economy across the state. In 1998, a Washington Software Alliance survey showed 6,000 jobs requiring bachelor's and master's degrees are annually filled by people from out of state and another 6,000 jobs go unfilled. The WSA plans to announce findings of its recent employment survey soon. A key component of the Governor's proposal was a match between state and non-state funds.
"The county's gift shows that private industry, the city, county government and individuals are all solidly behind this proposal and they're putting 100 percent into making it work," says Herb Simon, a Tacoma business leader, who along with Bill Philip, chairman of Columbia Bank, is spearheading the effort to raise non-state funds for institute. "The county's gift continues the tremendous momentum we are experiencing in raising the state match and further demonstrates to our state legislators this is a rock-solid investment that we need to make, especially during tough fiscal times."
So far, Intel announced $270,000 of in-kind support for computer equipment and the City of Tacoma announced $500,000 of in-kind support for permits and services. More than a million dollars of pledges are from private-sector sources, and several more are expected to be announced soon.
The Governor's proposal for the technology institute calls for $7.55 million in state funds. Legislators are now grappling with how to fund the institute during one of the toughest state budget years in recent history.
Ladenburg made his announcement to a group of UW Tacoma supporters this morning who were gathered to discuss progress in the Legislature of the UWT Tacoma legislative request and the technology institute. "There is no doubt this institute will be great for Pierce County.
There is no doubt this is a proactive step in supporting our state's leading position in the global economy. Pierce County is taking a leadership role in getting this institute established to benefit the entire state, but it will start with providing a tremendous level of educational opportunity to our kids, to career changers, and to all the business people who will benefit from increased economic vitality, right here in this county."
The institute plan involves initially expanding the UW Tacoma Computing and Software Systems undergraduate program and adding a professional CSS master's degree program. In future years, the institute will expand into other degree areas, such as engineering, depending on needs and demands. Students would complete the first two years of institute bachelor's degrees at community and technical colleges across the state, then transfer to the UW Tacoma institute. "You don't have to leave Pierce County, if you don't want to, for a great education, to get where you want to go," says Ladenburg. "The institute takes educational opportunity in our region to a new level."
UW Tacoma was established 10 years ago to expand access to bachelor's and master's degree programs in the South Puget Sound region. Opening with 176 students, the campus has grown to serve 1,700 annually and is continually expanding and diversifying academic offerings. The technology institute would be UW Tacoma's first program with a statewide mission.
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