TBED21\'s legislation introduced in December 2009 in the District of Columbia to integrate efforts in Technology Based Economic Development, Workforce Development and STEM ed on a policy and programmatic basis.

1. 1 ______________________________ _____________________________
2 Councilmember Michael A. Brown Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr.
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5 _____________________________
6 Councilmember Kwame Brown
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8 A BILL
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10 ___________
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14 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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16 ______________
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19 To mandate that funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
20 (ARRA) shall be utilized for technology-based economic development (TBED) projects that will
21 create a 21st Century workforce and economy in the District of Columbia; to establish the DC
22 Innovation Council to integrate policy and research and provide recommendations, and oversight
23 regarding programs, activities and capital investments in science, technology, engineering, and
24 math (“STEM”) education, STEM workforce and human capital development, and tech-based
25 entrepreneurship and commercialization in the District.
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27 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
28 act may be cited as the “DC Competitiveness Act of 2009”.
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30 Sec.2. Application and use of ARRA Funds
31 (a) Any funds applied for in relation to this Act and awarded to the District from the
32 federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) from agencies including the U.S.
33 Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor, the
34 National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy, or the National Science
35 Foundation (NSF), shall be applied within the District’s framework for tech-based economic
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2. 1 development and planning, STEM education and 21st Century workforce development.
2 (b) A nonprofit entity, selected through a competitive process, within the District of
3 Columbia shall coordinate the District government’s efforts and proposals in response to ARRA
4 stimulus funding opportunities utilizing an integrated approach. The entity shall be presently
5 focused on working with cities to rally public and private stakeholders, navigate and align policy
6 objectives, procure funding and executing related programmatic initiatives in all three of these
7 critical emphasis area: STEM and entrepreneurship,, workforce development and technology
8 based Economic Development (“TBED”).
9 Sec.3. Establishment of the DC Innovation Council
10 (a) There is established the DC Innovation Council (“IC”) to integrate policy and
11 research and provide recommendations regarding programs, activities and capital
12 investments in STEM education, STEM workforce and human capital development,
13 tech-based entrepreneurship and commercialization in the District.
14 (1)The IC shall be tasked to conduct the following:
15 (A) an annual review and detailed competitive analysis of emerging
16 knowledge, innovation and technology-focused clusters within the District of Columbia and the
17 Greater Washington Region. This activity will result in a report that includes the following
18 assessments:
19 (i) A review of national and regional best practices in growing and
20 developing a knowledge-based and innovative economy including hi-tech
21 industries and companies
22 (ii)Competitive analysis of the District of Columbia’s capacity and
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3. 1 ability to grow, develop and attract 21st century TBED assets; and
2 (iii)Review improvements in key TBED performance indicators
3 that measure outcomes and progress in the competitiveness of the
4 District’s TBED portfolio.
5 (B) Provide a set of recommendations for the District’s immediate and
6 long-term plan to promote the development of knowledge-based, technology-driven and
7 innovative firms in the District. This plan shall include specific recommendations that will guide
8 the District’s effort to become a center for TBED commercialization and entrepreneurship.
9 (C) Oversee the development and implementation of a pilot program that
10 shall consist of co-locating the following programs within a DC Public School building:
11 (i) a STEM education and workforce development training center
12 that shall be available to both DC youth and adult residents;
13 (ii) a Bioscience Educator Institute that shall train DCPS high
14 school science educators on content knowledge and pedagogical practices to keep pace with
15 evolving technology and best practices;
16 (iii) a STEM based entrepreneurship incubator that shall provide
17 emerging STEM businesses office space, access to technology, and technical support and advice
18 from STEM and business consultants and advisors.
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20 (b) The nonprofit entity referenced in Sec.2 of this act shall facilitate the establishment of
21 the IC and serve in the role of Executive Director.
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4. 1 (c) The IC shall be made up of voting members that include:
2 (1) Chairs of the City Council’s Housing and Workforce Development
3 Committee, and Economic Development Committee, or their designee;
4 (2) Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development or their designee;
5 (3) Deputy Mayor for Education or their designee;
6 (4) Chancellor, DC Public Schools or their designee;
7 (5) The State Superintendent for Education or their designee;
8 (6) Director, Department of Employment Services or their designee;
9 (d) The IC shall be made up of non-voting members that include:
10 (1) President, University of the District of Columbia or their designee;
11 (2) President, DC Chamber of Commerce or their designee;
12 (3) President, Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
13 or their designee;
14 (4) President, Federal Laboratory Consortium or their designee; and
15 (5) 2 members of the coordinating TBED-focused nonprofit organization;
16 (e) The Executive Board will be co-chaired by two members, one each selected by the
17 Mayor and the Chair of the Council.
(f) Members shall serve without compensation; except that members may receive
reimbursement for documented expenses incurred in the service of the IC.
(g) The Executive Board shall meet on a bi-monthly basis and may meet more frequently
as deemed necessary to conduct its official business.
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5. Sec.4. Implementation
Implementation of this act is contingent upon funds being available for this purpose from
the federal government and the private sector.
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
impact statement require by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3).
Sec. 6. Effective date. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in
the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of
Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D. C Official Code §1-206.02(c)(1)), and
publication in the District of Columbia Register
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