| CEE increases
its economic impact
Center for Environmental Enterprise
February 25, 2003
The Center for Environmental Enterprise (CEE) at Southern
Maine Technical College increased its economic impact
in 2002, resulting in more jobs, new products, and
an increasing number of clients, partnerships and community
supporters, the organization announced this month.
 |
| CEE President John Ferland |
In a report documenting it achievements during the
last year, the technology incubator cited five measures
of impact:
Additional clients, resulting in high occupancy. CEE's
program grew by three new companies on site and one
off site. With seven companies on site, CEE's leasable
space is 90 percent occupied. CEE is now servicing
biotechnology companies as well as environmental technology
firms. To keep up with demand, CEE must invest in further
renovation of its 18,000 square foot facility.
Increased
jobs. The amount of people employed by companies
associated with CEE's business incubation program
increased
to 30, up 25% from 2001. This number includes employees
of graduate and on site client companies.
New
product and market development: CEE's client firms
developed breakthroughs in environmental sensing technology,
launched new products for the home and commercial furnishing
markets, and opened new markets for environmental analytical
services in Australia. Client firms also initiated
research and development efforts on composite millwork
technology, cancer diagnostics and reagent development
for chronic wasting disease. R&D awards secured
by CEE companies totaled more than $130,000, including
financial support from the federal Small Business Innovation
Research Program and the Maine Technology Institute.
Partnership
with environmental & energy technology
industry: CEE is providing leadership to help create
an association of environmental and energy technology
businesses that would promote job creation, research
and development investment, and commercialization of
new products and services. The new organization will
merge the Environmental Business Council of Maine and
the Maine Environment and Energy Center. It will be
housed at CEE.
Increased community support: The base of community
financial support for CEE expanded, reflecting the
importance of CEE's economic efforts. Providing private
sector assistance were Hannaford Brothers, Fairchild
Semiconductor, Corporate Finance Associates, Coastal
Ventures, Inc. and the Environmental Business Council
of Maine. Public sector assistance was provided by
Southern Maine Technical College, the Maine Department
of Economic and Community Development, the City of
South Portland, the Greater Portland Public Development
Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Region
One of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CEE's gains illustrate how the State of Maine's technology
based economic development strategies, developed in
the late 1990s, are beginning to show results, said
John M. Ferland, president of CEE.
"The purpose of business incubation is to increase
the success rate of start-up companies," Mr. Ferland
said. "Nationally, 75 percent of new companies
fail within five years, but 87 percent of companies
that graduate from incubation programs are still in
business. This is significant for local economies because
84 percent of the graduates remain in their regions,
help to diversify the economy and increase wealth.
In Maine, the average technology job pays $40,000 per
year, compared to $26,000 for a non-technology job."
Ferland said CEE impacts the Greater Portland economy
in three ways. First, the incubation firms generate
wages, taxable income and spending on local goods and
services. Second, the incubation program serves as
a feeder system to the various commercial properties
and industrial parks through the region. Third, CEE's
companies are providing a foundation for future economic
growth by investments in intellectual property, research
and development, and new products, and by providing
quality internships for college students who will form
the future work force.
CEE
is located on the campus of Southern Maine Technical
College in South Portland. It provides flexible lease
arrangements for laboratories, offices and manufacturing
space. CEE's services assist businesses systematically
with their intellectual property and business plan
needs, R&D activities, financing needs and product
commercialization strategies.
For
more information on CEE and its client firms, see
the CEE Web site or contact
John Ferland at (207) 767-4302 ext. 102 or John.Ferland@ceemaine.org. |
