TAI Policy: Tell us how to support you

For exact verbiage on the STEM Scholars Program, please see below. If you have any questions on Internship funding, please email [email protected]. 

For all Iowa employers waiting to apply for the STEM Internship Program, the STEM Program rules language has been approved by the legislature and the rule update is moving forward.  There are still steps that will be taken to finalize the rules before we can open the application.  We are now looking at a September 1, 2015 program rollout, but stay tuned for updates! If you would like to be on the list for updates about this program, please contact Jennifer Meier to be added.

The applications will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis to eligible employers.  Applications are not currently available, but will be available on the website after September 1, 2015, pending final rules approval.  If you are applying for retroactive funding for Fall 2014, Spring 2015, and Summer 2015 all of the following supplemental documentation will be needed to receive your reimbursement.

Fully Executed IEDA Contract

Intern Selected Form

Intern and Manager Final Reports

Documentation of wages/ payroll

Solid and Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan

Signed Request for Disbursement Form (GAX)

W-9

*If you have applied for the Targeted Industries Internship Program in FY 2015, you are ineligible to receive funding for the STEM Internship Program for FY 2015.

The FY 2016 Targeted Industries Student Internship Program will open July 1, 2015 for Fall 2015, Spring and Summer 2016 Internships!

Thank you for your patience and please watch for new communications and updates in the coming weeks.  

More Information About the Program and Other Resources

iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/WorkforceTraining/student

The Iowa legislature concluded its business Friday, June 5th after 35 days of overtime.

As far as TAI initiatives go, this session can be summed up as “better late than never”.  TAI had two specific initiatives heading into the session that began on January, 12th:

Clarify the STEM Internship program matching funds language

Sweeten the Angel Investor tax credit program

Additionally, TAI worked to support the Governor’s broadband initiative.

In the final week of session, all 3 of these initiatives were successfully achieved.  That sounds a little dramatic, but many policy initiatives became contentious at some point during the session due to session-long battles over the state budget.

STEM Internships (Senate File 510-Standings appropriations bill)

Policy language was passed that clarified the match ratio for the STEM Internship program as 1:1 match for qualified interns. For every $2 an employer pays a college intern studying in a STEM field, the state will reimburse the employer $1 (up to a maximum of $5,000 in state assistance/intern).  Once the Governor signs the legislation, the Iowa Economic Development authority board must approve, notice and file the draft administrative rules.  Unfortunately the earliest I see these becoming effective is toward the end of August.  However, we did make the policy change retroactive to July 1, 2014.  This means that if you apply and contract with IEDA for qualified interns that earned wages as far back as July 1, 2014, you can seek the 50% reimbursement (up to $5,000/intern).  There will be per company limits on state assistance of $100,000.  I will be closely following the rules process and publishing updates as this unfolds.  Stay tuned.

STEM Internships funding (Senate File 499- IEDA Budget)

During the 2014 legislative session we secured $1,000,000 for the program in FY2015.  Because employers have not been able to utilize the program until we passed the policy clarification, there was no appropriation for FY2016 but we were successful in getting the legislature to budget an additional $500,000 for FY2017.  

Angel Investor Tax Credit changes (Senate File 510- Standings appropriations bill)

Due to budget pressures this item became fairly controversial.  In the end, our allies in both the house and senate found a way to make improvements to Iowa’s angel tax credit program, with a few caveats to score a zero fiscal impact on the FY2016 budget.  Investments made in 2015 by individual (not institutions) angel investors into qualified businesses are eligible for the new credit, but the certificates will not be issued until the fall of 2016.  However, these new credits are for 25% of the investment (up from 20%) and they are also refundable (the current program credits are not refundable).  There are limits of $100,000 per investor and $500,000 per qualified business.  The program has a limit of $2,000,000 annually under the IEDA tax credit cap.  Under the existing 20% nonrefundable credit investors were only utilizing $500,000 annually through this program.

Broadband Initiative/Cell Tower Siting (House File 655)

On the second to last day of the session, the Governor’s broadband initiative found a home inside a bill the house had passed regarding uniform rules and local authority limitations on new cell tower siting.  The broadband language offers 10 years of property tax breaks for deployment of fiber to underserved areas.  Companies have 5 years to put in broadband infrastructure to take advantage of the property tax exemption, and the cell tower siting act sunsets in 5 years.  

Stay Plugged In

I am aiming to get around the state some and hit a few tech brews and tech town halls yet this year.  Please reach out if you have specific questions, thoughts, or especially ideas on topics that TAI should advocate for in the future.

TAI recognizes the multi-disciplined approach that must be taken to educate the next generation of technology leaders.  Education must service all aspects of the technology sector, preparing the next generation for a wide range of roles from configuring existing system to creating new technology-based solutions.  So how do we do this most effectively?  What programs would get more people like you into technology, and pave a path for the next generation?

What if TAI pushed to include the teaching and application of modern technology tools and theories as an acceptable component of traditional STEM courses (eg mathematics, physics, chemistry)?

What if TAI increased focus on the technology-based middle-skills workforce promoting programs that ensure applied technology education (eg system configuration, application maintenance, technology testing) is provided equal access and promotion to all other middle-skill professional tracks?

If you aren’t in a tech enabled business, it may come as a surprise that you need to account for sales tax differently based on the location of your customer.  For one customer you may have to collect it, for another you don’t.  Is this a headache for you?

It is a TAI priority to promote a business climate that will advance industry growth, recognizing that technology growth is dependent upon alignment of new and revised laws, policies, and regulations that impact overall business climate.  This climage must provide equal access to new ways of doing business and new tools for enabling new businesses.

What if we promoted a policy that ensures Iowa-based technology companies - regardless of customer or product - are subject to a tax structure that is on par with competitors in other states?

Everyone knows we need better broadband access.  Our policy team here at TAI is continually pushing for better access across Iowa so that our technology businesses remain leaders.  But do our current policy efforts meet your needs?  Is there something more we can do for you?  

TAI recognizes that successful technology application and deployment requires complex public-private partnerships and considerations, and is committed to incentives that enable these public-private relationships.

But could we push for incentives that better meet your needs?  For example, what if TAI adopted a policy that gives broadband providers subsidies based on actual upload and download speed instead of just focusing on advertised speed?

The Technology Association of Iowa represents technology entrepreneurs and businesses, businesses that utilize technology, individuals that utilize technology in their profession, academia, government, and capital providers to ensure public policies appropriately support their professional needs.  Our current priorities include:

Enhancing access to talent and develop the future technology workforce;

Providing connections to business, capital, academic and government resources; and

Promoting a business climate that will advance industry growth.

We need your help to ensure our policy efforts meet your needs.  This blog will be used to:

Keep you up to date on our latest policy proposals,

Solicit your feedback on how we can best represent your interests, and

Share our latest policy successes.