Technology, Trade and Commerce

The Technology, Trade, and Commerce Agency promotes business development, job creation, and job retention to help California maintain a strong, globally competitive economy. The Governor’s Budget proposes $331.2 million and 361.7 personnel years for the Agency. Services to the business community are provided through the Divisions of Economic Development; International Trade and Investment; Science, Technology, and Innovation; Tourism; Marketing and Communications; and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.

Assistance for High Technology Businesses—To respond to growth in program demand, the Budget proposes an increase of $6.2 million for the California Technology Investment Partnership (CalTIP) program, including $5 million for grants and $1.2 million for new Regional Technology Alliances that administer the grant program and assist businesses. CalTIP provides grants to high-technology businesses to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products and to institutions of higher learning to provide technical assistance to such businesses. State funding of $12 million (including the $6.2 million 2001-02 augmentation) for local assistance is expected to leverage about $30 million in federal funds and $30 million in private funds. This Budget funds creation of new regional technology alliances for underserved areas—the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Orange County, and the Inland Empire—in addition to continuing support for the operations of the alliances in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Military Base Reuse and Retention—The Budget includes $3 million to provide additional defense adjustment matching grants to communities affected by the past decade’s base closures. These grants match private, local, and federal funds to facilitate new economic development in the affected communities. In addition, in anticipation of potential new base reduction proposals by the federal government, the Budget provides $500,000 for each of the next two years for consultants to assist with statewide planning for base retention and liaison activities with the federal government.

Replacement of Underground Storage Tanks—The Budget provides an additional $3 million for grants to help small businesses comply with environmental requirements for petroleum underground storage tanks by the December 2003 statutory deadline (pursuant to Chapter 812, Statutes of 1999). These requirements include enhancing single-walled tanks with a leak detection system and under-dispenser containment systems.