Budget cuts imperil state technology, science push

August 15, 2009

By hammersmith

[Source: Ken Alltucker, The Arizona Republic] – Several Arizona startup companies that rely on grants from Science Foundation Arizona say they may lay off workers and halt research after the Legislature’s decision to slash the foundation’s funding.

Science Foundation Arizona committed millions of dollars to private companies and university researchers over several years to encourage the state’s efforts to foster research jobs and new technology. But the Legislature cut the group’s funding this year as it sought to close the state’s $1 billion-plus budget gap.

The result: Startup companies that secured foundation grants to create jobs in sectors such as renewable energy and biotechnology have stalled because they are no longer getting the promised grant money.

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