Information Technology

The following reports reflect the progress made by the TRIDEC IT Taskforce committees in 2003 and include future plans and goals. The IT Taskforce has been very active in promoting growth and development of both IT industry and infrastructure for the benefit of local and regional businesses. Additionally we continue to work with other community groups to better understand their challenges as it pertains to IT and educate them on the progress that is being made.

Vision for Information Technology Bandwidth Committee

A community with a growing and sustainable IT industry that supports local and regional businesses.

10-Year Outcomes and Goals:

  • A diverse group of carriers offering a robust communications infrastructure that provides low-cost, universal, high-speed access to and within the southeastern Washington region.
  • Improved "last-mile" connectivity and increased available bandwidth built around one or more "meet-me-facilities" in the region.
  • Regional internet traffic exchange operational for peering between local service providers in order to keep local traffic local and improve regional business-to-business and home-to-business connectivity to support virtual industry networks and enhance work-from-home capabilities.
  • Tri-Cities point-of-presence established for a nationally recognized leading-edge research and education network to attract high-tech companies to the region and support growth in programs at WSUTC and CBC.

Key Measures of Success Over 10 Years:

  1. Development of IT infrastructure in the region to support requirements for both existing and new business growth.
  2. Growth in the IT-based industry over the 10-year period.

Accomplishments During 2003:

  • Held monthly planning meeting supported by technical specialists from PNNL, ENW, Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, City of Richland, and Lockheed Martin.
  • Developed and presented IT Infrastructure update to Medical Taskforce.
  • Supported "IT Day" with Bandwidth Panel Discussion.
  • Met with construction project managers and presented KPFD with enhanced IT recommendations for new Convention Center.
  • Participating members established Three Rivers Local Internetwork Exchange (TRLINX) presence in APEL facility to provide local peering.
  • Support to SWIFT in project planning to enhance local bandwidth initiatives, such as interconnecting local "meet-me" points at Franklin/Benton CoLo and APEL.
  • Supported Benton and Franklin PUD wireless canopy projects in Kennewick and Pasco.
  • Introduced several new IT Service Providers to Tri-Cities business community including One-Eighty Communications, which now serves Kennewick General.

Vision for Future IT Industry Equity Capital

A community with a growing and sustainable IT industry.

10-Year Outcomes and Goals:

  • Quadrupling of equity investments into Tri-Cities-based IT companies.
  • TRIDEC-sponsored program providing assistance to companies seeking equity investments.

Key Measures of Success Over 10 Years:

  1. Bringing Angel investors into the Tri-Cities to review our technology.
  2. Growth in the IT-based industry over the 10-year period.

Accomplishments During 2003:

FY03 PNNL Services Supporting Mid-Columbia Small Businesses

  • Technology Assistance - Under the Technology Assistance Program, PNNL engineers and scientists offer up to a week of technology assistance annually at no cost to qualifying commercial businesses. In FY03, PNNL provided tech assistance to 31 Mid-Columbia businesses, which included 11 IT-related projects.
  • Entrepreneurial Assistance - PNNL provided entrepreneurial assistance to a number of local firms in FY03, including IT companies. Examples include supporting WSU-led market assessments, identifying funding sources, strategic business consulting, helping position firms to seek investment capital, and linking emerging companies with experienced CEOs.
  • Seminars for Entrepreneurs - IT firms were among the businesses represented at these events.
    1. Afternoon with the Experts. November 14, 2002, at Gordon Brothers Cellars in Pasco. Six Seattle-area experts advised entrepreneurs on seeking investment capital, building experienced management teams, creating brand awareness, protecting intellectual property, and structuring corporations. Available URL: www.pnl.gov/edo/afternoon.stm
    2. Intellectual Property Issues for High-Tech Businesses. May 16, 2003, at PNNL. Three Preston, Gates & Ellis attorneys described the legal issues surrounding intellectual assets. Available URL: www.pnl.gov/edo/ip_issues.stm
    3. Commercializing High-Tech Devices. July 15, 2003, at the Richland Community Center (Three Rivers Venture Group meeting). The speaker was Al Stephan, CEO of the Seattle-based Stratos Product Development Group. Available URL: www.pnl.gov/edo/stratos.htm
    4. Middle-Market Mergers and Acquisitions: Dead or Alive? September 16, 2003, at the Richland Community Center (Three Rivers Venture Group meeting). The speaker was Tom McDowell of the Seattle-based investment banking firm Windswept Capital. Available URL: www.pnl.gov/edo/threeriver.stm
    5. MIT Enterprise Forum Broadcast Site. MIT Enterprise Forum, Inc., a worldwide organization of alumni of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offers satellite broadcasts to participating chapters to educate entrepreneurs and foster business networking. WSUTC and PNNL worked with MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest to establish the first satellite downlink location in Southeastern Washington State, at WSUTC. The first broadcast, "No Money Down: Raising Capital from Unconventional Sources," was held September 18; additional satellite broadcasts will be offered on a regular basis. Available URL: web.mit.edu/entforum/pastSBS21petri.htm
  • Equity Investment Groups -
    1. Delta Angel Group. In FY03, PNNL became a sponsor of this new Spokane-based angel group that was formed to link Northwest entrepreneurs with investors, and Gary Spanner joined the Board of that group. Two Tri-Cities firms presented to the group this year. Available URL: www.deltaangelgroup.org
    2. Washington State Angel Networks. Washington Technology Center (WTC) received a grant from the Economic Development Administration to set up angel investing networks in under-represented parts of the state, including the Tri-Cities. PNNL began working with WTC's angel network coordinator, Nate Silverman, to establish a Tri-Cities investor network. Available URL: www.pnl.gov/edo/tips2003.stm