In 2006 Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona established the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Innovation America initiative to provide governors with the tools they need to develop and implement policies and strategies to enhance the innovative capacity of their states to compete in this global economy. The initiative focused on three key areas critical to innovation, including:

• Improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education
• Aligning post-secondary education to state needs for critical competencies, STEM teachers, and new knowledge through research and development.
• Encouraging business innovation and entrepreneurship through supportive state policies.

Culver pushes math, science teaching center

Whitney Woodward Journal Des Moines Bureau
Article Date: 03/11/08
External Link: CLICK HERE

IA - Culver Pushes Math, Science Teaching Center. As lawmakers look to nail down the state's annual spending plan, Gov. Chet Culver urged the Legislature to approve a roughly $5 million teacher training center which he said would reap benefits for the work force and economy. "The bottom line is we must be prepared, and have a prepared work force in the future to meet our 21st century challenges in Iowa," Culver said. The proposed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics center -- dubbed STEM -- would mentor and train teaching students and offer them real-world learning opportunities in the private sector

INNOVATION IN THE STATES