USTAR initiative gains early approval by Senate

A science and technology initiative with a nearly $200 million price tag was given preliminary approval Wednesday by the Senate.

The Utah Science, Technology and Research Economic Development Initiative, better known as USTAR, is needed to stop the decline in the state's share of the high-tech market, sponsoring Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy, said.

"If we don't do something real significant, we're going to become one of the best-educated, smartest call centers in the world," Mansell said, calling for lawmakers to make a "substantial move" into research.

The bill would appropriate $50 million in one-time funds to a newly created governing body for USTAR, as well as almost $20 million in ongoing funds and authorize a $110 million bond for new buildings

The effort would be concentrated at the University of Utah and Utah State University, where the new buildings would be constructed, although some money will be available for five innovation centers elsewhere in the state, including on private university and college campuses.

Sen. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch, said even rural areas of the state will be helped by the initiative. "We all benefit as Utahns when we create jobs of that magnitude and that type," Hatch said, noting high technology fields pay an average annual salary of $59,000.

The initiative, launched last year, has the backing of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. The governor said in his State of the State address that USTAR represents an opportunity to "move toward the next generation of knowledge-based, high-paying jobs" including in areas like genomics where research is already underway.