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TAI Announces 2021 Legislative Priorities, TechPAC

December 14, 2020

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) has released its 2021 Public Policy priorities and has announced TechPAC, a new political action committee that will support candidates who advocate for the state’s technology industry.

TechPAC will allow TAI members to combine their financial resources to support Iowa General Assembly candidates and candidates for statewide office who champion technology-based, pro-innovation, business-focused policy. TechPAC will contribute to Democrat and Republican candidates who have demonstrated support of TAI’s legislative initiatives.

Here are TAI’s legislative initiatives and priorities for 2021.

TAI’S 2021 Legislative Initiatives:

Advance policies that attract human and financial capital to Iowa.
Elevate Iowa (rural and urban) as the premier state for technology workforce.
Promote policies that foster a culture of diversity and inclusion.
Ensure Iowa’s K-12 technology curriculum is the best in the nation.

TAI’s 2021 Legislative Priorities:

Broadband Access: Facilitate the deployment of broadband access to all Iowans across the state.
Education Access: Support programs, such as Future Ready Iowa, that connect Iowans to the training and education required for good-paying jobs and careers to improve people’s lives.
IEDA Funding: The Iowa Economic Development Authority provides various forms of funding to Iowa businesses, communities, and individuals to instill growth and success within the state.
Innovation Tax Credits & Angel Investor Tax Credits: Promote availability and equity of IEDA Tax Credits. The Innovation Fund Tax Credit empowers Iowa businesses with venture capital investments; Angel Investor Tax Credits increase the availability and accessibility of venture capital for Iowa startup companies.

Tags: Iowa Tech Technology Association of Iowa TechPAC

TAI Announces 2021 Legislative Priorities, TechPAC | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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