Tech park board OKs $2.2 million ’09 budget

• By TED GRIGGS
• Advocate business writer
• Published: Nov 21, 2008 - Page: 1D - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The board that oversees the Louisiana Technology Park on Florida Boulevard approved a $2.2 million budget for 2009 that includes a pro-rated salary for a new chief executive and $200,000 for two strategic planning studies.

The first study will focus on a regional strategy for the area’s high-tech business incubators: the Tech Park, the Louisiana Business and Technology Center at LSU and LSU’s Emerging Technology Center, said Terrell Brown, chairman of Research Park Corp., which oversees the Tech Park.

The second will look at the Tech Park’s individual mission and goals.

Neither the cost of the regional study nor the consulting firm that will perform the work has been set, Brown said.

But the bulk of the funding will likely come from the state and the Tech Park, with LSU and Southern also contributing.

The Tech Park budget also includes nearly $159,000, the equivalent of nine-months salary and benefits for a new chief executive.

“That number may be a little dusty,” Brown said. “The overall report won’t be completed until June or July.”

The Tech Park budgeted the CEO money to give itself some flexibility, Brown said.

He added that he’s not sure how much it will cost for the Tech Park-centric strategic plan, which will probably be done after the regional plan.

“I know one thing. We’re not spending more than $200,000 (for both),” Brown said.

Tech Park board members have said they want to decide on a strategic plan for the park before hiring a chief executive. Tech Park President Stephen Loy said the board has not considered any candidates at this point.

The majority of the Tech Park’s funds, close to $1.3 million, will come from the park’s share of the tax on hotel and motel rooms rented in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The biggest expense, $906,600, is for data center services for the park’s tenants.