Innovations Awards

Winner - Michigan - 2005 - Michigan SmartZones

Collaborations among universities, industry, research organizations, government and other local institutions have resulted in regionally based high-tech zones which target growth in a specific economic sector that fits the geographic region’s strengths and needs, creating clusters of high-skilled, high-paying jobs.

Winner - New Mexico - 2004 - New Mexico 9000

To help state companies comply with the International Organization for Standardization criteria for quality management (ISO 9000), this certification training consists of 16 three-hour or eight six-hour classroom sessions over the course of a year or less.

Winner - Ohio - 2003 - Ohio Business Gateway

This program is a Web-based filing and payment system that allows business taxpayers to file and pay various state level taxes to different state agencies at one Web site electronically for free.  The program is designed to provide a "one-stop shop" for businesses to comply with a variety of state agency tax and reporting requirements, including sales tax, employer withholding, worker's compensation, unemployment compensation and unclaimed funds.

Finalist - California - 2004 - Abusive Tax Shelter Program

This state Franchise Tax Board initiative aggressively attacks abusive tax shelters through a multidisciplinary approach. This includes spearheading legislation that increased penalties for investors in and promoters of abusive tax shelters, redirecting staff auditors to focus on abusive tax shelters, and a Voluntary Compliance Initiative similar to one the IRS uses.

Finalist - California - 2003 - Integrated Nonfiler Compliance System

This system is designed to obtain tax returns from individuals and businesses that have not filed returns. The program’s goals are to improve compliance with tax laws, increase revenue, improve customer service, and organize the income and income activity data for all of the California Franchise Tax Board’s programs.

Finalist - Iowa - 2003 - Tax Gap Compliance Program

This program uses technology to help the Department of Revenue and Finance accurately collect all taxes owed to the state. Through a combination of data warehousing and a customized software application, the program has generated $26 million more in tax revenues than the baseline collections during the three-year development and implementation period.

Finalist - South Dakota - 2003 - MicroLOAN South Dakota

This program provides low-interest financing to small businesses. In this public/private partnership created by Citibank, the South Dakota Development Corporation and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the state provides “gap financing” to encourage banks to make loans they otherwise might not make.