Initiatives
CITA
has adopted local and statewide initiatives to support education and economic
development in Tucson and Arizona by:
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Promoting
and supporting the adoption of the latest and greatest information
technologies in business, government and education.
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Supporting
the development of Tucson and Arizona's Links To The Electronic Future.
To this end, CITA has been
establishing partnerships with and developing strategies to support the
information and communications needs of state and local governmental,
educational, economic and community development groups and organizations such
as:
The
Governor's Strategic Partnership for
Economic Development (GSPED)
www.commerce.state.az.us/gsped/
The
Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development (GSPED)
is a public and private sector organization implementing Arizonas premier,
internationally acclaimed, strategic economic development strategy. This
strategy was formed as a result of a statewide planning process that involved
thousands of volunteers from the private and public sectors.
Ten
Industry Clusters such
as Optics, Software, High Tech and Environmental Technology are the cornerstone
of the GSPED strategy. Clusters help stimulate development of strategic
alliances among industry members and with suppliers of materials, components or
business services. Clusters also attract new companies, stimulate and support
start-ups, create an amassing of experienced workers, and attract suppliers.
"Foundation
Groups" such as
Human Resources and the Arizona
Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC), support the Clusters
with resources and the development of infrastructure. ATIC represents the
interests of the business and economic development community in the development
of a statewide information and telecommunications infrastructure.
GREATER
TUCSON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (GTSPED)
www.gtsped.com/gtsped.com
GTSPED is the
Tucson version of GSPED. GTSPED, coordinated by the Greater Tucson Economic
Council (GTEC), coordinates Tucson's economic development efforts and formulates
strategies to support the development of industry clusters of strategic value to
Tucson. GTSPED includes key economic development organizations such as: the
Chamber of Commerce and GTEC; representatives from industry clusters such as
optics, software, aerospace and environmental technology; educational
institutions; local governments and congressional offices.
The CITA
Executive Director participates in GTSPED to represent information and
telecommunications interests.
The Alliance addresses information and telecommunications issues such as
drafting the information and telecommunications component of the GTSPED
legislative agenda, providing reports to GTSPED members about local and state
telecommunications issues and identifying the information and communications
needs of the clusters.
Tucson
Unified School District - Fourth R Board Of Directors
Tucson Unified
School District is implementing a strategy to create sweeping school reform and to foster community involvement.
This process, known as the Fourth R, is based upon partnerships with businesses
and other community resources. TUSD has established a Fourth R Board Of Directors
that includes community leaders such as the Mayor, the President of the Greater
Tucson Economic Council, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and the Chairs
of the high tech industry clusters.
The CITA
Director is a representative of the information technology and
telecommunications industry. One
of the top five recommendations resulting from Fourth R planning process is to
"create an infrastructure of hardware, software, networks and people to
provide the tools of technology to all curriculum and instructional programs,
expanding them into the home, school and community. CITA is helping to identify
volunteers, develop community resources and formulate plans and strategies to
support the adoption of information technology in Arizona's second largest
school district (59,000 students).
ARIZONA
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION COUNCIL (ATIC)
www.researchedge.com/atic/
CITA was
instrumental in the development of and provides leadership and support to the
Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council (ATIC). ATIC is a Foundation Group
of the Governors Strategic Partnership For Economic Development.
ATIC recognizes
that information and telecommunications services, including an advanced voice,
video and data telecommunications infrastructure, are quickly becoming essential
services for Arizona's economic development and quality of life.
The ATIC mission is to promote and support the adoption of
effective public policies for the State of Arizona and local communities that
encourage investment and deployment of information technologies and
telecommunication services to enable continued
The ATIC mission
will be carried out by activities such as: Legislative and regulatory
intervention to help remove regulatory barriers; Advocacy for innovative
projects in business, government, education and libraries; Forums addressing
issues from regulation to new technologies; Development of private-public
partnerships; Coordinating statewide activities; and Advising the TPO on
formulation of public policy.
The ATICs partners
include representation from large and small businesses, economic development
organizations, libraries, consumer organizations, local and state government
agencies, K-16 educational institutions, health care, the Arizona Corporation
Commission, the Arizona legislature, the GSPED clusters and information
technology and telecommunications companies.
The Alliance
Executive Director and 3 Alliance affiliates represent Tucson's interests as
designated ATIC members. The Alliance Executive Director, a founding member
of ATIC, serves on the ATIC Board of Directors and is a focal point for
coordination between Phoenix and Tucson.
Gazel Arizona
E-Learning Association
www.gazel.org
Gazel Arizona is an arm of
the Gazel Globalized E-Learning Association, a recognized Industry cluster under
the Governor's Strategic partnership For Economic Development. Gazel AZ will promote
the development of the e-learning industry and the adoption of e-learning in
business, education and community development.
The Alliance
Executive Director, a founding member of ALTP, represents Tucson's
interests, serves on the Gazel AZ Board of Directors and is a focal
point for coordination between Phoenix and Tucson.
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