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TechHelp’s Studio Blue seeks modest state support as grant funding lapses;director emphasizes manufacturing impact and workforce training
Summary
Boise State’s TechHelp asked the committee for a small ongoing personnel allocation to sustain Studio Blue work after federal grants expired and highlighted impact metrics for small‑ and medium‑sized manufacturers.
Brad McDonald, executive director of TechHelp at Boise State University, described TechHelp’s services for Idaho manufacturers and requested a modest state personnel enhancement to support Studio Blue, the unit focused on product design, prototyping and workforce development.
Kevin Campbell (LSO) explained TechHelp is housed at Boise State and has 3.44 authorized FTP; much of TechHelp’s budgets are personnel. McDonald said Studio Blue has provided student experience and client projects across the state and that impact metrics — including jobs retained/created, sales, cost savings and client-reported benefits — are tracked through a national Manufacturing Extension Partnership performance framework and independent third‑party surveys.
TechHelp requested a small FY2026 enhancement focused on a Studio Blue director position; McDonald said the center director role has been partially grant-funded while one federal grant that helped support the role expired the prior September. He said the requested $5,000 in the current ask would supplement state funding for the position and help stabilize staffing while TechHelp continues to seek grants and earned revenue. McDonald argued the program delivers measurable support for small and medium manufacturers and provides workforce experience for students: "The principal way that we measure is as a part of the national network, we have what are called impact metrics… new and retained jobs, sales, cost savings, and investments," he said.
Committee members asked for the impact metrics and quarterly reports; McDonald agreed to provide the metrics and quarterly net promoter scores and said TechHelp’s results rank highly across recent quarters. Several lawmakers pressed whether the small requested state contribution would meaningfully stabilize the position and asked what a fully funded, long‑term position would require; McDonald said full-time, predictable state funding would be the goal to sustain and scale student experiences and client services.
No formal committee votes were recorded during the presentation; TechHelp will provide the requested performance metrics in writing.
