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TechHelp outlines Studio Blue work for manufacturers and requests small staffing increase to secure director post
Summary
TechHelp at Boise State described work with Idaho small and medium manufacturers, performance metrics used to measure impact and a modest FY2026 request to stabilize funding for the Studio Blue director position after grant funding declined.
Kevin Campbell presented the TechHelp budget, explaining the unit is housed at Boise State University and partners with Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. TechHelp supports Idaho manufacturers with design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing and commercialization assistance.
Brad McDonald, TechHelp executive director, described Studio Blue (TechHelp’s new product development arm) and said the program measures impact using national Manufacturing Extension Partnership impact metrics, including new and retained jobs, sales, cost savings, investments, and client counts; independent third‑party surveys are used to collect client feedback. McDonald said Studio Blue projects give students substantial hands‑on experience and that the program has worked with clients in more than 75% of Idaho counties.
Funding and request: TechHelp’s base appropriation has been stable; recent federal grants supported Studio Blue staffing, but a major federal grant expired in September of last year. TechHelp requested a modest $5,000 personnel enhancement in the legislative budget to help fund the Studio Blue center director position while the program pursues sustained funding. The director said the program tries to layer federal grants, client revenue and state appropriation to deliver services and build workforce pipelines.
Committee members asked for the program’s impact data and for the specific performance metrics. McDonald said TechHelp tracks the standard impact metrics used by the national network and will provide the quarterly reports and recent impact numbers to the committee. Members also asked whether state support should be more predictable to sustain Studio Blue and its workforce development role; TechHelp said predictable state funding would allow the program to expand student opportunities and client services more reliably.
Ending: the committee asked TechHelp to provide detailed recent impact metrics and the program’s quarterly reports; TechHelp agreed to follow up.
