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TechHelp at Boise State details Studio Blue work, seeks small state support for director amid grant decline
Summary
Boise State's TechHelp presented program metrics, explained Studio Blue's product-development work for manufacturers statewide and requested modest recurring state support for the Studio Blue director after federal grant funding declined.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard from TechHelp, a Boise State University program that supports small and medium-sized manufacturers through design, prototyping, testing and market-development services. Brad McDonald, TechHelp's executive director, described the Studio Blue product-development unit and sought a small recurring appropriation to sustain a partially grant-funded director position.
Program and performance measures
McDonald said TechHelp is part of a national manufacturing-extension network and uses standardized "impact metrics" to measure success: new and retained jobs, increased sales, cost savings, investments and client counts. He said an independent third party conducts client surveys and reported strong net-promoter scores: "Of the last 13 quarters, we just had our recent quarterly report and we have the second highest number in that particular time frame," McDonald told the committee.
Studio Blue funding and request
TechHelp has received modest state maintenance funding and larger federal grants in prior years; those federal grants supported the Studio Blue director role. McDonald said the principal federal grants that supported Studio Blue expired in September of last year, leaving a funding gap. TechHelp requested a small FY 2026 personnel enhancement (appeared in the briefing as a $5,000 line) to move the Studio Blue director position toward a more predictable, partially state-funded base and noted the position previously received fractional FTP additions in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
Committee questions and follow-ups
Members asked for the specific impact metrics and requested TechHelp share the quarterly impact reports. McDonald agreed to provide the program's impact metrics and additional documentation on jobs, sales and client outcomes.
Ending
TechHelp emphasized its statewide role, partnership with Idaho State and University of Idaho affiliates and that workforce development is a primary driver of demand for the Studio Blue services. The committee asked for TechHelp's performance reports and further documentation to evaluate the requested recurring support for the director position.
