Feb. 23, 2002 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull is back in Washington, attending the National Governors Association 2002 Winter Meeting, after being in the nation's capital a week and a half earlier meeting with education professionals and officials.
This time, the topic is "The Challenge of Bio-Terrorism," according to a Government House release.
However, the National Governors Association web site says Sunday's first plenary session will feature an address by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter on how governors can develop "'clusters of innovation' as part of their economic development strategies."
Turnbull on Thursday signed into law legislation creating a Research and Technology Park within the University of the Virgin Islands. He said it was his opinion "that this legislation coupled with the tax benefits of the Economic Development Authority will bring enormous economic relief to the territory while providing our residents with multiple high-tech jobs and other supportive services."
The web site describes Porter as "a leading authority on the foundations of economic competitiveness and the theory behind the success of regions such as Silicon Valley and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina." It describes "clusters of innovation" as "concentrations of competing and cooperating companies, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions."
Clusters "thrive in regions where industry, higher education and government work together to build intellectual capital, a highly skilled workforce and supportive infrastructure," the site states. According to Michigan Gov. John Engler, association chair, "The states that successfully implement 'clusters of innovation' strategies will be the ones that thrive in the New Economy."
At the second plenary session, on Tuesday, congressional leaders "will discuss major issues for the upcoming session of Congress," according to the web site. On Monday, "governors will travel to the White House to meet with the president and members of the cabinet, where homeland security is expected to be among the key areas of discussion."
By law, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II serves as acting governor while Turnbull is off island.