I'm a partner in The Harrison Group LLC, a marketing and sales company that specializes in technology commercialization. While attending a venture capital meeting in Sun Valley a few months ago, I heard about a group that meets once a month at Rembrandt's Coffee House in Eagle to discuss what seemed to be an interesting concept: a high-technology corridor west of Boise that extended from Eagle to Star - called the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor, or ESTech.

Later, at a Kickstand meeting a couple of months ago, the subject of the ESTech project came up again. I was intrigued.

After moving our business to Eagle about five months ago, and always curious to see what's happening in my community - especially as it relates to new ideas, growth and innovation - I needed to know more about this ESTech Corridor. So, I attended one of the ESTech meetings. Sitting next to C. Lloyd Mahaffey, a former Apple Inc. executive and one of the founders of the high-tech corridor concept, and listening to his astute recommendations and direction, I knew this was going to be a winner.

The energy and excitement exuded by the group was contagious, and I caught the bug. After introducing myself to Mary May, community liaison for M3 Companies and chairwoman of the ESTech marketing and communications committee, we set up a lunch and started scheming about how I could help. Mary unanimously nominated and voted me in as "Mary's Righthand Man."

A couple of meetings with Rosemary Regner of R-Squared Digital Media, another of the ESTech Corridor's founders; Kristie Newnham with sales and marketing for Winding Creek Builders; Teri Bath, president of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce; and Gary Smith, Star's chairman of economic development, and I have found that the energy never stops.

In keeping with the warp speed with which this project is going, the Web site, www.estech.org, designed by Tim Tower of People Avenue.com, was previewed to the public in the first part of December - a three-week effort, start to finish.

Educating the public, as well as entrepreneurs and high-tech companies residing along the corridor, is also a focal point of the effort. Regner, as well as Julia Demaree of Ugobe Life Forms, and their committee are planning the "LifeSym" Symposium next August. This symposium will cover:

The science and technology of robots and the design, manufacture and application of robotics.

How technology gives machines a "soul," the relationship between humans and robots, and the blending of emotions and personality with logic in machines.

Transferring knowledge and principles from biology into computer science to produce more versatile, powerful and robust computational systems.

The evolution of computer games and animation.

ESTech is also planning once-a-month Science Cafs to enlighten the public about cutting-edge technologies.

Eagle Mayor Phil Bandy and the Eagle City Council, as well as Star Mayor Nate Mitchell and the Star City Council, have given their 100 percent support to the project. Just as the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads joined together in 1869, so will Idaho 44 and Idaho 16 converge to form the focal point of the corridor. A Promontory-Summit type of activity is planned for Jan. 24 where there will be a "driving of the Golden Spike" to mark the formal beginning of the effort.

Nothing is more exhilarating than an opportunity to help grow an economy - especially in this day and age. I'm definitely looking forward to working with these "go-getters" to help vitalize the regional economy, which will ultimately spill over to a stronger and more robust economy for Idaho and the nation.

Carolyn Harrison is a partner in The Harrison Group LLC. She can be reached at carolynh@ida.net

Starting Up is a series published on Thursdays. The columns grew from discussions between the Statesman and local tech and entrepreneurial leaders and are coordinated by Julie Howard, a marketing specialist for the Idaho Department of Commerce. Reach her at julie.howard@commerce.idaho.gov.