Scott Nicholas
The Small Business Administration has awarded $325,000 in grant funds to 21 organizations to assist the agency in efforts to help entrepreneurs get more involved in the government’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs.
SBA said Thursday it chose 16 state and local economic development agencies, business development centers, colleges and universities to receive a combined $125,000 under the agency’s Federal and State Technology Partnership Program and five small business technology development centers to receive a combined $200,000 to support programs for technology-based companies.
“The main goal of FAST is to provide more boots on the ground in local communities through our partner organizations to increase awareness about SBIR/STTR’s early stage funding and level the playing field for entrepreneurs, especially those in underrepresented communities,” said John Williams, SBA director of innovation.
New FAST program partners include:
- Connecticut Innovations Inc.
- Wichita State University
- Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation
- Louisiana State University and A&M College
- Minnesota High Tech Association
- Innovate Mississippi
- The Regents of New Mexico State University
- The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
- University of North Dakota
- Ohio Aerospace Institute
- Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center
- Governor’s Office of Economic Development, South Dakota
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Center for Innovative Technology, Virginia
- Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
- University of Wyoming
SBA will also work with the following SBTDCs:
- University of Arkansas System
- Riverside Community College District, California
- Boise State University
- Board of Regents, University of Nebraska
- Ben Franklin Technology Partners Corporation
