WV SBIR/STTR State Matching Grant Program Underway
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center recently launched the West Virginia Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund. Program details and applications are available by clicking here.
The new program provides grants to eligible small businesses to support the preparation of competitive SBIR/STTR proposals, and to match funds received through SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II awards.
The program offers a Phase Zero Grant of up to $2,500 to help offset a portion of the cost of preparing a competitive Phase I proposal. And, for those successful in winning an award, the program offers a Phase I Matching Award of up to $100,000, and a Phase II Matching Award of up to $200,000.
Applications for Phase Zero Awards are accepted on a continuous basis upon submission of a Phase I proposal to the appropriate federal agency. The application windows for Phase I/II Awards are January 1-31, May 1-31, September 1-30.
For questions or additional information, the program contact at the WV Small Business Development Center is Deborah Magyar. She can be reached at (304) 932-9760 or Deborah.s.magyar@wv.gov.
If you are conducting research in West Virginia with an eye towards commercialization, consider taking advantage of this worthwhile program!
About the SBIR/STTR Program
The Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs provide R&D financial resources to U.S. small businesses of about $1.2 billion annually. Through these programs, eleven federal agencies provide funding for a wide range of proposal topic areas. These programs provide excellent opportunities to nurture the development of innovative businesses in West Virginia, foster job creation, and enable economic development and diversification.
Only for-profit proprietorships and small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) qualify for SBIR and STTR funding. Hence, these programs provide a unique source of seed capital for West Virginia citizens and small businesses to explore and develop innovative new product concepts and enhance existing product lines.
SBIR and STTR funding require no loan repayment, no equity sacrifice, and most intellectual property rights generated on funded projects remain with the small business. Further information on the SBIR and STTR Programs is available at the U.S. Small Business Administration SBIR website: http://www.sba.gov/sbir