New SBIR Workshops Help Entrepreneurs Win Funding to Innovate and Grow
PORTLAND, Ore., March 14 /PRNewswire/ — Innovative businesses across Oregon, whether they’re making woodchips, microchips or potato chips, often need money to take their good ideas and products to the next level. The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN) is bringing in top national experts, the Greenwood Consulting Group, to share the secrets to winning federal grant money to fuel innovation. Full-day workshops are set in three cities to give businesses the tips to successfully compete for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program grants.
The Oregon SBIR Grant Workshops are scheduled for 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, in Portland at Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus Event Center, 17705 NW Springville Road; Wednesday, April 11, in Eugene at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette Street; and Thursday, April 12, in Bend at Central Oregon Community College, 151 Boyle Education Center.
The Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc., http://www.g-jgreenwood.com/, will share their tips for developing a winning Phase I proposal and also provide a follow-up critique of draft proposals at no additional cost.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Oregon entrepreneurs,” said Pam Stevenson, one of four OSBDCN technology consultants and a former executive with Nike, who, along with Small Business Development Centers in Portland, Eugene and Bend, is organizing the event. “The Greenwoods have helped hundreds of companies win SBIR grant money. A real bonus is the free review of your grant proposal within one year.”
Successful Phase I grants award $75,000 for a feasibility study. Phase II grants provide up to $750,000 for commercialization of new technology.
Jim Roman, inventor, owner of Interlocking Construction Systems in Myrtle Point, and a USDA-SBIR grant recipient, said, “the SBDC technology consultants have been extremely valuable in helping me prepare for the next level of my business.”
In conjunction with the workshops, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) launches an exciting Phase 0 Grant Program for Oregon entrepreneurs. This will provide up to $3,500 in matching funds to defray costs to prepare SBIR and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant proposals.
Workshop cost is $100 and limited to 50 participants at each location. Training materials and lunch are included. Registration and details are at http://www.bizcenter.org/sbirworkshops.
Register by April 6, 2007. For more information, call Oregon Small Business Development Center Network, 541-463-5250.
Oregon Small Business Development Center Network
CONTACT: Lisa Wald of Oregon Small Business Development Center Network,+1-541-463-5254, lisa@bizcenter.org
Web site: http://www.bizcenter.org/