Congress Eliminates Funding for FAST and ROP

Within the past hour, SSTI has learned that Congress zeroed out the $3.5 million for two programs that supported state SBIR/STTR technical assistance efforts. The omission of any mention in the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report of funding for the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) and Rural Outreach Program (ROP) was not a mistake in the draft as originally thought by the programs' proponents.

In FY 2002, FAST provided $100,000 matching grants to 27 state SBIR outreach and assistance programs. The ROP, which is targeted to those states that historically have under performed in the SBIR program, has provided support to 25 states since its creation only three years ago. Lists of recipients for both programs are available at: http://www.sba.gov/sbir/indexfast.html

Although both programs comprise a small pool of money, each have proven critically important financially for state efforts to help small businesses in funding research and commercializing technology. In many cases, the federal funding made the difference between having at least one full-time person in the state committed to small tech firm assistance.

The FY03 solicitation for ROP was slated for a March 15 release. The FAST request for proposals would be released April 15.

Level funding of $3 million and $500,000 for FAST and ROP, respectively, had been requested by the Administration and was thought to be safe in the Senate Appropriations process. Neither program has ever had a strong ally in the House of Representatives. SBA officials are sorting through the options to try to restore at least some level of funding for state SBIR outreach. The SSTI Weekly Digest will keep its readers apprised as more information becomes available.