Montgomery County, MD launches first county-based SBIR/STTR-match program

Although SBIR/STTR matching programs have existed at the state and regional levels for years, Montgomery County, Maryland, recently launched the country’s first county-based match program. The county council overwhelmingly approved the program, which will target Montgomery County-based small businesses receiving Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), whose main offices are also within the county. Subject to appropriations, Bill 41-17 awards will be valued at up to 25 percent of a Phase I grant ($25,000 cap), or 25 percent of a Phase II grant ($75,000 cap). Grantees under this program may receive one county matching grant each year, up to five total grants.

Previous research from SSTI found that the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, of which Montgomery County is a part, averaged the third most SBIR/STTR awards of any region over the five-year period from 2013 to 2017. The state of Maryland ranked fourth among all states in average SBIR/STTR awards during that time.