OREGON ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES INITIATIVES TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES
BYLINE: US States News
DATELINE: SALEM, Ore.
The Oregon Department of Economic and Community Development issued the following news release:
The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) announced three new initiatives to assist Oregon small businesses with access to federal funding opportunities. The new initiatives strive to increase Oregon's competitiveness in capturing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. These two federal grant programs provide funding to small businesses for research and development of new technologies.
OECDD is working with the Oregon Small Business Development Centers to provide the following services:
* A centralized web-based SBIR/STTR clearinghouse for information about these two programs. Web site serves as a toolkit for Oregon small businesses to learn more about the two programs, connect with resources and learn basic proposal writing techniques. Please visit: http://www.bizcenter.org/Services/7530/6198/7548.
* Three all-day SBIR/STTR workshops in April 2007, led by nationally renowned SBIR/STTR experts--Greenwood Consulting Group. For more information visit: http://www.bizcenter.org/Services/7530/6198/7573
* A matching grant program to help defer the costs of proposal preparation for Oregon small businesses. SBIR/STTR applicants are encouraged to apply for this program, which provides matching funds on a one-to-one basis for proposal preparation expenses. For more information and to download an application visit: http://www.bizcenter.org/Services/7530/6198/7572.
Contact: Brian Evans, 503/229-5224; Nathan Buehler, 503/986-0050.