R & D Funding for Small Business
HTR is pleased to announce the availability of a new funding source, The Phase-0 Grant, to cover the costs of preparing a strong Phase I SBIR/STTR grant application. We're excited to share these details with you, and invite you to contact us for more information about this initiative, funded through a grant from Finger Lakes WIRED.
The Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide R&D funding of over $2.2 billion annually to small businesses. Funding is available competitively in the following amounts:
• Phase I-Up to $100,000 for the development of a proof of concept
• Phase II-Up to $750,000 for the development of a prototype
• Phase III-Commercial sale of the product/solution. Some federal agencies can purchase your product or solution, or provide non-SBIR matching funds
The Phase-0 Grant has been created to fund the use of Qualified External Resources in developing a firm's Phase-I SBIR/STTR grant proposal. Our overall goal is to assist Finger Lakes Region entrepreneurs and small businesses in developing better SBIR and STTR Phase-I grant proposals.
The Phase-0 Grant will provide businesses with up to $2,500 to retain third parties dedicated to developing/improving the firm's SBIR or STTR grant proposal, including:
• Retaining the services of a professional grant writer
• Proposal review and enhancement by consultants
• Expenses related to the development of the grant's budget
• Expenses related to market research in connection with the commercialization plan and/or other sections of the grant proposal
There will be typically one to two awards/month. Fast Track applications and other proposals deemed by HTR to have significant value to the development of the region may be eligible for an additional $2,500 for a total of $5,000 maximum per Phase-0 grant.
Find more information at
www.htr.org/sbir or contact Rami Katz (585) 214-0596. More information regarding Finger Lakes WIRED can be found at www.fingerlakeswired.org.
To learn more about Lean & Clean Reviews, please contact Dick Krause, MEP Project Manager at (585) 327-7930 or
HIGH TECH ROCHESTER...The innovator’s Edge
WWW.HTR.ORG
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City Provides Assistance to Optimation Technology, Inc.
A recent success story in the city of Rochester involves a local technology company named Optimation Technology, Inc. (OTI). Optimation Technologies was founded in 1985 by William Pollock as a provider of engineering and systems integration services for industrial and manufacturing applications. OTI serves a variety of industry sectors including: chemical, food, pharmaceutical, medical devices, glass, paper, and energy among others. Experienced engineers estimate and manage hundreds of projects each year.
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“Nearly 50 new jobs are expected to be created within city limits over the
next three years.” |
The company works with organizations throughout the U.S. Some of their major clients include: Eastman Kodak Company, Pactiv, 3M, Astra Zenica, and Exxon Mobil.
Optimation has been named in Rochester's Top 100 companies on five occasions. This past year they were ranked 14th among Greater Rochester's high-performing companies by the Rochester Business Alliance (RBA) and KPMG LLP. Companies were ranked according to revenue growth (both dollar and percentage increases were taken into consideration).
On December 31, 2006, Optimation purchased three business units from Eastman Kodak Company's Global Manufacturing Technology organizations in the areas of capital engineering, capitalized maintenance, and construction. As part of this deal, Optimation acquired equipment that is essential to operating these business units and providing capitalized maintenance and construction services. Optimation will be contracted by Kodak to provide services in these areas.
The economic development benefits gained from this project are substantial. If OTI did not acquire these units, 155 jobs previously held through Kodak potentially may have been lost. Optimation will hire 130 of these individuals at two locations in the city of Rochester (452-470 West Ridge Road and 110-120 Le Grange Road). Nearly 50 new jobs are expected to be created within city limits over the next three years. Approximately 25 positions will be created and moved to the business's headquarters in Rush, New York. The total investment of this project is $3.5 million.
City of Rochester
R. Carlos Carballada
Commissioner, Economic Development
THE CITY OF
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In the Business of Helping Businesses
Elo TouchSystems, part of Tyco Electronics, is one of the companies I like to mention when I talk about the innovative businesses we have in Monroe County. Elo invented touchscreen technology, including the touchscreen used by football commentators to do the play-by-play on NFL broadcasts, and the technology used by television networks to mark the red and blue states on Election Night. You can find Elo's products locally as well, in restaurants, banks, retail stores, hospitals, and more.
Elo is expanding its operations in Monroe County with the construction of a 42,500 square foot facility in Henrietta. The new facility will house Elo's custom product development and manufacturing center.
Elo's expansion will create 20 new manufacturing and engineering jobs in Monroe County, increasing the company's local employment by 54 percent. The expansion represents a $4 million investment in our community.
Elo TouchSystems is a global company headquartered in California. They could have expanded anywhere, but chose to expand here due to our highly skilled and educated workforce, leading colleges and universities, strong base of research and development companies, and excellent quality of life. These are the assets that continue to put us on the map and keep us competitive.
Monroe County is pleased to be a partner in Elo's expansion. We also recently added another tool to our economic development toolbox by assuming the operations of the Rochester Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), formerly operated by the Rochester Business Alliance. The PTAC helps small businesses in our region secure government contracts and provides personal assistance to navigate them through the process. Monroe County is in the "business of helping business" and this is one more way we are working to help small businesses grow. For more information on the Rochester PTAC, call (585) 753-2015 or visit monroecounty.gov.
Maggie Brooks, County Executive
MONROE COUNTYWWW.MONROECOUNTY.GOV
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Where's the Best Place to Meet Technology Leaders? This month's Business Strategies focuses on the exciting technology commercialization efforts coming out of our local colleges and universities. Clearly one of Rochester's greatest differentiators, our exceptional institutions of higher learning regularly deliver leading-edge technology to the marketplace, leading to the growth of such exciting companies as Vaccinex, iCardiac, VirtualScopics and many others.
Indeed, the entrepreneurial environment is alive and well in Rochester. And where can you go to hear about these great companies, meet the people who are making these things happen, and maybe even run into a venture capitalist?
Digital Rochester-the group focused on celebrating the past and current success stories of Rochester's technology industry and helping to create many more in the future.
Just consider some of our most recent events. In July, Roberts Wesleyan College sponsored a bonus networking night where they treated us to a preview of their Masters in Strategic Marketing program. And on July 31st, in our invitation-only series for Rochester-area technology company executives, Integrated Circuits, we set sail with more than 35 such leaders aboard the Wild Hearts catamaran on Lake Ontario.
Want to make sure you don't miss the next chance to get to know the "who's who" of Rochester's technology community? Then go to our Website for details about Digital Rochester's night out with the Red Wings at Frontier Field in August. While at the site, you can also read about September Networking at RIT, the upcoming Career Fair, and finally, "Get Connected!" scheduled for October 2nd.
And if reaching over 4,000 Rochester-area technology and business professionals would be good for business, consider sponsoring a Digital Rochester event. By sponsoring an event, your company's name and product info is guaranteed to reach a targeted, qualified audience that is passionate about creating a successful, thriving Rochester community.
For information regarding Digital Rochester events and sponsorship opportunities, visit
www.digitalrochester.com or e-mail us at
info@digitalrochester.com. We look forward to connecting with you!
Josh Bouk
Vice President of Marketing, Pervasive Solutions
DIGITAL ROCHESTER
WWW.DIGITALROCHESTER.COM