TRDA’s Business Incubator to Sponsor
Small Business Workshop

Cape Canaveral, Fla.- April 2, 2004- The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) and Florida/NASA Business Incubation Center (FNBIC) will sponsor a third Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) workshop to support small businesses within the community. The seminar, scheduled for April 20, 2004, will be held at the Melbourne/Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to register contact the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast at 321.638.2000 or on the web at www.spacecoastedc.org.

The SBIR and STTR are Federal government programs with 11 participating agencies putting almost $2 billion in the hands of small and start-up companies that propose to develop or make improvements to technology products and services.

The event will feature Gail and Jim Greenwood, national trainers on SBIR and STTR, who will discuss cost proposal and accounting, including formats, preparation, audits, and basic government accounting concepts. The seminar will also address a current initiative to expand business incubation services in Brevard County for small, developing technology firms utilizing technology in their existing products, services, and manufacturing processes.

“Business Incubation programs provide a unique opportunity for start-up businesses to succeed by providing meaningful resources immediately,” says Incubation Network Director Heidi Brandow. “As we all know, small businesses fuel the American economy by supplying products and services worldwide at competitive prices, by providing employment at all wage levels, and by encouraging unprecedented innovation. Successful incubator participants learn winning business strategies while giving their businesses a leg up on their competition.”

Admission for the workshop is $20 for EDC investors and $35 for all others, which includes lunch. Registration ends April 19, 2004.

The FNBIC, a business incubator serving the location needs of early stage technology-based entrepreneurs, is holding the workshop to help encourage and stimulate technology-based, small business formation, growth, and success by providing an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs, what kinds of projects the agencies are interested in and showing them how to write proposals to receive funding for their businesses.

Established by the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) in 1996, the Florida/NASA Business Incubation Center helps accelerate the success of small, technology-based businesses by providing affordable space and shared office services, thereby reducing the costs of starting and operating a small business. The Incubator is managed through a joint partnership of Florida’s TRDA, NASA-Kennedy Space Center and Brevard Community College. For further information on the Florida/NASA Business Incubation Center, contact Heidi Brandow or Bonnie O’Regan at (321) 267-5601.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was established by Congress in 1982 to provide increased opportunities for small businesses to participate in R&D, to increase employment, and to improve U.S. competitiveness. The program's specific objectives are to stimulate U.S. technological innovation, use small businesses to meet federal research and development needs, increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D, and foster and encourage participation by socially disadvantaged businesses. Legislation enacted in 2000 extended and strengthened the SBIR program and increased its emphasis on pursuing commercial applications of SBIR project results.