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NASA
plants $6 million in seed money for businesses
Susan Strother Clarke
of
the Sentinel Staff
Posted April 20, 2001
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A program that helps Florida small-business owners received $6
million in federal funds Thursday, keeping it alive until early 2003.
The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program allows entrepreneurs to tap
some of the nation’s top engineering talent to get sticky problems solved.
The money, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 2001
budget, was announced by Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Palm Bay, at Kennedy Space
Center.
The increased funds will expand the program -- now in Florida and Texas -- to
New Mexico and New York. About $2 million of the money will be spent the
first year in Florida, substantially above last year’s $300,000. Florida's
share of the money is larger than the other states, in part, because the
expanded program will be run from Titusville.
Director Frank Kinney said the goal is to transfer space technology into
everyday use -- at no charge to business owners.
Questions posed by entrepreneurs are fielded by NASA engineers and others who
work for aerospace companies involved in shuttle launches, the space station
and other space projects.
Contractors involved include Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Honeywell.
"The program represents a very simple way to get access to space
technology . . . and you don't receive an invoice," Kinney said.
Since 1995, engineers have helped solve more than 800 problems -- showing a
Pinellas Park glass blower how to insulate his high-powered furnace, for
example, and helping a Sarasota manufacturer test the strength of his storm
windows.
The money is already set aside in NASA's current budget, making it safe from
any future budget cuts at the space agency.
Kinney said the program has created 500 jobs, saved four businesses from
closing and launched 16 new products.
Susan Strother Clarke can be reached at sclarke@orlandosentinel.com or
407-420-5414.
Copyright
© 2001, Orlando Sentinel
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