CONGRESSMAN WELDON EXPANDS NASA PROGRAM
FLORIDA BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT

Titusville, Fla. – Florida Congressman and Vice Chair of the House Space Science Committee, Dave Weldon announced a $6 million provision in the Federal Fiscal Year 2001 NASA appropriations bill that will expand the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP), an extremely successful NASA economic development program to several regions, including Florida, New York, Texas and New Mexico.  The announcement came during a gathering of more than 100 chamber executives assembled as part of the Florida Space Commerce Partnership at the Kurt Debus Center at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

“The SATOP initiative is truly a world-class, innovative way for small companies in the State of Florida to tap into a unique, high tech reservoir to help them compete in an increasingly global market place,” says Weldon.  “I am excited to see it grow and proud to say I aided in its further development.”  
 

Frank Kinney presents a celestial award  and congratulates Congressman Dave Weldon for his participation in expending the SATOP

SATOP lets small and medium businesses tap the top minds within America’s space program to solve technical challenges in a variety of areas including manufacturing, communications, software and other fields.  The free program, which was developed in 1995, is available to all types of businesses through local chambers and economic development organizations. The program seeks to hasten technology and engineering transfer, encourage economic growth by utilizing space technology and increase awareness of the value of America’s Space Program.

The SATOP initiative, managed by Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA), is already credited with saving and creating more than 1,000 jobs, generating over $47 million in sales revenues and assisting small businesses to attract more than $23 million in capital investments in its base state of Florida.

“We commend the efforts of Congressman Weldon on behalf of Florida’s small business to grow an initiative which has such a profoundly positive impact on economic development,” says Frank Kinney, TRDA executive director. “We are eager to build on the established success of SATOP in Florida and Texas to bring the talent and ingenuity of the space program to the New York and New Mexico.”

A network of partner aerospace companies, universities, colleges and NASA centers provide SATOP with the professionals to solve the specific problems or challenges outlined in the brief form submitted by businesses.  Businesses can access the Request of Technical Assistance (RTA) form on the Internet at www.trda.org/satop/rta.htm  

The Technological Research and Development Authority, established by the Florida Legislature in 1987, delivers the successful and cost-effective transfer of cutting edge technologies to schools and small businesses throughout the State of Florida. Through strategic alliances with NASA, the federal government, the aerospace industry and state partners – including the Department of Education, Enterprise Florida and the Department of Community Affairs – TRDA is giving Floridians the edge to successfully compete in the new millennium. TRDA sponsors programs that enhance education, space research and economic development within the state.

For related articles, please click on the links below:
Florida Today Article
Orlando Sentinel Article
NASA Administrator - Dan Goldin - and Congressman Walsh announce the program expansion to the State of New York
American Chamber of Commerce Executives Article