SBA Awards Grant to Nebraska Business Development Center for 2021

Omaha, Nebraska – Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is pleased to announce NBDC is a recipient of the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (FAST) grant awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

FAST seeks to improve outcomes in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs for underserved communities by increasing participation from women-owned, rural-based, and socially economically disadvantaged small businesses.

The FAST Partnership Program provides one-year of funding to organizations that team up with others in their state to help build the innovation ecosystem that is key to helping grow the tech economy in that state. Current law only allows one proposal per state and territory. Candidates are endorsed by their state and territorial governors. Proposals are evaluated by panels of reviewers from SBA and the SBIR participating agencies. Varying levels of matching funds are required, based on the number of SBIR Phase I awards in each state.

Recipients this year cover a wide geographic area and include state and local economic development entities, Small Business Technology Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, incubators, accelerators, colleges, and universities. All entities will provide support to small businesses developing high-risk technologies. See the SBA 2020 Press Release: CLICK HERE.

“NBDC is excited for this opportunity to engage companies and entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, especially relating to agriculture, healthcare, and security as well as financial technology,” says Josh Nichol-Caddy, Technology Commercialization Program Director for NBDC. “NBDC seeks to leverage Nebraska’s unique capabilities in these areas, helping entrepreneurs develop ideas into businesses and companies develop new business opportunities.”

NBDC's efforts begin with awareness and move clients toward growth. Awareness involves broad outreach and training for companies, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Pre-venture features start-up and other business assistance. Development takes innovative entrepreneurs through business planning, customer discovery, market research, and prototyping. Growth involves sales to businesses or consumers as well as the government.

NBDC will provide individual business assistance as well as conduct trainings across Nebraska. Please contact Josh Nichol-Caddy at jnicholcaddy@unomaha.edu to learn more. For more information on Innovation & Technology, CLICK HERE.