Small Businesses Seek SBIR Grants For Federal Funding

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Local technology entrepreneurs and innovators learn about the federal funding options available to small businesses.

One business tells us about their hopeful plans for an expanding future.

Elinor Specialty Coating of Fargo is looking to expand with the Small Business Innovation Research program, or SBIR.

Elinor Specialty Coating Holly Anderson says, “Elinor Specialty Coating is a research based business with unique corrosion paints for specialty metals.”

Starting up in 2009 and going on to win the National Technology Innovation Award from the SBIR Program, they are looking to expand and commercialize their magnesium rich and chromium–free paints for aluminum.

Anderson adds, “We’re looking at is introducing the aluminum alternative for aluminum that would be safe, better, faster, cleaner.”

Senator Heidi Heitkamp believes North Dakota needs to diversify and take risks on start–up companies in order for future economic growth and success.

Heitkamp says, “If you took no losses you weren’t doing your job. We have to have capital that takes risks.”

Small Business Innovation Research offers a grant program for start–ups to receive federal funding for their research and technological development.

Center of Innovation Tyler Okerlund says, “It’s a very competitive based program. Businesses have the opportunity to apply or people can apply for.”

There are two different phases of federal grants available to small businesses in North Dakota to help them grow.

Okerlund adds, “There’s a phase one grant that will go up to $250,000 and then there will be an up to $1–million for a phase two and then eventually there will be commercialization.”

Anderson unsuccessfully applied for the grants before and believes that if at first you don’t succeed you must try, try, again.

Anderson says, “Every chance to support creativity and innovation and your local small businesses is helping everybody.”

All applications for the innovation SBIR grants are available online at http://sbir.gov.