SBA Hosts National Road Tour in Long Beach to Promote Innovation and Technology for Small Businesses

Jackson, MS – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a 20 state road tour, joined by 11 fellow federal agencies participating in the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR Road Tour is coming to The University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Park Campus on April 27th.

The SBA is working in coordination with Marine Industries Science and Technology Cluster (MIST), and Magnolia Business Alliance to support technology-based entrepreneurship by bringing America’s largest seed fund for small businesses in the STEM fields to Mississippi.

The SBIR Road Tour “Seeding America’s Future Innovations,” is a nationally focused outreach initiative targeting advanced technology communities, including women-owned and minority-owned small businesses in states that have underutilized funding opportunities through the SBIR and STTR programs. As part of this initiative, the SBA has invited representatives from the agencies below to the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Park Campus to provide STEM focused firms and researchers a face-to-face opportunity to learn how to take advantage of an annual $2.5 billion funding opportunity.

The public is invited to attend and registration is open: Click HERE TO REGISTER

WHO:

John Williams, SBA Director of Innovation and Technology

Joe Graben, Marine Industries Science and Technology (MIST)

Natalie Guess, Magnolia Business Alliance

John Pucci, Department of Defense – Army, SBIR Operations Manager, David Sikora, Department of Defense - Air Force, SBIR/STTR Program Director

Frank Barros, Department of Homeland Security, SBIR Program Analyst Chris O'Gwin, Department of Energy, SBIR/STTR Commercialization & Outreach Assistance Program Manager Douglas Deason, Department of Defense - Missile Defense Agency , Director Advanced Research

Thomas Stanley, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),Technology Infusion Manager for SBIR/STTR, Stennis Space Center (SSC)

Robert Smith, Department of Defense – Navy, Director, DON SBIR/STTR Programs

Robert Vinson, Health and Human Services - National Institutes of Health (NIH), SBIR/STTR Program Manager Peter Roohr, Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA Meteorologist NWS/OST/PPD/SPB

Rajesh Mehta, National Science Foundation (NSF), Program Director, Industrial Innovation & Partnerships (SBIR/STTR)

Scott Dockum, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator

Anthony Knight, Department of Commerce - United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Associate Commissioner for Innovation Development (Acting)

Gregory Lank, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Project Officer US EPA SBIR & P3

WHERE:

University of Southern Mississippi (USM)-Gulf Park Campus

730 E. Beach Blvd., Long Beach, MS 39560

WHAT:

SBIR Road Tour Designed for Small Technology Firms and Innovators

WHEN:

Monday, April 27, 2015 at 7:00 a.m.

HOW:

Public, please register: Click HERE