University of Wisconsin - Extension

The University of Wisconsin-Extension's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will receive a $95,000 federal grant to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration made the award as part of the Federal and State Technology (FAST) program.

The new FAST grant will support specialized education and outreach to help technology-based businesses succeed in Wisconsin. This will include efforts to quicken the transfer of university research to the private sector. New funds will help the SBDC provide outreach education, financial aid and technical assistance to small businesses seeking highly competitive federal grants for technology research and development.

Wisconsin is one of only 21 states to receive FAST awards from the SBA this year. Only six of the awards went to Small Business Development Centers.

The proposal was submitted by UW-Extension in collaboration with the UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Center for Technology Transfer Inc., the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership and the Wisconsin Small Business Innovation Consortium.

The project will be led by Erica Kauten, state director of the Wisconsin SBDC, and Dr. Phil Sobicinski, assistant director of UW-Madison's Office of Corporate Relations.

"This is a big win for our SBDC, but it's an even bigger victory for Wisconsin," Kauten said. "Supporting the growth and success of entrepreneurs will create new jobs and build our economy. When these innovative small businesses thrive, we see broader benefits for society. Their products, services and ideas help to protect our environment, advance health care, improve our ability to manage information and strengthen national security."

For more information, see http://www.uwex.edu/sbdc