2013 SBIR Tibbetts Awards and SBIR Hall of Fame Awards to be presented in May

The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for awards honoring the critical economic role small businesses play in federally funded research and development through SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Two awards will be given: the “Hall of Fame” award recognizing companies that have an extended period of extraordinary success of research, innovation, and product commercialization; and another, the “Tibbetts Award” with two categories, one for companies that have participated in the SBIR/STTR programs, and another for individuals who advocate on behalf of the programs.

The Tibbetts Awards are named after Roland Tibbetts, who was instrumental in developing SBIR, a highly competitive program to ensure small businesses get a chance to compete for federal research and development funding, along with the opportunities it provides to profit from commercialization of the technologies they develop.

The SBIR and STTR programs currently account for more than $2.5 billion per year in federal R&D funds and are coordinated by the SBA in cooperation with 11 other federal agencies with large external research and development budgets.

The awards are presented to companies and individuals that are beacons of promise and models of excellence in high technology.

Typical of past Tibbetts Award winners are:

• An Arizona bio strategies company whose genetic engineering accomplishments help combat Gaucher's disease, a rare genetic disease usually fatal in childhood, and
• A three-time award winner from California that developed a state of the art manufacturing facility for the production of aerospace quality composite products for missile defense and commercial space.
• Selections for Tibbetts Awards are based on several factors, including the economic impact of the technological innovation, overall business achievement and demonstration of effective collaborations.

Hall of Fame winners have typically included Fortune 500 and 1000 companies like Qualcomm and Genzyme. Genzyme, a 2012 Hall of Fame award winner, evolved from a tiny start-up with just a handful of employees to one of the world's leading biotech companies. This Massachusetts-based company focuses on developing innovative products and services for major unmet medical needs such as rare genetic disorders, organ transplant, osteoarthritis, and renal disease.

Nominations for these awards opened December 17, 2012 and will close 5 PM EST on January 31, 2013. Awards will be presented in Washington, DC, in May 2013. To submit a nomination, please visit http://tibbetts2013.challenge.gov/ (Tibbetts Awards – companies and individuals) and http://sbirhof2013.challenge.gov/ (Hall of Fame Awards).

Kessler Foundation Invites Concept Proposals for Signature Employment Grants Program – Deadline for Online Concept Applications: February 1, 2013

The Kessler Foundation is accepting applications for its Signature Employment Grants program, an annual program that supports non-traditional solutions and/or social ventures designed to increase employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

The program awards grants nationally to fund new pilot initiatives, demonstration projects, and social ventures that lead to the generation of new ideas to solve the high unemployment and underemployment of individuals with disabilities. Preference is given to interventions that overcome specific employment barriers related to long-term dependence on public assistance, advance competitive employment in a cost-effective manner, or launch a social enterprise or individual entrepreneurship project. Signature grants are not intended to fund project expansions or bring proven projects to new communities.

Projects must be collaborative, serve a large geographic area, and include multiple funding partners and stakeholders. In addition, initiatives or projects must have the potential for growth, scalability, or replication.

Any organization recognized as a tax-exempt entity according to the Internal Revenue Code may apply for funding. This includes nonprofit agencies, public and private schools, and public institutions such as universities and government (state, local, federal) agencies in the United States or any of its territories.

Applicants may seek funding for $100,000 to $250,000 per year, for maximum project funding of $500,000 over two years.

For more information, visit the Kessler Foundation website @ http://kesslerfoundation.org/grantprograms/signatureemploymentgrants.php

From Senator Nelson's office:

Please see the below/attached grant opportunity and share as appropriate. If you plan on applying for one of these grants, please remember it is up to the applicant to review the program and determine if they qualify.

• · Please visit the grants section of our website at http://billnelson.senate.gov/services/grants2011.cfm if you are looking for General Grant Funding Resources (no specific grant in mind but want possible resources for grant monies), or for guidelines on Letters of Support.

• · If you are a Small Business looking for opportunities for support please use the following link as a resource: http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/services/smallbusiness.cfm

• · If you would like a letter of support for a specific grant for which you have applied, please refer to the letter of support guidelines at http://billnelson.senate.gov/services/grants.cfm. The request can be faxed to Orlando at 407-872-7165 or send to (appropriate name), Regional Director at (RD email/fax #). It is not necessary to send entire application.