The Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center (SV SBDC), in partnership with the Research, Economic Development & Innovation Department at James Madison University, will be hosting a series of local information sessions with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) to educate local entrepreneurs and companies about technology development and commercialization grant funding opportunities.
The first session, “Grant Funding for Technology Development & Commercialization” will be March 18, 2024, from 11:30am – 2:00pm at the Shenandoah Valley SBDC, 220 University Blvd, Harrisonburg VA. The session will provide an overview of grant funding for Virginia-based companies and researchers who are developing early-stage technology. Discussions will also include information about federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant programs involving eleven agencies that award over $4B annually in $200K-$2M grants, and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund that provides $75K grants for small business and higher education technology development/commercialization. The session is free, but registration is required. Interested individuals should visit HERE to sign up.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Shenandoah Valley SBDC on an Info Session on Grant Funding for Technology Development & Commercialization. This event symbolizes our commitment to providing Virginia-based companies and researchers with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of grant funding successfully. Through our collaborative efforts and the JMU RD team’s client-centered approach, we are setting the stage for significant advancements in technology development and commercialization. Our goal is to empower our faculty, staff, and community partners in our region to maximize their grant activity success, ensuring that our innovative ecosystem continues to thrive,” said Tiffany Brutus, Research Development Associate/Co-Head Inclusive Excellence.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, these information sessions will assist Shenandoah Valley innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, ecosystems, and market development initiatives to accelerate early commercialization and find funding support to launch and grow new companies, create high paying jobs, and spur economic growth.
“Helping entrepreneurs and businesses understand eligibility and successfully apply for these grant programs can have an enormous impact on the speed at which early-stage technology is developed and brought to market. Connecting businesses to the resources that will facilitate research, development, and sustained growth is a major goal of the Shenandoah Valley SBDC, and this program is a wonderful way to introduce owners and entrepreneurs to a significant source of funding,” said SV SBDC Director Allison Dugan.
For more information, contact Allison Dugan, (540)568-3227, duganaj@jmu.edu.
The City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, along with partner agencies the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center (SV SBDC) and Early Education Business Consultants, are providing a second round of special training and personalized assistance for local childcare providers and aspiring childcare providers. Free information sessions will be held February 28, March 12, and March 27, all at 6:00pm in Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall, 409 S Main St, Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg or Rockingham County childcare providers and those wishing to become a childcare provider will be able to learn more about free support and potential funding for their services.