The One North Carolina Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Matching Funds Program is in need of grass roots support.  The purpose of the program is to provide additional financial resources to small technology companies by providing matching funds of up to $100,000 in conjunction with a SBIR/STTR Phase 1 grant award.  Since a Phase 1 grant typically tops out at $75,000 - $100,000, this program can play a significant role in the success of a small business bootstrapping the development of a novel technology in North Carolina.

When created by the General Assembly in 2005, the program awarded qualified companies in direct matching funds against their Phase 1 grant amount of up to the $100,000 level.  Last year the program budget was cut to only allow a maximum award of $75,000.  This year the budget has been further cut to only allow a $50,000 match with the total budget being $700,000 - representing only 20% of the required funds to adequately run the program. 

Novel technology developed by small businesses is the seed of growth for the high-tech industry in North Carolina.  This useful program is seriously underfunded and needs your support for visibility in the NC General Assembly.  If you would like to see this program appropriately funded to be able to assist growth of small technology businesses in NC, please show your support by signing this petition.

The One North Carolina Small Business Innovation Program has positively impacted the economic growth of NC through small technology businesses:

•      Helping more than 125 NC companies bring to market biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical technologies, computer software, military/defense technologies, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and other high-tech applications.

•      Helping companies draw down a 9-to-1 return on the state dollar through attracting over $30 million in external company investment and over $32 million in follow-on federal funds.

•      Creating More than 100 new private sector jobs – more to come as more companies benefit. 

Representative technology areas and small companies that have benefitted from the One NC Small Business Program:

·          Military/Defense/Aviation – Materials Innovation Technologies (Fletcher, NC)

·          Nanotechnology/Green – Nanotech Labs (Yadkinville, NC)

·          Biotechnology/Healthcare – Morphormics (Durham, NC)

·         Education/Information Technology – The Sandbox Learning Company (Cornelius, NC)

The program leverages federal SBIR Phase 1 dollars to help NC Technology Companies be more competitive against SBIR applicants in other states for the larger SBIR Phase 2 dollars.  An economic development goal of the $50,000 to $100,000 state matching awards is to attract the $750,000 or larger awards from the federal agencies to North Carolina. 

More information can be found about the program at http://www.ncscitech.com/oncsbp/

We encourage you to show your support for this needed program with your petition signature.