For the sixth consecutive year, Wichita State University is one of 24 nationwide recipients of a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides one-year funding to execute programs that will increase the awareness of federal programs to support technology-based innovation.

FAST’s objective is to improve outcomes for underrepresented entrepreneurs in SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs and increase participation for women-owned, rural-based and socially and economically disadvantaged firms.

FAST provides specialized training, outreach, mentoring and technical assistance for R&D focused small businesses. The program provides one-year funding to organizations to execute state / regional programs that support potential SBIR applicants and awardees. The FAST award project and budget periods are for a base period of 12 months, beginning Sept. 30.

The FAST program engages high-growth businesses – especially those in Kansas Department of Commerce target industry sectors such as alternative energy, distribution, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture and food processing – to promote innovation, growth and productivity.

“SBIR/STTR awards are a strong indicator of a region’s economic health,” said Debbie Franklin WSU associate vice president for strategic initiatives. “Our goal is to assist businesses interested in participating in the program by matching them up with the resources necessary to fill in technical gaps. Many of which can be found at Wichita State or other Kansas universities.”

FAST candidates were endorsed by each of their state / territorial governors, as only one proposal can be received per state. Panels from SBA, NASA, the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research and the National Institutes of Health evaluated the proposals.

Varying levels of matching funds were required, based on the number of SBIR Phase I awards in each state.

“FAST partners support an important role in attempting to fill various gaps that R&D-focused small businesses may have to help them win SBIR/STTR awards,” said Acting Administrator Christopher Pilkerton. “They focus on the needs of next-generation high-tech firms and support them through the entire cycle from ideation to commercialization. SBIR funding is one way to do that. Additionally, a number of these awards are going to partners that are located in Opportunity Zones where job creation and investments are moving forward to revitalize communities.”

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The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.