Small Business Open Hours at WestGate

January 20, 2016

WestGateThe second monthly small business development open hours took place January 19, 2016, at WestGate Academy Conferencing & Training Center. Every third Tuesday of the month, several organizations from around the region are coming together to offer help for small businesses and entrepreneurs. There are several participating partners: IODD’s Technology Commercialization Program Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) Indiana Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program Radius Indiana   Additional services will be represented for attendees: Purdue University’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) and Purdue Foundry University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Research Ivy Tech’s Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship (Bloomington) Bloomington Economic Development Corporation NSWC Crane Division’s Small Business and Technology Transfer programs WestGate Academy Conferencing & Training Center [clear-line] [caption id='attachment_1384' align='alignleft' width='300']Lisa Hoverman at WestGate Academy State of Indiana's SBIR/STTR Program Specialist, Dr. Lisa Hoverman speaks about grant funding through SBIR/STTR opportunities[/caption] Guest Speaker for January open hours, the State of Indiana's SBIR/STTR Program Specialist, Dr. Lisa Hoverman spoke about the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. Dr. Hoverman says there is support available from the State to pursue grant funding from SBIR/STTR funding agencies. “This [SBIR/STTR] is the largest source of seed funding for small businesses in America. So we want Indiana small businesses that are technology or scientifically innovative to be pursuing this funding.” She says the number of Indiana applications can increase. “We have the educated workforce, we have the engineering mindset, and intellectual resources in Indiana to go after the grants. We want to support our entrepreneurs.” She says small businesses shouldn't be daunted by grant-writing. “These grants are geared towards small businesses. They are structured so that small businesses can write them. It just requires careful reading and a plan to go after it.” To attend the next open hours check out the WestGate@Crane Technology Park online calendar and stop by February 16 between the hours of 8:00 to 11:00 AM to meet with our regional subject experts. Stick around and listen to the selected speaker from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM to learn more about how to get your business off the ground and grow.