EPA Funds 10 Small Businesses to Develop Environmental Technologies (HQ)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding
nearly $2.25 million to 10 small companies to support the
development of new technologies for protecting the environment and
public health.
Winners include small businesses in California, Colorado, Florida,
Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Mexico. This year’s
innovative projects include reducing toxic chemicals from
landfills, producing an environmentally friendly adhesive, reducing
methane emissions by converting dilute methane waste gas streams
into useful fuel, and designing a real-time environmental water
monitoring sensor.
“The SBIR program demonstrates how meeting environmental
challenges can help create jobs,” said Dr. Paul T. Anastas,
assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and
Development. “These small businesses are simultaneously
leading the way toward a sustainable planet and a healthy
economy.”
Earlier this year, the companies received "proof of concept"
awards from EPA through its Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program. The companies will use these additional funds to
move their technologies towards commercialization and
implementation.
Each year, the EPA’s SBIR program gives small businesses the
opportunity to compete for funds to develop technology addressing
key environmental areas, such as green building, innovation in
manufacturing, nanotechnology, greenhouse gases, drinking water
monitoring and treatment, wastewater and sustainable
infrastructure, air pollution monitoring and control, biofuels,
waste monitoring and management, and homeland security.
There are approximately 25 million small businesses in the U.S.
today. As the leading source of employment growth, these firms have
generated 60 to 80 percent of new jobs over the past decade and are
responsible for developing most of the country’s new
technologies. To be eligible to participate in the SBIR program, a
company must be an organized, for-profit U.S. business and have
fewer than 500 employees.
More information on the 10 awardees and the abstracts of their
proposals: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir