SBA's National SBIR Road Tour is Coming to College Park, MD

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On September 20, 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) National SBIR Road Tour is coming to College Park, MD as part of a 16-stop tour to connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country's largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Senator Ben Cardin, (D-Md) ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will provide remarks.

Event attendees will be able to meet one-on-one with program managers from the participating federal agencies. In addition, program managers will take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas, and share insights into how the agencies make funding decisions. Attendees will also be able to hear from a local entrepreneur who used SBIR grants to build a successful startup, as well as a panel discussing funding options beyond SBIR/STTR grants.

"We are thrilled to be the host for this important event," shared Julie Lenzer, University of Maryland's Chief Innovation Officer. "The SBIR/STTR program is an important funding mechanism for our region's startups and this type of event provides an opportunity for them to identify funding, partners, and assistance – all key elements in their success."

The College Park stop will be hosted by the UM Ventures, College Park (http://www.umventures.org) and the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) http://www.marylandsbdc.org at the University of Maryland. SBDC is a local organization involved in supporting regional small businesses by providing counseling, training, and access to funding. UM Ventures is a joint initiative of the MPowering the State Program, bringing the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park together to transform inventions into products and services available to the public, and create economic impact by engaging partners in industry and launching startups.

The SBIR Road Tour plays an important role in increasing engagement with entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country and building out greater networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research.

"Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story. We are committed to supporting America's small businesses owners wherever they are," says John Williams, SBA Director of Innovation. "This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA's resources to help them reach that goal."

SOURCE Small Business Administration