| U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Poneman Announces New Steps to Support Clean Energy Small Businesses |
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 FAYETTEVILLE, AR – As part of National Small Business Week and to highlight President Obama’s focus on small businesses as leaders in an economy built to last, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman today announced in Fayetteville, Arkansas, $11 million in innovative research and technology grants of up to $150,000 to nearly 70 small businesses nationwide. He also highlighted that over the past year, the Energy Department supported $8 billion in contracts to over 7,000 small businesses.
Deputy Secretary Poneman made the announcements during a tour of Arkansas Power Electronics International (APEI), a small business that received one of the Small Business Innovative Research grants of $150,000. APEI develops state-of-the-art technology in power storage systems for electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing half of all workers in America and creating two out of every three new jobs in the U.S.,” said Deputy Secretary Poneman. “The grants and contracts announced today are just the latest step in the Energy Department’s efforts to support the critical role that small businesses are playing in creating jobs for American workers and expanding our country’s clean energy economy. These businesses are helping to reduce our dependence on imported oil and protect our air and water, while ensuring that the United States leads in the global clean energy race.”
Energy Department Awards Small Business Innovation Research Grants Totaling $11 Million
The Energy Department’s Small Business Innovation Research program is part of the Obama Administration’s broader support for job-creating small businesses and startup companies nationwide. These grants to small businesses of up to $150,000 - totaling $11 million – are developing new energy technologies that will help to grow America’s economy, create new jobs around the country and improve American competitiveness around the world. The small businesses selected will then be eligible to compete for a second phase of the program for awards up to $1 million over two years.
The 67 small businesses will work on 75 innovative research projects ranging from designing better wind turbines to fuel cell technology to coal energy research. These small businesses are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Energy Department Awards $8 Billion in Small Business Contracts, Announces 2011 Small Business Awards
As part of the Energy Department’s commitment to increasing small business contracting and strengthening our investments in these companies, the Department today announced that over the last year, the Department supported a total of $8 billion in prime and sub-prime contracting to small businesses across the country. These awards to over 7,000 companies, including small businesses owned by women, veterans and minorities, have leveraged their unique skills, talents and experience to help the Department achieve its mission from solving energy, environmental and nuclear challenges to advancing transformational science and technologies.
Additionally, the Energy Department announced the 2011 Small Business Awards, recognizing small businesses, program managers and other partners who have gone above and beyond expectations, demonstrating exceptional performance and creativity towards helping the Department achieve its goals. |
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