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$3.2 Million in Small Business Awards for New Environmental Technologies

Release Date: 04/14/2005
Contact Information:


Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

(04/14/05) EPA today announced the award of more than $3.2 million to 14 small companies under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The companies will commercialize their newly developed technologies for control and monitoring of air emissions, pollution prevention, hazardous waste treatment, and homeland security. The agency's SBIR program offers critical financial support to small businesses creating innovative environmental technologies. Besides benefitting the environment, the program generates jobs and fosters economic growth, as small businesses employ 53 percent of the U.S. work force.

Seven companies will bring to market new air pollution technologies to monitor and control emissions. Three companies will use the award for new pollution prevention technologies, including "green technologies" that eliminate the use of older, hazardous chemicals in manufacturing processes such as coating steel and circuit board plating. Four companies will develop technologies related to stormwater control, waste management, and homeland security. Water projects include protecting stream wildlife from storm surges, and bioremediation -- the use of natural plants to clean up contaminated waste streams.

EPA is one of 12 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program, enacted in 1982 to strengthen the role of small businesses in federal research and development. There are approximately 22 million small businesses in the United States. To participate in SBIR, a small business must have fewer than 500 employees and at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens. More information about these research projects can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/05phase2 . To learn more about EPA's SBIR program, go to: https://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir .

In a new procurement, EPA will accept proposals for the development of new environmental technologies under the SBIR program. EPA anticipates the award of approximately $2.8 million in firm, fixed-price contracts of approximately $70,000 each. The request for applications will close on May 25, 2005. To learn more, see: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2005/2005_sbir_phase1.html .