The New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) is looking for groups of small businesses facing common challenges that could use technical assistance from researchers at Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories.
The NMSBA is soliciting initial proposals for 2012 leveraged projects, in which two or more small businesses to request assistance as a group.
The program — a partnership of the two federal laboratories and the state of New Mexico — connects scientists, engineers and others with New Mexico businesses to solve critical challenges and promote economic development.
While individual businesses can apply for help throughout the year, these group projects are considered once a year. The deadline for submission is July 8.
Businesses that apply must explain the problem they face, what expertise NMSBA offers that can’t be found in the private sector for a reasonable cost and what economic benefit they expect. Successful applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.
The group projects fund researchers’ time and incidental materials and must be completed in one year. Grants range from $20,000 to $100,000, depending on the number of companies involved and their locations.
In April, two group projects were among 10 honored by the NMSBA program.
Espanola Valley business Kenny Salazar Orchards, which irrigates with water from the Santa Cruz reservoir, was suffering because of sediment buildup in the water. Sandia and Los Alamos researchers uncovered the sources of the sediment and recommended solutions to the Santa Cruz Irrigation District.
And, four Albuquerque companies, Vibrant Corp., Mechtronic Solutions Inc., Fiore Industries Inc. and ZTEC Instruments Inc., requested help evaluating Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT), a technology that provides fast, cost-effective reporting on the structural integrity of aviation components. Since working with Sandia, Vibrant has earned Federal Aviation Administration approval to use PCRT, which increased business opportunities and contacts for the other partner companies, as well as substantial cost savings for the aviation industry.
Since the overall NMSBA program began at Sandia in 2000, it has helped 1,736 small businesses with $25.2 million worth of research hours and materials. The program has created or retained 1,550 jobs paying an average annual salary of $38,000, increased small companies’ revenues by $82 million and decreased their operating costs by $45 million. These companies have invested $19 million in other New Mexico goods and services.
For further information about the NMSBA Program, entrepreneurs may click here or call Genaro Montoya at (505) 284-0625.
Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.
Sandia news media contact: Heather Clark, hclark@sandia.gov (505) 844-3511