ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A baler design that could economically bring alpaca fleece to market. A method to remove sediment from a northern New Mexico reservoir. An improved pesticide sprayer to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes in the developing world.
These are among the 10 projects by small companies that received technical assistance in 2010 through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program, a public-private partnership among Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the state of New Mexico. The innovative companies will be honored at a “10 Years of Innovation Celebration” on Thursday, April 7, in Albuquerque.
The NMSBA Program, which connects small business owners with scientists and engineers who provide technological assistance needed to give their companies a boost, also is marking its 10th anniversary by including small business owners it has helped since its inception.
Members of the news media who would like to interview small business owners, researchers or program administrators can meet them Thursday, April 7, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque. Time for interviews is available before the event starts at 11:30 a.m. and after the event at 2 p.m. Media also are invited to hear speakers discuss the program at 1 p.m. Please contact Heather Clark at (505) 844-3511, if you plan to attend.
In 2010, the NMSBA provided $4.6 million worth of assistance to 339 companies in 27 counties to solve technical challenges.
Since it was created, NMSBA has provided 1,736 small businesses with $25.2 million worth of research hours and materials. The program has helped create and retain nearly 1,550 jobs with an average annual salary of about $38,000, increase small companies’ revenues by $82 million and decrease operating costs by $45 million. These companies have invested $19 million in other New Mexico goods and services.
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