Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

July 2011 Issue

• WSU, Port of Benton, PNNL Research Project to Turn Nearly Any Organic Waste into Biofuels
  An innovative idea for making advanced biofuels like jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline from regional resources is moving forward at Washington State University Tri-Cities with a grant from the Department of Energy. more...
• Local Company Recognized Nationally
  The Bogert Group, a family-owned company of 28 employees located in Pasco, WA, was featured in a video at Manufacturing Extension Partnership's National Innovations Conference in Orlando. more...
• The Northwest Can Lead the Way
  Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest is the nation's first regional stakeholder effort to explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding the production of sustainable aviation fuels. more...
• Useful Stats: Patents per 100K Residents by State, 2005-2010
  Would you be surprised to learn that Washington State ranks #2 in the country for US Patents and Patents per 100K residents? According to the U.S. more...
• Green Jobs are Real: U.S. Solar Employs More People than Steel
  People want to know: Are green jobs real? The answer is resoundingly "yes." With roughly 93,500 direct and indirect jobs, the American solar industry now employs about 20,000 more workers than the U.S. more...
• What has Science Done for You?
  America's National Laboratory system has been changing and improving the lives of millions for more than 80 years. more...
• U.S. Department of Energy Awards $994,600 to CBC and WSU Tri-Cities
  The two higher education institutions in the Tri-Cities collaborated with the Tri-City Development Council to receive a $994,600 award from the U.S. more...
• Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center Receives EDA Grant
  A $2 million Public Works Grant was awarded by the Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to co-applicants Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center (WCWCC) and Port of Benton. more...
• Washington State Life Sciences Discovery Fund Helps Launch Three New Programs
  The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) announced awards to three multi-institutional teams to support development of improved therapies, and key resources for medical researchers and health-care policymakers. more...
• TREN Event: Providing Foreign Investment for Growth
  The Three Rivers Entrepreneur Network (TREN) is an interest group made up of Mid-Columbia entrepreneurs, and business supporters that meets regularly to learn from invited speakers and to network. more...
• Pay Plus Benefits, Inc. Named One of Washington's Best Workplaces
  Puget Sound Business Journal has named Kennewick-based Pay Plus Benefits, Inc. as one of the finalists for Washington's Best Workplaces. more...

• Girls Engineering Design Camp Registration is Now Open
  Columbia Basin College (CBC) is hosting a great opportunity for young women who have completed Algebra math to get involved in a non-traditional career path: Engineering. more...
• WBBA Commercialization Corner
  Are you forming a company, writing a business plan, or looking to raise capital? Then check out http://www.lifesciencestartup.com/, the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA)-hosted wiki website full of resources and information for early-stage life science entrepreneurs and for experts, mentors, and service providers who have advice and expertise to contribute to the life sciences community in Washington State. more...
• Tri-City Regional Chamber's Small Business Resource Center Kiosk Unveiled
  The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has officially launched its Small Business Resource Center. more...

• New Awards Program for IT Professionals
  July 10. Washington Information Technology Awards is a new program created by Seattle Business magazine to recognize the individuals and companies in the IT world that are so critical to our region's prosperity. more...
• DHS Accepting Proposals for FY11 Phase I SBIR Solicitation
  July 18. The Department of Homeland Security posted its FY11 Phase 1 SBIR Solicitation, and is accepting proposals until July 18. more...
• Meet the Hanford Contractors.
  July 27. July's Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon will give you a chance to "Meet the Hanford Contractors". more...
• Green Recognition Awards
  July 29. The City of Richland is accepting applications for its seventh annual Green Recognition Awards. more...
• Northwest Entrepreneur Network First Look Forum
  October 18. Are you at an inflection point in your business and need help taking it to the next level? Are you an innovative, growth-oriented startup, and could benefit from expert coaching and exposure to an investor audience? Look no further than Northwest Entrepreneur Network's (NWEN) signature coaching program and investment showcase: First Look Forum! By applying to NWEN's First Look Forum you will have the chance to access the breadth and depth of coaches, advisors, investors, and more--all dedicating their time and talents to help your business reach the next level of success. more...
• Harvesting Clean Energy Conference
  October 23 - 25. The 2011 Harvesting Clean Energy Conference will provide a bounty of practical information, and access to experts across the full range of rural energy opportunities--from wind power, to solar and geothermal, small hydro, biofuels and biopower, food processing innovation, and efficiency technologies that cut energy costs and enhance profitability. more...

• Mentor-Protege Program
  Local small technology-based businesses looking to attract new customers and grow business with existing clientele should look into PNNL Economic Development Office's Mentor-Protégé Program. more...
• Technology Available for Licensing
  PNNL technologies and patents that are available for licensing can be found on the Available Technologies website. more...
• PNNL Wins Two Prestigious R&D 100 Awards
  PNNL technologies that improve manufacturing and mass spectrometry were recognized by R&D Magazine for cutting edge research and development. more...

We invite your contributions! We will consider items that fit the mission of this publication, including your tech-related news, awards, and notices of upcoming events. Please send text and photos to Diane Kahler or call (509) 372-4133.

Tri-Cities Tech Business Update is published by the Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Each month, we send you an e-mail message, giving you the link of news, tips, awards, upcoming events, and other information about local technology-based businesses and organizations that support them. With business and community partners, our goal is to build and diversify the Tri-Cities economy—adding skilled jobs in primary-sector industries that bring in outside dollars. Currently, more than 1,100 tech-related businesses, investors, and economic development stakeholders subscribe to the newsletter, mostly in the Mid-Columbia area and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. This newsletter (RL-P00-009) supports PNSO's vision for the future of the Hanford Site and surrounding area through the creation of research opportunities, new industries, and new business clusters.