Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

December 2011 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Freestone Environment Services wins $5 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla district, has awarded Freestone Environmental Services, Inc., of Richland, Washington, a $5-million, 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract to provide Environmental Services. Under the contract, Freestone will offer a range of services in support of Corps projects involving environmental actions. The contract provides Freestone an opportunity to perform environmental services for the Corps' Walla Walla District, which includes the McNary Lock and Dam on the Columbia River, and the Snake River watershed in southeast Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho, and portions of Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. Read more...

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston affirms commitment to Tri-Cities

A leading provider of frozen potato products, ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston will remain in Kennewick with new construction preliminarily planned on the company's existing Gage Boulevard property adjacent to the current offices. Timing on the groundbreaking and expected project completion is not yet determined, with employees remaining in the current offices until completion. Read more...

Bruker and Symphony Environmental sign agreement

After a one year cooperative development, Kennewick-based Bruker Corporation and Symphony Environmental Ltd. of London, England have signed a contract for the exclusive supply of Bruker's X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) taggant technology to Symphony for the identification of pro-degradant, anti-microbial and anti-fungal additives in plastic. Read more...

Spokane opens new business help center

The City of Spokane opened its new Spokane Business Help Center on the main floor of City Hall. The Center's goal is to make access to resources easier for start-ups and established small businesses. The new Help Center is part of Mayor Verner's "Seven in Eleven" program - seven initiatives for 2011 based on input from the small business community. Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

VIP Forum with Bristol-Myers Squibb

A global BioPharma company, Bristol-Myers Squibb is focused on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disorders. Representatives from Bristol-Myers Squibb will be at the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association in Seattle on January 12th - 13th to speak about their partnering interests and strategy and meet one-on-one with selected companies. Read more...

SBIR/STTR 2012 Phase 1 Release 2 Topics

To provide applicants with additional time to develop solutions to the opportunities presented in the topic descriptions, the SBIR/STTR Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has posted the 2012 Phase I Release 2 Topics at this link. You must use FedConnect to communicate your questions about individual topics. Letter of intent is due by December 20. Read more...

New Corporate Grant Competition Planned by LSDF

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) is preparing to launch a new grant competition to help young companies better position themselves for equity funding. With details to be announced in January 2012, the competition will support proof of concept and prototyping activities in Washington companies developing products to improve health and health care. LSDF anticipates that the outcomes from grant-supported work will lower commercialization risk and enhance the probability of investment funding. Release of the Request for Proposals and a schedule of statewide information sessions regarding the competition are anticipated in early January. For more information contact LSDF at programs@lsdfa.org.

Tri-CitiesBusinessBuilder.com is live!

Tri-CitiesBusinessBuilder.com is a web portal where businesses can get information about business plans, permits, incubator space, funding, classes, and more. The portal is easy to use and is designed for all businesses regardless of size, maturity, or industry. A business owner, employee, or someone thinking about starting a business can go to the one-stop portal to learn of people and organizations that are best suited to help with their specific questions or issues. Tri-CitiesBusinessBuilder.com is linking businesses to the right resources at the right time. Check it out at http://www.tri-citiesbusinessbuilder.com/.

Free Microsoft courses extended through October 2012

If you own or work for a business that uses Microsoft software, here's a deal that you can't beat. The Washington State Employment Security Department has extended its contract with Microsoft to make the company's entire suite of online courses available for free to Washington residents through October 2012. The offer is open to anyone of working age - both the employed and unemployed. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

Innovation Showcase

December 2. Application deadline is December 2 for the Innovation Showcase, which will be held January 10 in Seattle. A program of the Technology Alliance, Innovation Showcase helps bridge the gap between research and commercialization by highlighting the most promising discoveries and new technologies ready for commercialization in Washington. This is a quarterly event that promotes the idea sharing and networking that helps turn research into results. Showcase attendees include investors, service providers, serial entrepreneurs, and others in the commercialization field. Showcases feature presentations by three to six innovators hand-selected by Technology Alliance's program manager and screening committee. Read more...

Introduction to Government Contracting 101

December 13. Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center presents Introduction to Government Contracting 101, a comprehensive overview of how to do business with local, state, and federal government agencies. The seminar will be held Dec. 13 from 9:00 - 10:30 A.M. at the Tri-Cities Business & Visitor Center. Cost is free. RSVP Required. Read more...

Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference

January 24. Washington River Protection Solutions presents a day of professional and personal development, education, and networking. The Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference includes the opportunity to learn from Tri-Cities' most successful businesswomen, participate in the "Meet and Mentor Program", hear local success stories from women-owned businesses, and have your professional headshot taken. Additionally, the Regional Chamber has partnered with ATHENA International , a professional businesswomen's organization, to host the 2012 ATHENA Luncheon, where two ATHENA awards will be presented to distinguished women in the community. For more information contact Jessica Taggares, Event Director, 509.736.0510 or email Jessica.taggares@tricityregionalchamber.com

PNNL This Month

Mentor-Protege Program

Are you facing a business challenge and could benefit from the expertise of a seasoned professional in your field? PNNL's Economic Development Office's Mentor-Protégé Program may be able to help. Mentors are available to assist in a number of areas including, but not limited to, strategic planning, execution of a business plan, attracting new customers and growing business, and negotiating business agreements. The program serves technology-based businesses located within 50 miles of PNNL. Read more...

Three PNNL-developed technologies licensed via Startup America

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has signed option agreements with three companies that will lead to products designed to increase the storage capacity of batteries used to power portable devices and electric vehicles, reduce the cost of fuel cells used to generate electricity from hydrogen, and detect pests hidden behind walls in buildings. The agreements are part of the White House's Startup America initiative, which was launched in January and is designed to help young companies grow, move innovative technologies into the marketplace and create good-paying jobs in the United States. Read more... 

Science as art: PNNL images picked for calendar, national magazine

A dozen stunning science images representing cell structures, microorganisms, polymer films, degraded metals, and more, have been selected by the voting public as winners in PNNL's Science as Art contest. The photos are representative of research projects at the Lab and will appear in a 2012 "Discovery in Action" calendar (available for high- and low-resolution download here). Additionally, two of the photos have been selected by the American Chemical Society as winners in their "Science as Art" contest. Read more...

Got News?

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 DOE-Richland's vision for the future of the Hanford Site and surrounding area through the creation of research opportunities, new industries, and new business clusters