Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

September 2012 Issue

Tech News and Notes

Ground breaking at TCRD - and free coffee!

You are invited to attend a groundbreaking event hosted by Innovation Center to signify the start of construction on its retail site--University Square, which is in the Tri-Cities Research District. The event will take place Thursday, September 6^th from 10:00 - noon, on the corner of Stevens and University Drive, where a prominent coffee retailer is considering leasing space. Come for a free cup of coffee (the good stuff!) and to show your support. And please fill out this short 9-question survey to help the developers understand the market opportunity.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDVLLUVPN3R5U2xMcVFHcU4wTVJvdmc6MA

Washington's Innovation Partnership Zones program wins national Council of State Governments Innovation Award

Washington's Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) program is one of only two western states honored with a 2012 Council of State Governments Innovations Award, the state Department of Commerce recently announced. IPZs help accelerate the formation of regional innovation clusters by partnering industry, research institutions, workforce development and government agencies to create commercially viable products and jobs. Fifteen zones have been created in Washington, representing a range of existing or emerging industry clusters including bio-medical manufacturing, global health, alternative energy, viticulture, urban clean water, and aerospace. 

New $3M WSU lab opens

Tri-City Herald: Washington State University Tri-Cities' newest building was dedicated recently, thanks to Hanford and the generosity of EnergySolutions and NuVision Engineering. The approximately $3M EnergySolutions Engineering Laboratory initially will be used to continue testing of mixing systems for the Department of Energy's Hanford vitrification plant to resolve technical issues. Read more...

Total Site Services wins $95M Fairchild Air Force Base contract

Richland-based Total Site Services (TSS) recently formed a Joint Venture with Garco Construction in Spokane and the TSS-Garco Joint Venture secured a $95M MACC contract with the Department of the Air Force. This acquisition will provide indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and design-build (D-B) construction efforts at Fairchild AFB, Washington. The MACC will consist of multiple disciplines in general construction categories and execute a broad range of maintenance, repair, minor and/or new construction. Read more...

Seven frugal startup tips from millionaire entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur: You don't win in business by wasting money. Even the most successful entrepreneurs pinched pennies in the early days--and many still do. Here, several multimillionaires share their best cost-cutting tips for when you're trying to get your startup off the ground. Read more...

America's top states for technology: Washington #5

CNBC: An environment for innovation is crucial to becoming a top state for business but the right technological infrastructure must also be in place to support and attract businesses. As part of CNBC's annual study, America's Top States for Business, states are graded on several criteria in this important category of Technology & Innovation, and Washington ranked #5! Read more...

Tech Opportunities and Resources

LSDF 2012-2013 Granting Programs

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund is accepting pre-proposals from Washington state for-profit and non-profit organizations for Proof of Concept grants (up to $250K per award) to enhance the commercial viability of intellectual property and Opportunity grants (up to $1.4M per award) to fund extraordinary research and development proposals. LSDF is implementing a new year-round submission and review process for 2012-2013. Read more...

Evergreen Apps Challenge begins, $77K in prizes

The state of Washington has begun a statewide competition to develop apps using government data sets. Prizes totaling $77,500 will be given to winners of the Evergreen Apps Challenge. Criteria include the quality and implementation of the app ideas and the "potential impact" on state, county, and city residents, visitors, and businesses. Don't count on competition from Microsoft and Amazon.com. The contest is open to individuals, students and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees at the time of entry. Deadline is September 6. Read more...

SBIR Alerting Service

The SBIR Alerting Service is a free, award-winning nationwide resource that improves small business access to a substantial source of R&D capital for entrepreneurial ventures: $2.2 billion in annual federal research and development funds from 11 federal agencies. It provides bi-weekly notification of SBIR and STTR solicitation announcements, proposal tips, news and information, and Internet resources relevant to the SBIR/STTR programs. Read more...

Tech Dates and Deadlines

SBIR/STTR letter of intent due

September 4. Topics for the FY13 Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) have been issued and are available on the DOE SBIR/STTR website. The FOA was issued August 13 with Letters of Intent due September 4. Read more...

How to Start a Business workshop

September 10. The "How to start a business" workshop (known as Start Smart) continues to be a big success. It has outgrown the space generously provided by the City of Richland and is moving to the Bechtel Room at TRIDEC. Three dates remain in 2012: Sept. 10, Oct. 8, and Dec. 10. The 2-hour practical and interactive workshop explores how to save time and money by planning now for your business success. Participants develop an action plan and also receive a step-by-step workbook. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. Each date is the same workshop and each class size is limited. Read more...

UW Business Certification Program is coming to Tri-Cities!

September 12 - October 17. The University of Washington will hold its second annual Business Certificate Program in Pasco this fall. Classes begin Wednesday, September 12 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will take place weekly for 6 weeks. Session topics include Leading a Highly Effective Organization, Marketing for Business Growth, Developing a Sales-Oriented Company, Understanding Your Costs and Breakeven Point, and Legal Topics in Business. Courses are taught by the award-winning faculty of the UW Foster School of Business. Read more...

Government Contracting Workshop

September 19 (Walla Walla) and September 25 (Tri-Cities). What does it take to become a successful government contractor? Learn about the services and continuous support that the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) has available to help your company with the contracting process. This class will discuss getting registered, small business programs and certifications, types of solicitations, marketing strategies, responding to opportunities, and laws and regulations. Attendance is free. Read more...

Startup Day

September 22. Designed for entrepreneurs in the midst of building their own companies as well as would-be entrepreneurs about to take the plunge, Startup Day will pack a high-energy and inspirational punch no matter where you are in the startup process. Startup Day is a one-day entrepreneurial confab taking place Saturday, Sept. 22 at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Read more...

Ready, Set, Export seminar helps businesses build markets

September 26-27. Small to medium Washington business enterprises looking to generate sales to new markets will benefit from a program offered Sept. 26 and 27 in Spokane by the Washington Small Business Development Center and International Trade Alliance. The seminar will deliver primary information and resources needed to understand how to export products or services. It will cover: how to find an international market and distribute a product; how to finance and make a profit; how to obtain certifications and learn about regulations; intellectual property issues; SWOT Analysis for export readiness and how to get help through the process. Read more...

From the Laboratory to Leadership Program

September 26-November 7. From the Laboratory to Leadership, hosted by Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, turns science-minded managers into capable business leaders. That means they'll get the core management skills they need to fully leverage your company's human capital. This four-session program begins September 26. Read more...

PNNL This Month

Could software stop people from texting while driving?

Scientific American magazine ran an article about researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studying how software on a cell phone could analyze keystrokes to determine when that phone's user is distracted while composing and sending text messages. This doesn't necessarily mean the person is driving, of course, but combined with GPS and other data, it may be possible to determine when a texter is behind the wheel. Read more...

PNNL to receive $1M investment for carbon fiber research

Tri-City Herald: Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced seven new nationwide projects to accelerate the development and deployment of stronger and lighter materials for the next generation of American-made cars and trucks. One of those projects will take place at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Read more...

It's cool to be part of the energy solution

Many of us grasp that our nation is facing a huge energy challenge but no one has presented it quite as compellingly as did Norman Augustine, retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. when he addressed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Augustine pointed out that energy issues permeate the challenges we face in the U.S., including the impact that uncertain availability and cost of energy have on our economy; the hazards of energy-related pollution on the environment; and the role of constrained and manipulated energy supplies as a source of armed conflict. Read more...

Don't miss this summer's last Farmers Market

Monday, September 10 will mark the last day of this summer's successful PNNL Farmers Market. Swing by to pick up some great, fresh, local food! This wonderful weather we've been having has brought some great produce to the market. There is also a variety of specialty food vendors offering meat, eggs, vinegars, and oils. The Farmers Market is located at the very south end of Q Street, off University Drive in North Richland.

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