Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC) announced today a proactive approach to increasing the participation of minority-owned small businesses in little known, federally funded research and development programs – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business technology Transfer (STTR) Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Technology administers the SBIR and STTR programs. Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is a highly competitive three-phase award system which provides qualified small business concerns with opportunities to propose innovative ideas that meet the specific research and development needs of the Federal Government. STTR is a highly competitive three-phase program that reserves a specific percentage of Federal research and development funding for award to small businesses in partnership with nonprofit research institutions to move ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace, to foster high-tech economic development and to address the technological needs of the Federal Government. Recognizing the need to increase participation among minority-owned small businesses, Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC) and the Office of Technology, U.S. Small Business Administration have joined forces to raise the awareness and participation in these programs within the minority business community.

Edsel M. Brown, Jr., Assistant Director for the Office of Technology, U.S. Small Business Administration, will lead an in-depth discussion about the resources and opportunities available to MBEs during the MBE Capital Call Conference on February 15, 2010 in Richmond, Virginia. In “Accessing Federal Grants”, Mr. Brown will lead a presentation and panel discussion about the structure of the SBIR/STTR programs, their supporting legislation, funding, and opportunities for MBEs. Mr. Brown is joined by Susan Nichols SBIR/STTR Program Manager for Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and Dave Goodwin, Chief Scientist for the Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR/STTR Program.

According to Markita Van de Riet, VHCDC Public Relations Director, “The mission of the MBE Capital Call is to educate, support, and promote investment in Minority Business Enterprises. That mission includes exposing MBEs engaged in high-tech and innovation to federal resources and opportunities for funding. Accordingly, we’re pleased to be working with Mr. Brown, Ms. Nichols, and Mr. Goodwin and have them a part of the MBE Capital Call Conference”. To learn more about the 2010 MBE Capital Call visit www.mbecapitalcall.com/2010