Businesses May Apply for SPIR Grants Through UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. Matching funds of up to $25,000 are available to help small and medium-sized companies in Western New York and surrounding areas create and retain jobs with assistance from the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences through the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) program.

Interested companies should contact UB's TCIE (The Center for Industrial Effectiveness) by March 31.

The New York State-funded economic stimulus program, administered regionally by UB TCIE, assists in upgrading or introducing new technologies, addressing product development and testing challenges, and enhancing continuous improvement programs.

TCIE works with approximately 30 companies each year to help them obtain SPIR grant monies.

Companies that received SPIR funds through TCIE during the 2009-10 fiscal year credit the grants with creating 191 jobs, retaining 214 jobs and increasing revenues by more than $26 million.

New York State organizations with 500 employees and less are eligible. The grant underwrites up to 50% of project costs and does not cover capital expenses.

Through the assistance of any of UB's seven engineering departments, SPIR subsidies can help businesses:

-- Increase R&D potential with cutting-edge research and product development services

-- Try new technologies before making capital investments

-- Share advanced manufacturing and high-technology equipment, laboratories and other resources available at UB

-- Re-engineer business processes and enhanced business systems

-- Access the expertise of more than 50 faculty engineers and applied scientists

-- Employ UB Engineering graduate student interns

-- Expand technical and management training programs through the distance learning program EngiNet™

To be considered, contact TCIE Business Development Director Gary Simon by March 31 at 716-645-8837 or by e-mailing ggsimon@buffalo.edu.

Through the UB program and similar ones at the University at Binghamton and Stony Brook University, SPIR aims to bolster the state economy by promoting the transfer of knowledge from university to industry and by providing consultation, technical assistance, research facilities and resources for industrial restructuring.

A program of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, TCIE is Western New York's bridge to excellence by providing a dynamic link between UB's expert resources and the region's business community. TCIE's core focus on operational excellence drives continuous improvement, and its engineering solutions ignite innovation and technological advancement. For more information on how TCIE can assist Western New York businesses, go to http://www.tcie.buffalo.edu or call 645-8800.