NEW Energy Idea Contest

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA (BFTP) announce their sponsorship of the NEW Energy Idea Contest. The grand prize of $35,000 will be awarded to either an entrepreneur or one early-stage, pre-revenue company in the process of developing a new energy or alternative energy related product/process improvement.

Prize money for the contest is being provided by Ben Franklin and PennTAP through funding made by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). To qualify, contestants must have a viable, new energy/alternative energy related product or process improvement idea and cannot have received BFTP funding in the past. The deadline for applications is April 15, 2010.

Small Biz Technology grant

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, administered by the National Institutes of Health, is intended to stimulate a partnership of ideas and technologies between innovative small business concerns (SBCs) and non-profit research institutions through Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). By providing awards to SBCs for cooperative R/R&D efforts with non-profit research institutions, the STTR program assists the small business and research communities by commercializing innovative technologies. More details on funding priorities can be found in the guidelines.

Companies supporting arts nominations

[Philanthropy News Digest]: The Business Committee for the Arts is accepting nominations for the BCA Ten: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America. Announced annually, the BCA Ten is a national list created to recognize businesses of all sizes for their exceptional involvement with the arts. Anyone — individual, arts organization, or company employee — may nominate a company for the award. Companies, both large and small, that support the arts in the United States are eligible for nomination. Nominations for THE BCA TEN 2010 are open until Friday, February 26, 2010.

10,000 Small Businesses initiative

Goldman Sachs recently announced their "10,000 Small Businesses" program, a $500 million initiative that will unlock the growth and job-creation potential of 10,000 small businesses across the United States through greater access to business education, mentors and networks, and financial capital. It is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that a combination of education, capital and support services best addresses the barriers to growth for small businesses.