Arizona Innovation Challenge

For over 30 years, the Vermont Training Program (VTP) has partnered with employers of all sizes and training providers to prepare Vermont's employees for the jobs of tomorrow. VTP provides performance-based workforce grants for pre-employment training, training for new hires, and training for incumbent workers. This training can either be on-site or offered through an outside provider. VTP grants may cover up to 50% of the training cost. The program also works with eligible employers to introduce manufacturers and other regionally significant employers to Vermont students at every level. Employers who provide work-based learning programs or activities developed in partnership with a school or educational program may apply to VTP for a grant to offset the costs of providing these programs. This work supports several different types of training, but the most requested programs are for advanced manufacturing skills like Lean Technology, Computer-Aided Design, and Computer Numerical Control machining. Supervisory and management training are also popular.

The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program is part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster, which also includes: 1) the Biophotonics program; 2) the Biosensing program; 3) the Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program; and 4) the Engineering of Biomedical Systems program. The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program supports fundamental engineering research that will improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through the development of new theories, methodologies, technologies, or devices. Disabilities could be developmental, cognitive, hearing, mobility, visual, selfcare, independent living, or other. Proposed projects must advance knowledge regarding a specific human disability or pathological motion or understanding of injury mechanisms. Research may be supported that is directed toward the characterization, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction between persons with disabilities and their environment. Areas of particular interest are neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, brain-inspired assistive or rehabilitative systems, theoretical or computational methods, and novel models of functional recovery including the development and application of artificial physiological systems. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering knowledge that facilitates transformative outcomes. The DARE Program encourages high-risk/high-reward proposals that surpass incremental technological improvements. The DARE Program also encourages participatory design and the inclusion of trainees with disabilities as part of the proposed research or broader impacts. Innovative proposals outside of the above specific interest areas may be considered. NSF does not support clinical trials; however, feasibility studies involving human volunteers may be supported if appropriate to the project objectives. The development and application of artificial physiological systems that do not model functional recovery and instead improve fundamental understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes would be appropriate for EBMS. Furthermore, the DARE program does not support proposals having as their central theme commercialization of a product. Small businesses seeking early stage R&D funding for product development are encouraged to contact the NSF SBIR/STTR program in the America's Seed Fund within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP).

The MassTech Intern Partnership (MTIP) provides stipends to Massachusetts-based digital technology companies to help fund summer internships for Massachusetts college and graduate students. Administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and supported by the Healey-Driscoll administration and the state Legislature, the program reimburses participating companies for up to 50% of an intern's hourly wage, capped at $8 per hour and a maximum of $3,200 per intern. Eligible companies may apply for up to two interns per program period, while companies operating in priority focus areas may apply for up to three. The program's goal is to strengthen the state's tech talent pipeline and support startups and growing tech companies across the Commonwealth.

The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut. Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow! Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, marketing expenses, salaries), real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment. Applicants are required to have invested at least $2,500 into their business in the last 12 months, unless located in a distressed municipality.

The Mecklenburg County Business Investment Grant provides qualifying companies relocating to or expanding within Mecklenburg County, North Carolina with a partial refund of the new ad valorem property taxes generated by their project. Administered by the Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development (OED) in collaboration with the City of Charlotte's Business Recruitment and Expansion team and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the program is designed to attract significant new investment and job creation to the county. To qualify, a company must commit to bringing at least 20 new jobs and a minimum of $3 million in capital investment to Mecklenburg County. Grant terms — including the percentage of taxes refunded (typically 50% to 90%) and the length of the reimbursement period (generally three to seven years, with existing local companies eligible for extended terms) — are determined based on the number of jobs created, the size of the capital investment, average annual wages, the project's geographic location within the county, and whether the company falls within one of the area's identified target industries. The grant is structured as a reimbursement, meaning the company first pays its full property tax bill and is then refunded a portion of the incremental taxes generated by the new investment.