Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program manager, Melinda Coffman!

USDA supports high quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. Topics include forests and animal production and protection; Food Science and Nutrition; Rural Development; Aquaculture; Biofuels and Biobased Products; Small and Mid-Size Farms; Plant Production and Protection/Engineering; Plant Production and Protection/Biology.

Join this 1-hour overview of the USDA SBIR/STTR program and learn, from the source, what’s needed to submit a successful proposal.

Register Here

no cost to attend, but registration is required

Featuring:

Melinda Coffman,

USDA Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR/STTR) Program Coordinator

Melinda has been with NIFA, as the USDA Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program Coordinator, since September of 2020. She manages the program, which administers Phase I and Phase II grants and works closely with the Small Business Administration. Prior to this position, she had spent much of her career working at the University of Kansas, where she worked in social science research, consulting / training, and program evaluation. Through her research and evaluation projects she became proficient in multiple evidence-based and emerging practices. She holds a B.S. in Agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University and an M.B.A from Benedictine College. She pursued an M.B.A. to further her interest in applying business principles to social problems. The SBIR program combines agricultural research, business principles, and public service all of which are of which are strong interests of hers.

Training Provided By: Michigan’s SBIR/STTR Assistance Program
The Michigan SBIR/STTR Assistance Program provides SBIR/STTR training and proposal development services to technology companies with costs covered in whole or in part by the state. The program is funded by the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and managed by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.

Do you know about Michigan’s SBIR/STTR Assistance Program?  The Michigan SBIR/STTR Assistance Program provides SBIR/STTR training and proposal development services to technology companies with most costs covered by a state grant. The program is managed by BBCetc.

Funds for this initiative were provided by the 21st Century Jobs Fund, a MSF program designed to accelerate the growth and diversification of Michigan’s economy.