GENEDGE ALLIANCE has a long and solid history of helping Virginia businesses compete successfully.

Overall, the program is meant to help businesses achieve new growth by assisting them with the commercialization of new products and ideas. Eligible companies will receive two-thirds in matching grant funds for qualifying innovation and growth-related expenses. “Innovation” is defined under this program as taking (a) new products to new markets; (b) new products to existing markets; or (c) existing products to new markets.

Is your firm eligible for this business matching grant funding?
If your firm is in a qualifying industry (manufacturing or specific scientific, technical or research enterprises) and is located in a Tobacco Commission region, then you are qualified for this program. If you have any further questions or need clarification, please email or call Paul Bolesta at (804) 840-1670.

What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose of the funding is to help participating companies achieve new commercial success and accelerated growth by using specialized evaluation tools, product development processes, improved marketing and executive growth coaching available exclusively through the NIST-MEP network. The program is structured to ensure measurable success and has an advisory panel that monitors key milestones. The advisory panel consists of business owners from Southside and Southwest Virginia, among other stakeholders.

How do I sign up? Click here for listing of available workshops for consideration.
There are two ways to begin: (1) GENEDGE ALLIANCE will hold public outreach events throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia to help firms evaluate their growth potentials and better understand the funding process. (2) Alternatively, interested firms may bypass the public outreach process and engage directly with GENEDGE ALLIANCE.

Regardless of how they enter the program, each company will receive a primer on business growth before the process begins to decide whether the program is appropriate at this time.

Email or call Paul Bolesta at (804) 840-1670 if you have ideas and wish to have the idea evaluated through the Business Translation process.

What are the specifics of the program?
The public outreach event or growth assessment (for those who bypass the public outreach) will help firms evaluate their need for growth, provide technology transfer on what it takes to make it happen, and promote a better understanding of the funding process for those companies desiring assistance. This initial step is a no-obligation assessment period.

If a company enters the program, any company investment for qualifying activities will be matched, essentially covering two-thirds of qualifying company expenses to determine the marketability of these ideas through an Innovation Coaching and Business Simulation project. These projects will ultimately evaluate innovation success probability using a scientific, data driven process that incorporates critical success factors determined through a proven, sophisticated modeling program.

Based on the results of this business evaluation, the business (with assistance from GENEDGE ALLIANCE) may present an Innovation Project plan to a special grant advisory panel for additional funding of up to two-thirds of qualifying company expenses to progress toward innovation, commercialization and launch. Visual chart of the entire process.

What is the purpose of this program?
The goal of this grant is to grow both revenue and jobs in Southside and Southwest Virginia through innovation.

How long are the matching grants available?
The program is available now through July 2012.