{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/grant-opportunities/nifa-small-business-innovation-research-grants", "NIFA Small Business Innovation Research Grants", "2016-07-25", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PRESS RELEASE FROM USDA NIFAWASHINGTON, July 14, 2016 \u2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced more than $8.3 million in available funding to support small businesses in the creation of advanced research and development projects that will lead to innovative solutions for American agriculture. This funding is available through the Small Business Innovation Research program, administered by NIFA.\n\u201cSmall businesses are the economic back bone of rural America,\u201d said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. \u201cThe SBIR program has provided small businesses with the opportunity to expand on innovative ideas and technology, resulting in more jobs and long-term commercial value.\u201d\nThe SBIR program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses. The program fosters and encourages participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.\nCompanies initially apply for Phase I feasibility studies, which may be followed by Phase II research and development projects. Phase I grants are limited to $100,000 and a duration of eight months, while Phase II grants are limited to $600,000 and a duration of 24 months.\nRecent examples of successful NIFA-funded SBIR projects include work by the Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc. that developed kits that allow farm managers to rapidly determine nitrate levels in plants; a project by Whole Trees, LLC that developed a new market for small-diameter round timber \u2013 a waste product of well-managed forests; and research by Stony Creek Colors (USDA Blog) that developed indigo as a substitute cash crop that can be grown by tobacco farmers to produce natural dye for blue jeans.\u00a0 See more examples of SBIR-funded projects in the SBIR brochure (PDF) available on the NIFA website.\nApplications are due October 6. See the request for applications for more information.\nSince 1983, the SBIR program has awarded more than 2,000 research and development grants to American-owned, independently operated, for-profit businesses with 500 employees or fewer.\nNIFA funds and administers the SBIR program, with additional funding provided by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.\nRequest a letter of support from Congresswoman Pingree", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/grant-opportunities/nifa-small-business-innovation-research-grants"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.755133805796504, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}