SBA Awards Utah Innovation Center FAST Grant To Help Underserved Communities

Note: This article was written prior to the formation of The Nucleus Institute and the integration of the Utah Innovation Center into Nucleus Grow, one of Nucleus’s core programs focused on supporting early-stage innovators and commercialization efforts across the state.

The Utah Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) announce that the Utah Innovation Center, part of GOEO, has been awarded a Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program grant. This funding will further enhance initiatives that drive innovation and support entrepreneurial growth across Utah. 

This grant is one of 49 issued, each up to $200,000, to organizations that support startups through specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance. 

“FAST funding, which fuels innovation to keep America competitive globally, has doubled under the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Isabel Casillas Guzman, 27th administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At a time when we are seeing historic highs in our entrepreneurial activity with a small business boom, investing in America’s innovative startups is a top priority. America’s Seed Fund, powered by the SBA and fueled by 11 federal agencies’ SBIR and STTR programs, is the largest source of early-stage funding in the world. With FAST, we have expanded our entrepreneurial ecosystem to nearly every state so that entrepreneurs with great ideas can invent it, commercialize it, and build it with America’s Seed Fund in every corner of America.” 

This year, the FAST program increased the maximum funding available by 60% to expand the program’s geographic footprint and increase the engagement of underserved geographic and demographic innovators across the country. As a result, FAST awardee organizations will provide support across 48 states and Puerto Rico. FAST organizations work locally and provide person-to-person support and training that increases the probability of success for entrepreneurs and small businesses pursuing SBIR or STTR contracts and grants.

“The FAST grant being awarded again to GOEO’s Utah Innovation Center is a testament to the successful work they have done with our Utah entrepreneurs,” said Marla Trollan, director of SBA Utah. “Partnering with GOEO allows us to support innovators across the state, empowering them to bring groundbreaking ideas to market and contribute to our nation’s competitive edge.”

The Utah Innovation Center, as a FAST recipient, has launched several key initiatives to bolster innovation in the state. These include a commercialization cohort that provides tailored guidance to Utah’s most promising startups and a series of client spotlight videos that highlight the success stories of Utah SBIR/STTR awardees. The center emphasizes outreach to underrepresented groups, ensuring broader access to federal funding opportunities and offering scholarships to facilitate customer discovery and commercialization. 

“Utah is home to a thriving innovation ecosystem, empowering the next generation of creators, innovators, and leaders,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of GOEO. “We thank the SBA for this funding award, which will offer Utahns more opportunities to lead out in cutting-edge technologies and innovations.”

Looking ahead, the FAST award will empower the Utah Innovation Center to continue offering and supporting new initiatives, including an SBIR/STTR innovation conference, outside expert training, regional symposiums, and the launch of an SBIR/STTR ambassador program to expand awareness and support for small businesses statewide.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the Federal and State Technology Partnership award from the SBA,” said Linda Cabrales, Director of the Utah Innovation Center. “It empowers us to make a greater impact in the Utah technology startup community. It’s inspiring to see entrepreneurs and researchers working hard to make a difference in the world by bringing game-changing technologies to the market.” The FAST program, opens in a new tab provides awards for a base period of 12 months plus four optional continuation periods of 12 months each.