Skip Navigation

665 Main Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY  •  716.852.7100
  1. ABOUT US
    1. Who We Are
    2. Board of Directors
    3. Business Directory
    4. Membership
    5. Staff Directory
    6. Strategic Partners
    7. Major Investors
    8. Preferred Vendors
    9. Support the Partnership
  2. ADVOCACY
    1. Where We Stand
    2. Legislative Action Agendas
    3. Regional Agenda
    4. Political Action
    5. Great Lakes Metro Chambers
    6. Advocate Now: Action Alert
    7. PartnershipAdvocacy.com
  3. EXPERTISE
    1. Accelerate Upstate
    2. Buffalo Building Reuse Project
    3. Bright Choices Insurance Program
    4. Business Intelligence
    5. Economic Development Resources
    6. The Expert Forum
    7. Leadership Forum
    8. SellingHive
    9. Target Industries
  4. CONNECTIONS
    1. Events
    2. Athena Awards
    3. Innovate 2011
    4. Buffalo Niagara 360 Young Professionals
    5. 2011 Annual Report to Membership
    6. Sponsorships
    7. The HobNob & CEO Auction
  5. NEWS
    1. Press Room
    2. Email from the President
    3. Partnership Blog
    4. Monthly Newsletter
    5. Partnership in the News
    6. Videos

Home > ADVOCACY > Where We Stand > State SBIR Letter

February 5, 2010


Hon. Dennis Gabryszak (sent to all members of WNY State delegation)
New York State Assembly
920 Legislative Office Bldg.
Albany, NY 12248

Dear Assemblyman Gabryszak:

On behalf of the 2,500 employer members of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, I write in strong support of A.4198/S.4434, sponsored by Assemblyman Schimminger and Senator Stachowski, respectively, which would re-codify the State Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program within the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR).

The future of cutting-edge innovation in Upstate New York starts with the entrepreneurial spirit among small technology-based businesses, most of which also depend heavily on federal SBIR/STTR funding. The reinstatement of a competitive dollar-for-dollar state SBIR-matching funds program would provide these small businesses with additional resources to complement their existing federal awards.

The state’s SBIR program, which was active from 1984-1991, was highly instrumental in the growth of many small businesses for whom the federal SBIR program is often the only access they have to federal research and development procurement. The re-codification of the State Small Business Innovative Research Program, given its successful history, is crucial to the ability of small businesses throughout New York State to drive the next generation of groundbreaking innovation.

Programs in other states, such as Kentucky (please see enclosed) have been extremely effective in leveraging federal SBIR funding into economic opportunities and investment in their communities. Follow through on the provision mandating NYSTAR to conduct an outreach program informing small businesses about available federal and state programs is essential as a state-matching funds program can serve as a catalyst, attracting more high-tech firms, creating jobs and intellectual property and in turn, greater allocation of federal funding as companies progress to Phase II & III of SBIR.

New York has been without a state SBIR-matching funds program for far too long. On behalf of the growing number of our technology-based business members, I urge you to support this legislation to give Buffalo Niagara companies additional access to the early stage capital that drives their innovative work.

Sincerely,

Andrew J. Rudnick

cc. Assemblyman Robin Schimminger
     Senator William Stachowski

Enc.