EDA Announces Grant Winners for i6 Green Challenge

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced grant recipients for the i6 Green Challenge, which aims to spur economic development by creating green jobs. More than $12 million was awarded to six groups working on the common goal of expediting the transition from green technology development to commercial implementation.

EDA i6 grants support the use of a proof-of-concept model aimed at technology-driven economic development that helps build a green economy. Goals for the six different projects are diverse, but generally focus on facilitating exchange of information and ideas between researchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses; connecting new technologies to testing facilities; and accelerating the movement of green technologies from ideas to commercially viable products or services.

For example, grant recipient Igniting Innovation Cleantech Acceleration Network will bring together scientists and entrepreneurs to work on commercializing research begun at several Florida universities on solar energy, biofuels, green building technologies, and smart grid technologies. For i6 Green program information and specific regional projects, see www.eda.gov/i6.

– Evan Dick