$1.9 million awarded nationwide to support green economy
LOS ANGELES - Today, the E.P.A. announced $200,000 to 2 Southern California companies located in Torrance and Northridge to develop sustainable technologies that address environmental issues. A total of $1.9 million was awarded to 19 small businesses nationwide.
"Southern California continues to experience poor air quality, and is now faced with a historic drought," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "These small businesses are singlehandedly working on new technologies to help find solutions to these environmental issues while strengthening the economy."
Physical Optics Corporation in Torrance, Calif., received $100,000 to develop its Regenerative Capacitive Electro-Desalination System (RECED). RECED is a compact, electrically driven system that efficiently converts brackish water or seawater into drinkable water at a low cost, making it ideal for use in small drinking water systems and portable personal water purification devices.
Waddan Systems, LLC., in Northridge, Calif., received $100,000 to develop its Multi Air Pollutant Lab-On-A-Chip (MAPLOC). MAPLOC is a microelectromechanical sensor that simultaneously detects and monitors multiple hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds, that will help facilitate remediation efforts and minimize air pollutant release.
Each of the 19 companies awarded nationwide will gain an SBIR Phase I contract for up to $100,000 to develop their green technology. Once the plan is commercially viable, the companies are eligible to apply for a Phase II contract of up to $300,000 to further develop and commercialize their environmentally-friendly technology for the marketplace.
EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) plan funds small businesses developing green technologies that protect the environment. This year's recipients are focusing on air and climate, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, building materials, and homeland security research.
E.P.A. will be soliciting the next round of SBIR Phase I awards in September 2015.
For information about the E.P.A. SBIR Phase I awards, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir2015phase1
For information about the E.P.A. SBIR Program, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/
For information about the SBIR Plan across the Federal Government, please visit: https://www.sbir.gov/
