Project Number: 3620-41000-158-11
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 01, 2012
End Date: Jul 31, 2015

Objective:
Continually expand business networks through meetings with grower and commodity organizations, rural community, industry, and financial leaders who could contribute to the successful resourcing of biofuel chains. Organize rural business development forums to identify regional issues that are perceived as barriers to establishment of advanced biofuel supply chains, and build bridges for development of expanded trans-supply chain partnership networks.

Approach:
The ARS Office of Technology Transfer in cooperation with the USDA Agriculture Innovation Technology Partnership Foundation (ATIP) will serve as an interface between research and local investor communities who can commercialize technology and help establish advanced biofuel supply chains. ATIP is made up of a number of established economic development entities. The members are the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, PA Department of Community and Economic Development; California Association for Local Economic Development; Center for Innovation, Arlington, TX; Georgia Research Alliance; Kansas Bioscience Authority; Maryland Technology Development Corporation; Mississippi Technology Alliance; National Association of Seed and Venture Funds; and Wisconsin Security Research Consortium.