Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program

Purpose

The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards from women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses in underrepresented areas - typically rural states.

FAST awards build the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through:

Outreach: increase the pipeline of SBIR/STTR applicants through training and outreach; and build the capacity of partner organizations and individuals to support SBIR/STTR applicants and existing awardees.

Technical and business assistance: support entrepreneurs and startups through programs or services that improve proposal development and team creation; provide assistance that leads to the commercialization of technology developed through SBIR/STTR program funding; and form or encourage relevant mentoring networks to provide business advice and counseling.

Financial support: make grants or loans to applicants to pay a portion or all the cost of developing SBIR/STTR proposals (Phase 0), attending relevant conferences, and bridging gaps between phases.

FY 2022 FAST Competition

In FY 2022, FAST was appropriated $6,000,000 in total funding. Of this funding, $4,125,000 is allocated for the continuation of awards made in FY 2020 and FY 2021. The remaining $1,875,000 will fund new awards under the following funding opportunity (up to $125,000 per applicant).

Eligible applicants include state and local economic development agencies, colleges and universities, accelerators, incubators, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), and other technology-based economic development entities. Only one proposal is allowed per state, with an accompanying letter from a state’s governor or equivalent. Varying levels of matching funds are required from each participating state or territory.

FY 2022 FAST Open Call Webinar Q&A

FY 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity Documents
Funding Opportunity No. SB-OIIFT-22-001
FY 2022 FAST Synopsis
Funding Opportunity Submission Instructions
Funding Opportunity Definitions
Terms and Conditions

For questions email FAST@sba.gov

Current FAST Awardees

State	ORGANIZATION
Arkansas	Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Arizona	Arizona Commerce Authority
Colorado	Colorado SBDC Techsource
Connecticut	Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
Delaware	University of Delaware
Georgia	Innovation Gateway-University of Georgia
Hawaii	Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC)
Illinois	EnterpriseWorks at the University of Illinois
Kansas	Wichita State University
Kentucky	Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation
Louisiana	Louisiana Business and Technology Center
Maryland	Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
Minnesota	Minnesota Technology Association
Mississippi	Innovate Mississippi
Missouri	Missouri Small Business Development Center
Montana	Montana State University
Nebraska	Nebraska Business Development Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha
New Hampshire	University of New Hampshire
New Mexico	Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University
North Carolina	First Flight Venture Center, Inc.
Ohio	Ohio Aerospace Institute
Oklahoma	The University of Oklahoma Tom Love Innovation Hub
Oregon	VertueLab
Pennsylvania	Ben Franklin Technology Partners Corporation
Puerto Rico	Puerto Rico Small Business and Technology Development Centers
South Carolina	University of South Carolina
South Dakota	South Dakota Biotechnology Council
Tennessee	Launch Tennessee
Texas	SWTXB SBDC Technology Commercialization Center
Virginia	Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)
West Virginia	TechConnect West Virginia
Wisconsin	Center for Technology Commercialization
Wyoming	University of Wyoming Small Business Development Center

FAST Award Announcements

Congressional History

Congress sought to reduce the variation within state technology programs that foster economic development among small high-technology firms. In response, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001, codified at 15 U.S.C. §657d(c), established the FAST program. The program expired on September 30, 2005 and was reestablished under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010.

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