Click one of the following for valuable assistance:

Business Consulting
Technology Connections
TechHelp™
Research & Development Money
SCORE

Consulting is available to individuals or businesses in two areas:

1. Preliminary review to assess specific needs.

2. Professional assistance in areas such as business planning, marketing and advertising, management and finance.

ISBDC capabilities include a wide range of services. Professional staff, higher education faculty, private sector professionals and students are available to help you with your specialized business needs.

• Business Plan

• Marketing Plan

• Advertising Plan

• Cost Analysis

• Cash Flow Projections

• Loan Assistance Information

• Market Research

• Organizational Development

• Purchase or Sale of Business

• New Venture Analysis

If your North Central Idaho business needs to use these or any number of other consulting, training or research assistance programs, contact the ISBDC office nearest you or call 792-2465 for assistance.

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... to experts in government, academic & private research centers:
Through our affiliations we can obtain referrals to experts in virtually any field of interest. We also have connections with the universities in-state, directories of research center specialties, etc.

...to local consultants or practitioners:
ISBDC has experience with specialists in many fields and maintains references to others. We can usually help solve problems through networking.

... to tap specialized databases:
Again, as NASA's Idaho affiliate, we have access to nearly a thousand databases -- everything from A to Z: agriculture to economics to health care to science to zoology... And more.

...for low-cost problem solving by federal lab personnel:
Your ISBDC has done the hard part of contracting with Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory on behalf of small businesses to receive up to 40 hours of scientist/engineer time, analysis, advice, and perhaps incidental equipment to resolve a specific defined problem that can't reasonably be addressed by the private sector. Currently there is no charge for this service. Other labs with different specialties, like Jet Propulsion Lab, Pacific Northwest Lab, Sandia, Los Alamos, etc., are also accessible.

...for long-term or project-oriented partnerships:
Most federal labs and research centers are eager for private sector partners to commercialize existing technology, license patents or develop new technologies. We can help with technology matching and introductions. Ask.

...for innovation assessment and coaching to commercialization:
With experience, consultants, and the backing of NASA and other federal labs, your ISBDC Technology Connection can likely assist in getting worthy projects to market. 

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TechHelp™ is a resource for small to medium size manufacturers in Idaho. We are a part of the network of Small Business Development Centers with field engineers located in three offices around the state. Though the public name may vary from state to state, TechHelp™ is part of a network of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships that team federal support with state and local organizations to help manufacturers become more competitive. 

Each local office works directly with client firms to address their needs in areas such as: production techniques, technology application, workforce training and in many cases, improving their business practices. You can contact our offices from anywhere in the state at 1-888-IDTEKHLP. Visit our website http://www.techhelp.org for more information.

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General Comments
Because of the high risk, private capital is hard to find for taking an idea through the development stages and into the marketplace. To find non-government sources, success depends on obvious merit in the idea, evidence of extensive pre-venture effort and commitment and the persuasiveness of the presentation of the idea. Even with apparent strength in all three of these areas, VERY FEW individuals (except family and friends) will be willing to leave you in control and just take the financial risk until development is well along. Large foundations and government sources are more likely to invest in your ideas that are in the public's interest and that have demonstrable merit -- IF you can persuade those who hold the purse strings.

Foundation Grants
We know of no better way to search for foundation grant money than through your public librarian. Some libraries have built substantial grant resource sections with knowledgeable librarians to help. Specialists in grant application writing present a five-day workshop in Lewiston for a fee.

Small Business Innovation Research
This provides federal money for research and development that is in the nation's best interest or leads to a vital product that the government wants to buy.

ERIP, INNCON, NICE3, TRP
These are other federal programs currently funding innovation, including:

• The Energy Related Inventions Program (ERIP), by U.S. Department of Energy, for energy conservation projects.

• The Innovative Concepts (InnCon) Program, by DOE, for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.

• National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3), sponsored by DOE and EPA, for state and industry partnerships for projects that develop and demonstrate advances in energy efficiency and clean production technologies.

• Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP); nine (9) agencies participate; intended to help defense-dependent firms become dual-use: defense and commercial.

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