AB 917

This bill directs the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to

establish a grant program under which WEDC awards state matching grants to

recipients of grants under Phase I and Phase II of the federal Small Business

Innovation Research Program (SBIR) or Phase I and Phase II of the federal Small

Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR).

Under the bill, the recipient of a Phase I SBIR or STTR federal grant may apply

to WEDC for a state matching grant in connection with the federal grant. WEDC

may award the state matching grant if the applicant satisfies certain conditions,

including that the applicant's principal place of business is located, and will continue

to be located, in Wisconsin; the applicant demonstrates to WEDC that the research

to be conducted in connection with the Phase I SBIR or STTR federal grant will

benefit Wisconsin and that at least 51 percent of that research will occur in

Wisconsin; and the applicant intends to apply for a Phase II SBIR or STTR federal

grant.

The bill further authorizes any person to whom WEDC awards a state matching

grant for the person's Phase I SBIR or STTR federal grant to apply to WEDC for an

additional state matching grant in connection with the person's Phase II SBIR or

STTR federal grant. WEDC may award such a state matching grant if the grant

applicant satisfies certain additional conditions, including that the applicant

demonstrates to WEDC that it completed any requirements for its Phase I SBIR or

STTR federal grant and that it has, in fact, been awarded a Phase II SBIR or STTR

federal grant.

WEDC must contract with a person to whom WEDC awards a state matching

grant under the bill. The contract must include the amount of the state matching

grant and must require that the state matching grant recipient submit a report to

WEDC that shows its expenditures of the Phase I or Phase II federal grant, as

applicable, as well as its expenditures of the state matching grant.

Under the bill, WEDC may not award a state matching grant that exceeds the

lesser of $50,000 or the amount of the Phase I or Phase II SBIR or STTR federal grant,

as applicable. The bill also limits WEDC's total state matching grant awards per

state fiscal year to $300,000.