[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6106824,"mediaKeyId","2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e","parentId",2779273,"title","Businesses and founders urge funding for state SBIR matching grants in HB 2,418","audioSeconds",1125,"startMs",3871485,"endMs",4996995,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e&start=3871&end=4996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e/thumbnail_3871485.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106824/Oregon/Businesses-and-founders-urge-funding-for-state-SBIR-matching-grants-in-HB-2418","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106824-45d19ad68f7ea8472a123bc88adb6ba1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457111&Signature=fu1yhkjteClsy0M~SjPy9qz0t2q4bDyaXYpvjK2N6F1ZTrT6Ul2XT2GqkEqvU7uuvn0rKk9n2Vp1dszCCwT-f9ayDqf45Pbcw8rewH4YSpEMHTvNsUYyeDjnaeJR2oy1B2LlhI419eeL20WB1fZbfozrfURO4WfB0ePhXp-9NfBJP2BVoB-Qiz-l0R-6VvObSQzlYc5y0cVgqrCTiNtIuTfaKy1MjqO3Fi7AGyA6Le3o8EIyLAdHPf98iQF-TVUZn80OouctplEVxSLP2W3IcrMWMAfdSbDYwUTaHGSPZNQSIrP~CYWFAPqzemQosLYz6BGMylizZhsWskstEuSHJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 2,418, as presented to the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business on March 26, would appropriate $3,000,000 from the General Fund to the Oregon Business Development Department to fund Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) matching grants.

Business Oregon’s Mark Brady provided a program overview: SBIR/STTR are federal set-aside grant programs across multiple agencies that provide non-dilutive capital for early-stage research and commercialization. Brady said federal Phase I awards are typically ~6 months and about $150,000, while Phase II awards can reach $1–2 million or more; Business Oregon offers small application grants (up to $5,000) and competitive matching grants (up to $50,000 for Phase I, up to $100,000 for Phase II) to help Oregon companies win and commercialize federal awards.

Founders and executives described how state SBIR supports affect company trajectories. John Harkness of ReWire AI said his company received roughly $2.5 million in federal SBIR awards and $200,000 in Oregon matching grants; he told the committee matching funds covered legal, IP and business-development work that federal SBIR rules generally disallow and credited the matching grants for enabling commercial partnerships and revenue growth. Warapur Namshadakoon of PDX Pharmaceutical described using Business Oregon matching funds for patent filings, lab expansion and industry conferences; he said PDX now holds multiple U.S. and international patents and that state matching funds can be critical to securing later-stage federal awards that require non-federal matching. Dr. Jacques Zonneveld of Lazarus 3D described moving his company from Houston to Philomath, Oregon, and credited Business Oregon support with helping his firm secure an initial NIH SBIR and hire researchers; the company said it has grown from three employees to 21 and secured over $10,000,000 in private funding as a result.

Witnesses urged the committee to continue or expand matching funds, with suggestions including larger match amounts for advanced SBIR phases and mechanisms that allow state funds to be repaid or recycled when portfolio companies achieve commercial success. Committee members asked about program administration and how state awards complement federal rules; Brady reiterated the state review panels, competition for limited funds, and the stated goal of increasing the success rates of Oregon applicants for federal SBIR awards.

The public hearing record included multiple testimonials from early-stage life-science and medical-device companies that said Business Oregon SBIR support helped them win federal grants, grow payroll in Oregon and attract private investment. No committee vote on HB 2,418 occurred that day; the bill awaits further committee consideration and any potential amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade 03/26/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","In a public hearing on HB 2,418, founders and company representatives described how Business Oregon SBIR matching grants and application support helped secure federal research awards, protect intellectual property, and scale businesses in Oregon. The bill would appropriate $3 million for SBIR grants.","taxTitle","Economic Development and Small Business, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17512,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106827,"Lawmakers hear testimony supporting $6 million for Centers of Innovation Excellence and signature research centers",4584,412025,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e&start=412&end=4996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e/thumbnail_412025.jpg","/articles/6106827/Oregon/Lawmakers-hear-testimony-supporting-6-million-for-Centers-of-Innovation-Excellence-and-signature-research-centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106827-b1d628f0ff8442e1d65678e8616b28df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457111&Signature=Seoyvqbq~PePdX5KuP1J~L4rX13bVz6g6Yc89nBSUcuW-zTrtEzvkZ79MVEMhSFLTwoorLAwW2MuSXpc2kCm0J3BbutE7x8w2wAEjz2J4mLRO~iMGuYUlIA0U5Nwk~PUiDyDgAHnqU3kcZmGEpfHv~WTnbQGvjJTkx-yU-uBHEHsjBda9v1NxuqGSqID8RUTJEEcU-weoe1Rjq7knv87eXLQ2vmohbimKNLS4cJw8fe6OE82k3L9WSwODChBuPyndrn0LSi27earSXEqBGYzz67LXosyZy9NLpsPZIVPiw8EKA4qptDRt6rRTvGGOAutIXyVcAWA3oB9a782kAZqFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 2,417, as replaced by the dash-1 amendment, would direct the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to provide grants to Centers of Innovation Excellence and signature research centers and appropriates $6,000,000 from the General Fund for Center for Innovation Excellence grants. The House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business held a public hearing on the measure on March 26.

Mark Brady, innovation and entrepreneurship manager at Business Oregon, provided committee background on the Oregon Innovation Council and the Centers of Innovation Excellence (CIEs). He told the committee the Innovation Council was created in 2005 and first funded in 2007; he said the council’s funding for the current biennium is $18,200,000. Brady described the CIEs as public–private partnerships that support early-stage research and commercialization and said the council’s investments from 2015–2023 leveraged about $2,800,000,000 in federal and private dollars from roughly $51,000,000 in state investment — a ratio he summarized as roughly 55:1.

Lisa Bozinovich (recorded in the transcript as Lisa Bozinovich), representing the Oregon Bioscience Association, urged support for HB 2,417 and the dash-1 amendment. She described the bioscience sector’s statewide economic footprint — testimony cited $21,200,000,000 in total economic impact and nearly 75,000 jobs — and argued that CIEs and signature research centers help startups secure funding and remain in Oregon.

Heather Ellis, executive director of Otradi (the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute) and the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI), told the committee that Otradi and OBI provide lab space, mentoring, and commercialization assistance to bioscience startups. Ellis said Otradi had leveraged $23,300,000 in state funding into more than $928,000,000 in federal and private investment and that OBI has expanded from six to about 30 startups using wet-lab and office facilities; she described OBI as critical infrastructure for university spinouts and early-stage bioscience companies.

Multiple company founders and local economic development representatives also testified in support. Steven Lafoon of Pandaria Technologies (appearing remotely) and John Harkness of ReWire AI described how incubator support and Business Oregon grants helped secure federal SBIR funding, recruit talent and attract investor interest. Michael Wallisch testified on behalf of Aranora, saying that access to OBI’s shared equipment, conference rooms and mentorship reduced costs and improved his company’s ability to win NIH SBIR awards.

OHSU senior director Aditi Martin described OHSU’s research portfolio and noted that Otradi-supported companies have created jobs and won federal grants; Tim Layton of Genentech and Caitlin Vargas of Collaborative Economic Development Oregon (Collaborative EDO) emphasized the role of state-level support in retaining and scaling bioscience businesses outside the Portland metro area.

Committee members asked about the selection process for CIE grants and how state funds relate to the agency’s base budget. Brady described an open application process with expert review panels, planning grants to help prospective centers prepare proposals, and said the HB 2,417 appropriation would be additional to Business Oregon’s Oregon Inc. line items in the agency budget.

Several witnesses and lawmakers pressed for mechanisms to retain companies in Oregon and to consider revolving or matching structures so state funds could be recycled if companies provide returns. Brady noted the agency’s commercialization gap fund as one mechanism that can generate returns and be reinvested over time.

The public hearing record for HB 2,417 on March 26 contained multiple endorsements from industry, research institutions and local economic development organizations. No committee vote was taken on HB 2,417 during the March 26 hearing; the measure awaits committee action.","During a public hearing on HB 2,417, Business Oregon and multiple bioscience and industry representatives told the committee that $6 million in general fund appropriations for Centers of Innovation Excellence and signature research centers would help retain startups, create high-wage jobs and leverage federal and private investment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6106831,"House committee advances four economic development measures, refers them to Ways and Means",5008,4960,5013391,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e&start=4&end=5013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779273-37fe2937bf2e4258933bb18199868d8e/thumbnail_4960.jpg","/articles/6106831/Oregon/House-committee-advances-four-economic-development-measures-refers-them-to-Ways-and-Means","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106831-6080f34871268e99c3a22c209b2697b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457111&Signature=kjgFKFlD7AurX0C~sxISbv6UQJDD94nhjaNt9CrahxYr8jR7qL3VUqwKygFQZyaaA2n3DY20ikFljK27O7Wcu1TIKgWq4ThvOIGd2uZYN0~pQJw3C5DOUcZ-UtgIIM5GF0Mp~nmEXs9UPupszkK-Ze4xQVgf5uKFVCpF2TDuH5pZELv9Dmpdfi~cRaXHG21xbwRnrQ6xmI68a-PTFR5nZN7wTgDFl08YD2A9NTn1XXtky8xFR0mTlTyCUpiYOcoCaV7F6OyMgq0-brhAZB~4KL6R0h6qwld3VE~DHvfQbQ0EAWd3qDX3xwSfXZuf-skvo7agVp1lypOrFtZSDb0gjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business on March 26 advanced four separate bills and referred them to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

House Bill 3,246, as amended, directs the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to develop an industrial symbiosis roadmap, declare an emergency, and establish a pilot program. The adopted dash-3 amendment updates the definition of “industrial symbiosis,” sets program goals, and appropriates $1,300,000 to provide technical assistance to pilot communities. The committee adopted the amendment with no recorded objection and later moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the recorded roll call in committee shows Representatives Dobson (Aye), Lively (Aye), Osborne (No), Scarlato (Aye), Watanabe (Aye), Juncker (Aye), Vice Chair Diehl (Yes), Vice Chair Isnor (Yes) and Chair Winn (Yes). The motion passed and the bill was referred by prior reference to Ways and Means.

House Bill 2,969, as replaced by the dash-2 amendment, directs Business Oregon to conduct a study on economic development and appropriates $840,000 to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association for a project using fish for non-food manufacturing. The committee adopted the amendment and moved the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion passed and the bill was referred to Ways and Means by prior reference (recorded committee discussion and a roll call were noted; the Clerk completed the roll and the motion passed).

House Bill 3,099 would appropriate $70,000 to each of the state’s 12 economic development districts, for a total of $1,680,000, and requires districts to receive federal matching grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The committee moved HB 3,099 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referred it to Ways and Means; the motion passed on roll call.

House Bill 3,148 would change the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Plan, add a one-time personal computing benefit, set a maximum limit the PUC may receive, and repeal the statute that previously sunset the program. The committee adopted the dash-1 amendment and voted to move the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. The roll call recorded: Representative Dobson (Aye); Representative Blanket (Aye); Representative Wadsworth (No); Representative Scarlados (No); Representative Watanabe (Aye); Representative Juncker (No); Vice Chair Deal (No); Vice Chair Isidore (Yes); Chair Winn (Yes). The motion passed.

No measures were finally enacted in committee; each advanced with a due-pass recommendation and will receive fiscal and budget review in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Votes at a glance

- HB 3,246 (dash-3 amendment adopted): directs Business Oregon to develop an industrial symbiosis roadmap; appropriates $1,300,000 for a pilot program; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means (motion passed on roll call).
- HB 2,969 (dash-2 amendment adopted): study of economic development with $840,000 appropriation to Oregon Coast Visitors Association for fish non-food manufacturing; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means.
- HB 3,099: appropriates $70,000 to each of 12 economic development districts (total $1,680,000); outcome — advanced to Ways and Means.
- HB 3,148 (dash-1 amendment adopted): changes to PUC Low Income Telecommunications Assistance Plan, adds a one-time personal computing benefit; outcome — advanced to Ways and Means (recorded roll call with several no votes; motion passed).

The committee chair closed work sessions and opened public hearings on other measures during the remainder of the meeting.","The House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business voted to advance four bills — HB 3,246; HB 2,969; HB 3,099; and HB 3,148 — sending them to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Amendments and appropriations were adopted on the bills during work sessions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Businesses and founders urge funding for state SBIR matching grants in HB 2,418

Lawmakers hear testimony supporting $6 million for Centers of Innovation Excellence and signature research centers

House committee advances four economic development measures, refers them to Ways and Means