Twenty-seven small businesses throughout Arizona have received grants ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 to help them secure federal funding for developing and commercializing their technology.

A total of $134,000 was awarded through the Governor's AZ FAST Grants program. The awards will help businesses compete for funds from the federal SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTP (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs.

The funds may be used to hire experts to provide training, mentoring and guidance; business advisory services; and proposal assistance and technology-transfer expertise.

The grant money comes from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, with matching funds from Commerce and Economic Development Commission of the Arizona Department of Commerce. It does not involve the state's general funds.

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For more information, including grant recipients:

Arizona Department of Commerce

"27 high-tech start-ups land grants from state," Arizona Republic, 7/30/2003

"Local firms get help with federal grants," Business Journal, 7/28/2003

Deadline near for new Commerce technology grants