Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment (EII) Fund - Phase 0 Grants is sponsored by West Virginia Small Business Development Center's Innovation-Technology (In-Tech) program. Provides grants to West Virginia businesses immediately after submitting a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal, without needing to wait for federal award notification.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Small Business Development Center Entity Eligible to Apply for Grant: West Virginia based for-profit small businesses who have successfully submitted a federal SBIR or STTR proposal and received a Phase I or Phase II award ​ This matching fund program is managed by the WV SBDC’s Innovation-Technology (In-Tech) program.

There are two award periods throughout the year for submitting SBIR/STTR Phase I or II matching fund applications: January and July. No preference will be given to the order in which applications are received. Closed Phase I or II SBIR/STTR projects are not eligible for matching funds.

In addition to these Phase I and Phase II award periods, businesses can also apply for a Phase 0 award upon submitting a Phase I SBIR or STTR proposal.

These Phase 0 awards are distributed as a $2,500 grant and can be applied for during any month of the year​ ​​​​ In order to be eligible for a grant under this program, a small business must satisfy all of the following conditions: (1) The small business must be a for-profit, West Virginia-based business with a federal UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) assigned to the business’s WV address; (2) For the Phase I and/or Phase II matching program the small business must have received a SBIR/STTR Phase I or SBIR/STTR Phase II award from a participating federal agency in response to a specific federal solicitation.

To receive the full match for the Phase I award, the small business must also have submitted a final Phase I report, demonstrated that the sponsoring agency has an interest in a Phase II proposal, and submitted a Phase II proposal to the agency; To receive the Phase II match, the small business must have submitted the Phase I final progress report to the funding agency; (3) The small business must satisfy all federal SBIR/STTR requirements; (4) The small business shall not receive concurrent funding support from other sources that duplicates the purpose of this article; (5) The small business must certify that at least 51 percent of the research described or to be described in the federal SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal will be conducted in this state and that the small business will remain a West Virginia-based business for the duration of the SBIR/STTR Phase II project; and (6) The small business must demonstrate its ability to conduct research in its SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal.

​ The WV SBDC shall accept applications from West Virginia based businesses for potential participation in the West Virginia SBIR/STTR matching funds program for Phase I or II awards during the periods of January 1-31 and July 1-31 each year. Phase 0 grant requests can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

A small business shall apply, under oath, to the department on forms prescribed by the department that include at least the following: (1) The name of the small business, the form of business organization under which it is operated, and the names and addresses of the principals and management of the small business; (2) For matching awards, notice of award from the funding agency of the SBIR/STTR Phase I or Phase II award; for Phase 0 grants, proof of submission of an SBIR or STTR proposal is required; (3) For matching awards, study section evaluation and comments; and (4) Any other information necessary for the department to evaluate the application.

(5) The department shall review the application, determine whether the applicant satisfies the eligibility requirements, and determine whether to award matching grants. ​​ Would you like to know more about this grant? West Virginia Small Business Development Center A Division of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East