Authority Board Funds Innovations for Wastewater Treatment, Rapid ID of E Coli, and Testing For Sleep Apnea

Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009

With the arrival of a new fiscal year, three new officers were named to the Board of Directors. In Fiscal Year 2010, George Williams will serve as Chair. Heartsill Ragon will hold the position of Vice Chair, and Dr. Beverly Dawkins Lyn-Cook will serve as Secretary.

The Board approved nominations to two committees. Linda Kellim, a science specialist at the Delta Math & Science Institute, will join the STEM Advisory Committee, and Leroy Yancey will be the newest member of the Industry Advisory Committee.

Next, the Board awarded a Technology Development Program Grant to Authority client Vegrandis. The award will be used to expand production of Vengradis’ latest innovation: Carbon Nanopipettes, a technology that is used in cellular research. The carbon-based product, an upgrade from previous glass versions of the technology, is smaller, more conductive and longer lasting.

The Board then voted to approve a Seed Capital Investment to Fayetteville-based BlueInGreen. The funds will be used to support national and international sales and marketing of the company product line, which services water and wastewater treatment markets.

VSSB Medical Nanotechnology was also approved for a Seed Capital Investment. The company has developed a high-tech hood to be worn by patients during sleep apnea testing. The hood replaces the traditional monitoring option of gluing wired electrodes directly to the subject’s skin. The new technology is wireless, lighter and more comfortable.
Turning their attention to tax credits, the Board approved Research & Development Tax Credits to Authority client’s Litmus, LLC and Space Photonics.

Litmus, LLC specializes in identification, development and commercialization of new technologies including RAPID B, a technology that quickly identifies bacterial pathogens like E coli and Salmonella.

Space Photonics develops optical networking systems and components used in military and commercial aircraft, as well as technology utilized by NASA in satellites and the Mars Rover.

Focusing on research, the Board endorsed continued funding of the Arkansas ASSET Initiative Grant. They voted in favor of 3 subagreements to continue projects on the campuses of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. In addition, they approved 3rd year funding of the WiNS and P3 Faculty/Student Exchange Program, funding of first round, second round and pilot P3 seed grants, and money to pay for an MBA Intern from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Board also approved additional research funding to support the Cyberinfrastructure Center in Fayetteville. The money will be used to pay for various activities including projects involving Connect Arkansas, Telehealth, EPSCoR Track II and High Performance Computing.

After approving the 2009 Annual Report, the Board paused to reflect on the life of fellow
Board member Wayne Hartsfield, who passed away on September 3rd. He was remembered as a man of integrity, faith and intelligence. He will be deeply missed.

The Authority’s next scheduled Board Meeting will be November 20, 2009.