Kindling and Accelerant: Partner with Los Alamos National Laboratory

Technology entrepreneurs interested in learning about assistance available from Los Alamos National Laboratory should attend the free Showcase and Demo Day on Monday, July 17 in Los Alamos. The event brings together investors, entrepreneurs, business owners, laboratory employees, and others seeking information about commercialization activities and technology acceleration opportunities at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Seating is limited, and attendees are asked to RSVP in advance for the free event.

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NMSBA Program Opens Call For Leveraged Projects

The New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) program at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories is currently soliciting proposals for leveraged projects for the calendar year 2021.  The deadline for submission is February 16, 2021. The program does not provide capital or financial investment, however, awarded businesses receive monetary value in the form of technical assistance.

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Economic Development Remains LANL Focus Under Triad

MidSchoolMath cofounders Scott Laidlaw and Jennifer Lightwood in 2011 after receiving a grant and other assistance from LANL’s economic development programs. Article by Jason Gibbs.

New leadership at Los Alamos National Laboratory hopes to increase business development and educational programs for small businesses, while relying even more on New Mexico companies to fulfill contracts.

On the heels of LANL’s 75th anniversary in the summer of 2018, Triad National Security LLC has taken the helm as the new managing contractor for the research facility in Northern New Mexico. In accordance with mandates given to previous managers, Triad plans to continue or expand many of the educational and business development programs already in place while increasing opportunities available to the New Mexico community. Continue reading

Entrepreneurial Network Helps Local Man Build Fire Extinguisher Business

Monica Abeita

Monica Abeita, Regional Development Corp. for NNM Connect

When Gordon Johnston and his wife had trouble getting the fire extinguishers serviced at their Taos bed and breakfast about five years ago, Johnston decided to launch a part-time fire extinguisher business of his own.

That one-time side venture is now the couple’s central enterprise, Alpine Fire Safety Systems Inc. Johnston credits Taos Entrepreneurial Network, or TEN, with the support and connections he needed to pursue the government contracts that have made his business such a success.

TEN is an independent nonprofit organization of entrepreneurs and local community leaders that the McCune Charitable Foundation launched in 2004. TEN is now funded by Northern New Mexico Connect, which coordinates economic development projects for Los Alamos National Security LLC, operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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Program Offers NM Herbalist Free Technical Help

Monica Abeita

Monica Abeita, Regional Development Corp. for NNM Connect

In the 29 years since he bought Santa Fe-based Herbs, Etc. from its founder, herbalist Daniel Gagnon has worked hard to meet demand from the more than 2,000 U.S. retailers that carry the liquid herbal extracts and herbal medicines he manufactures.

Because quality control was critical to establishing and maintaining the company’s reputation, Gagnon imposed rigorous anti-microbial standards for his potions. Traditionally, Gagnon eliminated unwanted microbes by processing his herbs with water and alcohol. But in 2000, he developed a way to remove the alcohol to produce an alcohol-free product using olive oil and soft gel encapsulation.

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National Lab Assists Dental Implant Developer with Technical Problems

Information Sessions Coincide with Next Funding Deadline

Monica Abeita

Monica Abeita, Regional Development Corp. for NNM Connect

Three New Mexico men – metallurgist Terry Lowe from Metallicum, a subsidiary of Manhattan Scientifics; designer and manufacturer Dan Blacklock from Danlin Products; and dentist and educator Walt Schuman from BASIC Dental Implants — recently collaborated to develop, manufacture, and market dental implants that use an enhanced variant of titanium made by Manhattan Scientifics. Titanium improves the way dental implants are anchored into the jawbone.

But the team needed special equipment and expertise to evaluate and describe the distinctive characteristics of their breakthrough material, which goes by the trademarked name of Biotanium. The partners applied for help from the New Mexico Small Business Assistance program – a joint project of Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories and the state of New Mexico. Continue reading

LANL Puts Students to Work for New Mexico Businesses

Monica Abeita

Monica Abeita, Regional Development Corp. for Northern NM Connect

When Scott Laidlaw and Jennifer Harris created Ko’s Journey, a game designed to teach math in middle schools, they weren’t sure how to get it into the marketplace. With help from MBA students participating in a summer internship program at Los Alamos National Laboratory, they are now better prepared. The students helped them target interested schools and made recommendations to market their product on the Internet.

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