Governor Jan Brewer Awards Grant to NAU

PHOENIX, AZ (October 21, 2010) — Some of Arizona’s most promising new business innovations in Northern Arizona received a boost today as Governor Jan Brewer awarded a one million dollar grant to support Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology’s (NACET) incubator program to advance technology and build emerging new businesses with high wage jobs in Northern Arizona. NAU’s innovation program strives to launch new student ventures into viable companies important to the state’s future.

“Helping these small businesses grow from discovery to commercialization will fuel job creation and economic expansion,” said Governor Brewer. “NACET brings opportunities to connect entrepreneurs, mentors, capital and intellectual property and market research – all to advance Arizona based innovation.”

The funding will allow NAU’s partnership with NACET to continue to foster business growth and economic vitality for the Flagstaff area. Working with a wide variety of non-retail, service, manufacturing, high technology, science and renewable energy firms, NACET offers a hands-on business incubation engagement program designed to transform innovation into viable companies.

Located on the burgeoning business campus near Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona, NACET offers a state-of-the-art facility with affordable office and meeting space, administrative support services, fully-equipped laboratory space and advanced communications technology.

Grant funds are from the Governor’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) Discretionary monies allocated from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

Media Contact

Nicole McTheny, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1231, [email protected] 

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.