SBA Announces $50,000 Award to Hannah Grimes Center in Keene

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Stage One “Catalyze” winners. This year’s competition introduced a multi-stage approach with Stage One focused on catalyzing an ecosystem around a particular theme which included a $50,000 grant to the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene.

By supporting connections across diverse networks, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition aims to foster a thriving national ecosystem that advances equitable investment in innovative high-growth small businesses. Stage One prizes go directly to 40 organizations across the U.S. that have developed strategies to speed the launch, growth, and scale of STEM/R&D-focused small businesses through inclusive approaches.

The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship (HGC) has set out to demonstrate that rural communities can be a vibrant part of the biotech sector. HGC will focus on formalizing the rural biotech Growth Accelerator Partnership. HGC and its BioNest program will serve as a convener/catalyst for a rural biotech Growth Accelerator Partnership. This will cap a significant achievement in attracting a biotech company to the region and the partnership will be a critical component in the successful pursuit of the goal of establishing a full-fledged biotech sector locally.

“I’m thrilled that the Hannah Grimes Center was selected as a winner in SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund competition. The Hannah Grimes Center provides resources and support for primarily underserved local businesses and is well-positioned to help rural communities become a vibrant part of the biotech sector by engaging new ecosystem partners and leveraging relationships with rural communities because of this funding,” said SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich.

“Congratulations to the Hannah Grimes Center on being selected for this competitive award,” said NH SBA District Director Amy Bassett. “They have created a strong alliance of partners in the region, and we know these funds will assist them in furthering their mission of being a catalyst in the development of a biotech hub in Keene and its surrounding rural communities. SBA is excited to support innovation and forward-thinking organizations like Hannah Grimes in the Granite State.”

For more information about the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, please visit SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (americasseedfund.us).