Forge Inc

BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) - FORGE BATTERY’S 3GWH COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PRODUCTION FACILITY WITH DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A 277,000 SQ/FT FACILITY, TO PRODUCE HIGH-CAPACITY LITHIUM-ION 21700 CYLINDRICAL CELLS AT 3GWH/YR PRODUCTION RATES. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE BUILDING A PRODUCTION FACILITY, SCALING UP OUR ATOMIC ARMOR TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE COMPETITIVE PRICING ACROSS SPECIALTY MARKETS, CREATING PERMANENT JOBS AND DELIVERING A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN WITH A ROBUST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

COVID-19 DPA3 "DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE FORGING CAPABILITIES IN SUPPORT OF NAVY PROGRAM"

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TITLE III, SUSTAINMENT OF HEAVY FORGING PRODUCTION

TAS:: 97 0100:: TAS NAVY PRODUCTION CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

REDUCING THE COST AND ENERGY OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY MANUFACTURING USING HIGH THROUGHPUT ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION PROCESSES

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN GATLINBURG, PIGEON FORGE, SEVIERVILLE AND ON U.S. 411 IN SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE. THE REGION IS A REGIONAL TOURISM DESTINATION LOCATION AND HOSTS MANY SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK. FOR 31 YEARS THIS FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HAS CELEBRATED THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND THE HISTORY OF THIS REGION OFFERING HUNDREDS OF FREE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, HIKES, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND PERFORMANCES ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR. INSTALLATION OF ADVANCED SMART SIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES WILL PROVIDE NEAR-TERM, COST-EFFECTIVE MOBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO OPTIMIZE TRAFFIC FLOW AND REDUCE CONGESTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL HELP BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY IN THE REGION, WHICH WILL HELP INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND ADVANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY IN THE AREA.

CATALYST ACTIVE SITE DESIGN BY ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION FOR ADVANCED CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS

CDFI RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM AWARD

DOMESTIC WATER GRANTS - REGULAR

SBIR PHASE II: CONVERSION OF KERATIN-RICH MATERIALS INTO REGENERATED TEXTILE FIBERS -THE BROADER/ COMMERCIAL IMPACT OF THIS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE II PROJECT IS TO TURN KERATIN-RICH MATERIALS INTO HIGH-QUALITY FABRIC. THIS PROJECT IS DEVELOPING A NEW WAY TO CONVERT ALTERNATIVE KERATIN-RICH MATERIALS INTO SOFT, DURABLE, AND DECOMPOSABLE TEXTILE FIBERS. BY REPLACING TRADITIONAL SOURCE MATERIALS WITH ALTERNATIVE KERATIN-RICH MATERIALS, THE PROJECT PROVIDES A NEW WAY FOR PRODUCERS OF THESE MATERIALS TO CREATE NEW INCOME STREAMS. ULTIMATELY, THIS INNOVATION MOVES THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TOWARD A CIRCULAR MODEL BASED ON DOMESTIC RESOURCES. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE HIGH-RISK CHALLENGE OF CONVERTING KERATIN-RICH MATERIALS INTO REGENERATED PROTEIN FIBERS THAT REPLICATE THE TACTILE AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF HIGH-END CASHMERE. THE PRIMARY TECHNICAL HURDLE LIES IN DETERMINING WHETHER PROTEINS RECOVERED VIA A CONTROLLED, AQUEOUS EXTRACTION PROCESS CAN RETAIN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY NECESSARY FOR HIGH-SPEED SPINNING AND DOWNSTREAM TEXTILE MANUFACTURING. THE SCOPE INVOLVES FINALIZING A FIBER ARCHITECTURE COMPATIBLE WITH CONVENTIONAL YARN PRODUCTION, SCALING OUTPUT TO KILOGRAM QUANTITIES FOR PARTNER EVALUATION, AND OPTIMIZING BATCH ECONOMICS TO ACHIEVE PRICE PARITY WITH THE PREMIUM CASHMERE MARKET. THE CORE INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTION IS ESTABLISHING THE STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS REQUIRED TO ENGINEER KERATIN INTO REPRODUCIBLE MULTIFILAMENT FIBERS WITH PRECISE CONTROL OVER FINENESS, SOFTNESS, AND TENSILE STRENGTH. THE METHODOLOGY FOLLOWS A STAGED SCALE-UP: TRANSITIONING EXTRACTION FROM LABORATORY REACTORS TO PILOT-SCALE SYSTEMS, INCREASING THROUGHPUT ON INDUSTRIALLY RELEVANT WET-SPINNING OR MELT-SPINNING PLATFORMS. SUCCESS WILL BE VALIDATED THROUGH STANDARDIZED MECHANICAL AND SENSORY TESTING TO CONFIRM THAT THE REGENERATED FIBERS MEET STRICT INDUSTRY SPECIFICATIONS FOR MICRON FINENESS, ELASTICITY, DRAPE, AND DURABILITY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA): SECURE ENERGY DEFENDERS PROGRAM (SEDP) THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT INVESTMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AND CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT TO ELIGIBLE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AND/OR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES OF UTILITY PARTICIPANTS.

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

SCALE-UP OF LOW-COST ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGH CAPACITY AND HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRODE POWDERS

COVID RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PLAN: OUR PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON GETTING THE SCHOOL THROUGH THIS EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE. DETAILS WILL BE SUBMITTED BY THE SEPTEMBER DEADLINE.

MILITARY OUTCOMES, READINESS, AND LEARNER SUPPORT ACCREDITING FRAMEWORK

CYBERSECURITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS PILOT PROGRAM

FORGE - AR

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SBA MICROLOAN PROGRAM BORROWERS AND PROSPECTIVE BORROWERS

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) MICROLOAN PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT LOANS AND GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT MICROLENDERS SO THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE MICRO-LEVEL LOANS, AND BUSINESS BASED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO START- UP, NEWLY ESTABLISHED AND GROWING SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

FORGE-FINANCING OZARKS RURAL GROWTH AND EC, AR THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) MICROLOAN PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT LOANS AND GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT MICROLENDERS SO THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE MICRO-LEVEL LOANS, AND BUSINESS BASED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO START- UP, NEWLY ESTABLISHED AND GROWING SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

FORGE-FINANCING OZARKS RURAL GROWTH AND ECONOMY - AR

ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF 18650 LIBS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) MICROLOAN PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT LOANS AND GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT MICROLENDERS SO THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE MICRO-LEVEL LOANS, AND BUSINESS BASED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO START- UP, NEWLY ESTABLISHED AND GROWING SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARD

CARES ACT RLF

FOSTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MENTORING PROGRAM

OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS RURAL TRAINING PROJECT - THE OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS IS AN EMS PROVIDER IN RURAL HERKIMER AND ONEIDA COUNTIES. THESE AREAS HAVE A LOW YEAR-ROUND POPULATION THAT SURGES DURING THE SUMMER AND WINTER TOURIST SEASON; OFTEN ADDING MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUIRE EMERGENCY CARE. THESE AREAS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING A RISING INCIDENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AN INCREASE IN 911 CALL VOLUME AND A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RESPONDING EMTS. ADDITIONAL TRAINED EMTS ARE CRITICAL TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES. OLD FORGE IS SEEKING FUNDS TO OFFER COMPREHENSIVE EMS TRAINING PROGRAMS ACROSS RURAL COMMUNITIES IN HERKIMER, ONEIDA, AND NEIGHBORING MADISON COUNTIES. TRAINING WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND THROUGH VIRTUAL/AUGMENTED REALITY PROGRAMMING WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THE SERVICE GAPS AND ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; THUS IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

MICROLOAN

COMMUNITY FACILITY 2019 DISASTER GRANTS - TORNADOES FLOODS OTHER

A PLATFORM FOR THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF PROTEIN BINDERS - ABSTRACT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PHASE 1 PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION SBIR GRANT PROPOSAL IS TO ESTABLISH A PIPELINE FOR DEVELOPING THERAPEUTICALLY-VIABLE PROTEIN SCAFFOLDS THAT BIND TARGETS OF INTEREST FOR EARLY STAGE LEAD DISCOVERY. PROTEINS THAT SELECTIVELY BIND TO SPECIFIC TARGETS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR RESEARCH, DIAGNOSTICS, AND THERAPEUTICS, YET CURRENT METHODS FOR DISCOVERING THESE BINDERS ARE SLOW, COSTLY, AND PRONE TO HIGH FAILURE RATES, ESPECIALLY WITH CHALLENGING TARGETS SUCH AS DISORDERED PROTEINS. PEPTIFORGE SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL BOTTLENECK BY ESTABLISHING A PLATFORM THAT IS AT LEAST 50-TIMES FASTER, 50-TIMES LESS EXPENSIVE, AND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCURATE THAN EXISTING IMMUNIZATION, DISPLAY, OR COMPUTATIONAL METHODS. THE PLATFORM LEVERAGES PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGIES WHICH ENABLE THE SCREENING OF HIGH-DIVERSITY PROTEIN LIBRARIES AGAINST HUNDREDS OF TARGETS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT SECONDARY SCREENING. IN PRELIMINARY DATA, WE SHOW OUR TECHNOLOGY HAS THE ABILITY TO RAPIDLY IDENTIFY BINDERS FOR DIVERSE PROTEIN TARGETS, USING MODEL PROTEIN SCAFFOLD LIBRARIES. THESE BREAKTHROUGHS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ENABLE RAPID AND COST-EFFECTIVE BINDER DISCOVERY WHILE EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF TARGETABLE PROTEINS, INCLUDING PREVIOUSLY INTRACTABLE TARGETS. HERE, WE PROPOSE TO SYNTHESIZE TESTBED LIBRARIES OF THERAPEUTIC SCAFFOLDS, USING A VARIETY OF KNOWN CLINICALLY VIABLE SCAFFOLDS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPING THERAPEUTIC LEADS (AIM 1). NEXT, WE WILL RUN TEST SCALE SELECTIONS OF SCAFFOLD LIBRARIES AGAINST HIGH-VALUE HUMAN THERAPEUTIC TARGETS (AIM 2). THIS RESEARCH PROPOSAL WILL TEST IF PEPTIFORGE’S PLATFORM CAN ACCELERATE THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT, ALLOWING FOR QUICKER DISCOVERY OF PROBES FOR CONVENTIONAL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS AND FACILITATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR TACKLING CHALLENGING DISEASES. THE INNOVATION ALSO PROVIDES A SCALABLE RESOURCE FOR ACADEMIC AND COMMERCIAL USERS SEEKING TO ADVANCE DRUG DISCOVERY EFFORTS, OPENING UP FUTURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. BY ENABLING FASTER, CHEAPER, AND MORE RELIABLE DEVELOPMENT OF PROTEIN BINDERS, PEPTIFORGE IS AIMED AT REVOLUTIONIZING THE BIOTECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE AND FUELING ADVANCEMENTS IN DRUG DISCOVERY.

EDI SPECIAL PROJECTS

SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS

TRANSGENDER VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE: TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

BASIC CENTER PROGRAM TO SERVE HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH OF PHILADELPHIA.

SBIR PHASE I: ELECTROMAGNETIC-ABLATIVE PGM REFINING FOR IN-SITU ASTEROID MINING -THIS SBIR PHASE I PROJECT WILL WORK TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE PRECIOUS METAL COMMODITY MARKET THROUGH ASTEROID MINING. THE COMPANY AIMS TO IDENTIFY AND MINE NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS CONTAINING PLATINUM GROUP METALS (PGMS), WHICH ARE CRUCIAL COMPONENTS IN VARIOUS US INDUSTRIES SUCH AS AUTOMOTIVE, ELECTRONICS, MEDICAL DEVICES, PHARMACEUTICALS, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, AND CONSUMER GOODS. CURRENTLY, THE UNITED STATES RELIES HEAVILY ON NON-US SOURCES OF PGMS AND OTHER CRITICAL MINERALS, MOST OF WHICH ARE OUTSIDE THE FREE WORLD. ASTROFORGE'S TECHNOLOGY WILL INCREASE THE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE US BY PROVIDING A DOMESTIC SOURCE OF THESE CRITICAL METALS. THE SBIR PHASE I PROJECT INVOLVES DEVELOPING AN ABLATIVE REFINING PROCESS FOR IN-SITU ASTEROID MINING, USING LASER HEATING TO PROCESS COMPLEX ASTEROID ORE FOR SEPARATION AND EXTRACTION OF PLATINUM GROUP METALS. THIS APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A REFINERY IN SPACE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MISSION GOALS AND CONSTRAINTS, SUCH AS RAPID EXTRACTION OF PGMS TO REDUCE RADIATION DOSE. THE PROJECT ALSO AIMS TO ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL REFINING METHODS ON EARTH BY CREATING A NEW SYSTEM FOR REFINING METALS IN SPACE THAT DOES NOT RELY ON CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED TOXIC WASTE PRODUCTION. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

SBIR PHASE I: UPCYCLING ANIMAL HAIR WASTE INTO REGENERATED TEXTILE FIBERS -THIS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE I PROJECT REDUCES THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY BY ENGINEERING REGENERATED SUSTAINABLE TEXTILE FIBERS FROM PROTEIN WASTE. THE MILLIONS OF TONS OF INDUSTRIAL AND POST-CONSUMER KERATIN WASTE PRODUCED EVERY YEAR FROM THE FOOD, BEAUTY, AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES ARE TARGETED AS SOURCES OF BIOMASS TO ENGINEER SUSTAINABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE PROTEIN-BASED TEXTILES WITH PROPERTIES COMPARABLE TO ANIMAL FIBERS SUCH AS WOOL AND CASHMERE. THIS PROJECT WOULD ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW PLAYER IN THE ECO-FRIENDLY FIBER MARKET SPACE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DETRIMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SYNTHETICS. THE REPURPOSING AND REVALORIZATION OF KERATIN WASTE FROM THE WOOL, LEATHER AND POULTRY INDUSTRIES WOULD BENEFIT A BROAD PART OF THE US AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEM. THE FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH ON PROTEIN SELF-ASSEMBLY AND BIOMATERIAL ENGINEERING NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KERATIN REGENERATED FIBERS WILL SERVE AS A SCIENTIFIC ASSET IN OTHER INDUSTRIAL SECTORS INCLUDING BIOMEDICAL, HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, AND GREEN CHEMISTRY INDUSTRIES. THIS SBIR PHASE I PROJECT WILL DEVELOP CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND MATERIAL FABRICATION PLATFORMS TO ENABLE THE UPCYCLING OF KERATIN PROTEIN WASTE INTO TEXTILE FIBERS PROVING PROCESSABILITY THROUGH STANDARD FABRIC MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES. THE TARGET DELIVERABLE IS PLANNED TO BE ACHIEVED BY 1) DEVELOPING AN EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE METHOD TO EXTRACT KERATIN FROM ANIMAL HAIRS; 2) ENGINEERING THE TEXTILE FIBERS AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL TO FIRST MATCH, AND THEN IMPROVE THE MECHANICAL AND SENSORIAL PROPERTIES OF WOOL AND CASHMERE; AND 3) IMPLEMENTING A CUSTOM LAB-SCALE FIBER MANUFACTURING PROCESS, DEMONSTRATING POTENTIAL SCALABILITY INTO A MULTIFILAMENT PRODUCTION LINE. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONDUCTED TO MEET THE PLANNED MILESTONES: 1) IMPLEMENTING A NON-DENATURING EXTRACTION PROCESS OF KERATIN FROM HAIR WASTE AND FORMULATION OF THE EXTRACTED PROTEIN INTO A MATERIAL PROCESSABLE THROUGH EXTRUSION-BASED FABRICATION PLATFORMS; 2) RECONSTRUCTING THE FIBRILLAR AND ANISOTROPIC ARCHITECTURE OF ANIMAL HAIR BY CHEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY REGULATING THE SELF-ASSEMBLY PROCESS OF THE EXTRACTED KERATIN DURING THE FIBER FABRICATION PROCESS; 3) MODULATING THE HYGROSCOPICITY OF THE FIBER BY MODIFYING THE REACTIVITIES OF BOTH FIBER CORE AND SURFACE; AND 4) TUNING THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND THE LIQUID-TO SOLID PHASE TRANSITION OF THE PROTEIN MATERIAL UNDER SHEAR STRESS AND DURING THE FIBER FORMATION STEP, RESPECTIVELY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER)

SBIR PHASE I: DIGITAL LOFT--AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR INNOVATION EDUCATION

MICROLOAN

WARRIOR FARMER PROJECT

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

MICROLOAN GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HONEY BEES ARE CRUCIAL FOR AGRICULTURE, CONTRIBUTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY BY POLLINATING HIGH VALUE CROPS. HOWEVER, MANAGED HONEY BEE POPULATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN IN DECLINE FOR DECADES, POTENTIALLY ENDANGERING NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. THE HONEY BEE RESEARCH COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT REGULATORY BODIES HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR KEY FACTORS THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT HONEY BEE HEALTH AND ARE THOUGHT TO BE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONEY BEE POPULATION DECLINES: POOR NUTRITION, EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES OR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS, PATHOGENS, AND PARASITES (THE FOUR P'S). IT IS LIKELY THAT ALL THESE FACTORS INDEPENDENTLY AND SYNERGISTICALLY CONVERGE ON BROOD PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE COLONY. HOWEVER, THE OPAQUE HIVE BODIES USED IN CLASSIC BEEKEEPING, TOGETHER WITH THE SCALE OF HONEY BEE COLONIES (I.E., TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BEES), MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ASSAY THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE FOUR P'S, QUEEN HEALTH AND THE EARLIEST AND MOST SENSITIVE LIFE STAGES OF THE BEE. HONEY BEES ARE ALSO USED AS A MODEL SYSTEM FOR ECOTOXICOLOGY RESEARCH ON INSECT POLLINATORS, BUT TRADITIONAL APICULTURE IS SEASONAL, EXPENSIVE (FULL FIELD STUDIES COST SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS), SCALES POORLY AND IS ILL-SUITED FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS. THEREFORE, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT UNMET NEED TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND APPROACHES TO EFFECTIVELY ASSESS THESE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF HONEY BEE HEALTH AND IMPROVE THEIR SCALABILITY, WITH MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS FOR MANAGED HONEY BEE POPULATIONS AND THE PLANTS (CROP OR OTHERWISE) THAT THEY POLLINATE.THE QUEEN MONITORING CAGE (QMC) IS A PATENTED SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING AND MONITORING QUEEN HONEY BEES IN THE LAB. THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR DOZENS OR EVEN HUNDREDS OF QUEENS (EACH WITH A SMALL RETINUE OF 50-200 WORKERS) TO BE HOUSED IN A SINGLE INCUBATOR OR SIMILAR ENCLOSURE AND EASILY OBSERVED FOR HEALTH AND EGG LAYING BEHAVIOR. EGGS CAN BE ASSAYED VIA A REMOVABLE PLATE SYSTEM, PERMITTING RESEARCHERS TO QUANTIFY THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON QUEEN EGG LAYING, A PROCESS THAT WOULD NORMALLY REQUIRE THE USE OF DOZENS OF FIELD COLONIES. QMCS ALSO ALLOW FOR EGGS TO BE HARVESTED YEAR-ROUND FROM A HIGHLY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR DOWNSTREAM APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS STUDIES ON HONEY BEE DEVELOPMENT OR LARVAL TOXICOLOGY SCREENING. THE SYSTEM CAN THUS FACILITATE BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN THE ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS. HOWEVER, SEVERAL KEY INNOVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING THIS TECHNOLOGY TO MARKET. IN PHASE I OF THIS SBIR GRANT, FORGEBEE WILL COMPLETE THREE MAIN TASKS TO ADVANCE THE QMC TOWARDS COMMERCIALIZATION: 1) USE AFFORDABLE RASPBERRY PI POWERED CAMERAS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATED TRACKING OF HONEY BEE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN THE QMCS, 2) DESIGN ROBOTICS TO FACILITATE QMC MAINTENANCE AND EGG COLLECTION, AND 3) DEVELOP A MACHINE VISION ALGORITHM TO AUTOMATE EGG DETECTION AND QUANTI,FY QUEEN FECUNDITY.THE QMC IS TRANSPARENT AND HAS OPTICAL QUALITIES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO CAPTURE TECHNIQUES. IN PRELIMINARY STUDIES, A HIGH-QUALITY MACHINE VISION CAMERA WAS SUCCESSFULLY USED TO PHOTOGRAPH QMCS FOR AUTOMATED BEHAVIORAL DETECTION USING A CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK (CNN). HOWEVER, THE EQUIPMENT USED IS EXPENSIVE (>$30,000 FOR A SINGLE TRACKING SYSTEM), AND BULKY LIMITING ITS APPLICATION IN THE MARKET FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF QMCS. TOGETHER WITH ITS RESEARCH PARTNERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, FORGEBEE WILL THEREFORE ADAPT CURRENT MACHINE VISION TECHNIQUES SO THAT THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH INEXPENSIVE RASPBERRY PI POWERED CAMERAS, REDUCING THE COST OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT BY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE (TO CA. $300 PER QMC). ALTHOUGH PERFORMING BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS WITH QMCS REQUIRES <10% OF THE TIME AND COST AS A FULL-SCALE COLONY, MAINTAINING MORE THAN A FEW DOZEN CAN BECOME TIME CONSUMING FOR A SINGLE RESEARCHER. TO ENCOURAGE HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING, THE TEAM WILL AUTOMATE THE EGG RETRIEVAL PROCESS BY USING A SYSTEM OF LINEAR ACTUATORS TO RAISE AND LOWER THE PLASTIC COMB PIECE THAT THE QUEENS LAY IN. THIS WILL ALLEVIATE ONE OF THE MOST TIME-CONSUMING STEPS OF QMC MAINTENANCE AND WILL ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO PRECISELY CONTROL THE TIME DURING WHICH QUEENS CAN ACCESS THE COMB AND LAY, WHICH CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL IF THE EGGS ARE USED IN DOWNSTREAM BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS. FINALLY, FORGEBEE WILL AUTOMATE ASSESSMENTS OF QUEEN EGG-LAYING BY DEVELOPING MACHINE VISION ALGORITHMS THAT CAN DETECT THE PRESENCE OF EGGS INSIDE THE PLASTIC COMB. AS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROBOTICS, THIS ADVANCE WILL DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE TIME REQUIRED FOR QMC MAINTENANCE.NUMEROUS ACADEMIC AND GOVERNMENT LABS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS TECHNOLOGY. FOR INSTANCE, AS PART OF THIS GRANT, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THREE USDA LABORATORIES. THESE AGREEMENTS WILL NOT ONLY FACILITATE OUR DEVELOPMENT OF QMC SYSTEM, BUT WILL ALSO RESULT IN NOVEL RESEARCH INTO HOW POTENTIALLY TOXIC AGRICHEMICALS, PLANT PHYTOCHEMICALS AND HONEY BEE GENETICS INFLUENCE QUEEN FECUNDITY. HONEY BEES ARE A MODEL SYSTEM FOR ECOTOXICOLOGY TESTING, AND REGULATORY BODIES OFTEN REQUIRE THOROUGH TESTING OF OFF-TARGET EFFECTS ON HONEY BEES BEFORE APPROVING INSECTICIDES AND OTHER BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FOR REGISTRATION. THIS PROCEDURE IS RIGOROUS AND EXPENSIVE, REQUIRING MONTHS AND POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLETE. MOREOVER, SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT (IN EXCESS OF $280 MILLION DOLLARS AND 10+ YEAR DEVELOPMENT PERIOD) IS REQUIRED TO MOVE A CANDIDATE COMPOUND TO THE STAGE WHERE SUCH TESTING CAN BEGIN, RESULTING IN A LARGE LOSS IF IT IS NOT APPROVED. THE SCREENING CAPABILITIES OF THE QMC SYSTEM CAN ALLOW COMPANIES TO TEST COMPOUNDS LONG BEFORE IT WOULD NORMALLY BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO DO SO, POTENTIALLY SAVING THEM TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE QMC TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY BEING LICENSED BY BAYER AND CORTEVA AGRISCIENCES FOR INTERNAL TE,STING, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS LIST WILL EXPAND DRAMATICALLY IF WE CAN DEVELOP HIGH-THROUGHPUT BEHAVIORAL MONITORING AND AUTOMATED QMCS. THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL THEREFORE HAVE DRAMATIC RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF HONEY BEES AND OTHER INSECT POLLINATORS. BY FACILITATING RESEARCH INTO HOW NUTRITION, PATHOGENS, PARASITES, PESTICIDES AND OTHER FACTORS IMPACT QUEEN HONEY BEE HEALTH AND FECUNDITY, AND LARVAL SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT, THIS SYSTEM WILL HELP ADDRESS PRIORITIES STRATEGIC GOALS 2 AND 4 OF THE USDA'S 2022-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL AS GOALS IN ALL OF THE FIVE SUBJECT AREAS OF THE 2022 USDA ANNUAL STRATEGIC POLLINATOR PRIORITIES AND GOALS REPORT.

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

VALLEY FORGE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

LOW-COST MANUFACTURING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE DENOX CATALYSTS

HIGHLY ROBUST LOW-PGM MEAS BASED ON COMPOSITE SUPPORTS

LOW‐COST ENCAPSULATION OF SILICON‐BASED NANOPOWDERS

NANOCOATED CATHODE POWDERS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS USING ALD

MICROLOAN PROGRAM ? TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

LOW-COST CERAMIC NANO-ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGHLY-TUNABLE HIGH TEMPERATURE CAPACITORS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

SBIR PHASE I: EFFICIENT MARKETPLACE FOR PROCEDURAL DOCUMENTATION

FY 15 MICROLOAN

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

MICROLOAN

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

SMALL BUSINESS ACT 7(M) (4) (A) (5 U.S.C. 73B-2) (II) & 13 CFR 120.712

CARES PROJECT FOR SUPPORTING MODIFIED STUDENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

MICROLOAN

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

COMMUNITY FACILITY GRANTS

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER)

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

FY09 EARMARK ENTITLED, `CADET TRAINING IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AT VALLEY FORGE MILITARY COLLEGE THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE DEVEL

COMMUNITY FACILITY GRANTS

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

EXPANDING FARMERS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND SALES IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT: ENCOURAGING FEDERAL BENEFIT CLIENTS TO SHOP AT THE MARKET AT BILLING FORG

WORKFORCE TRAINING

STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER)

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

FY 2009 RECOVERY ACT JAG PROGRAM

COMMUNITY FACILITY GRANTS

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

WWD PREDEVELOPMENT PLANNING GRANTS - WATER ONLY

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VII, SECTION 7003

ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS

SEC 9007 REAP-RENEW ENERGY SYSTEMS GRANTS, $20,000 OR LESS (MAN)

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VII, SECTION 7003

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VIII, SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VIII, SECTION 8003

SEC 9007 REAP-RENEW ENERGY SYSTEMS GRANTS, $20,000 OR LESS (MAN)

TO OFFER TEN WORKSHOPS ON NEGOTIATION SKILLS BASED ON THE HARVARD NEGOTIATION PROJECT TO 200 STUDENTS

IMPACT AID PROGRAM TITLE VIII SECTION 8003 AND SECTION 8007(A)

IMPACT AID PROGRAM TITLE VIII SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VII, SECTION 7003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VII, SECTION 7003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VIII, SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VIII, SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM TITLE VIII SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM TITLE VIII SECTION 8003

IMPACT AID PROGRAM, TITLE VIII, SECTION 8003

UNKNOWN TITLE

SEC. 9007 REAP-ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS GRANTS (MAN)

UNKNOWN TITLE

VAFO FY18 OUTREACH INTERN

2017 OUTREACH INTERN

INCREASE COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND VISITATION AT VAFO

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

TRANSPORTATION

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

INCREASE OUTREACH AND IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP OF VAFO

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

THIS EDA INVESTMENT FUNDS THE SEVIER COUNTY PARTNERS ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM RESILIENCE PROJECT, TO DEVELOP A RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FRAMEWORK TO FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF DIVERSE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION ENSURING MULTIPLE AVENUES FOR SHARING IDEAS AND FEEDBACK IN PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE. THE PROJECT WILL HELP TO DEFINE RISKS, ASSESS VULNERABILITIES OF BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND EVALUATE STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIZE PROJECTS TO BUILD ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND BE PREPARED TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO FUTURE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL ASSIST IN THE REGION'S RECOVERY AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT TO FLUCTUATIONS IN TOURISM, WHICH WILL HELP INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SAVE JOBS, SPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND ADVANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT

MICROLOAN

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PILOT SHUTTLE PROJECT YEAR 4

MICROLOAN CLOSEOUT AND DE-OBLIGATE FUNDS OF $231,818.18