Hagadone Marine Earns National Dealer Honor

Hagadone Marine Group has just been named the No. 15 best boat dealer in America for 2014.

Boating Industry announced its 10th annual list of Top 100 dealers at a black tie gala Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. The award was collected by Ashley Craig, HMG customer service manager, as well as Chris Craig, HMG Malibu sales manager and Bret O'Brien, HMG Cobalt sales manager.

To learn more, read the Coeur d'Alene Press article.

Avista Invests $200,000 in Spokane STEM Network as a Founding Partner

Spokane STEM today announced it has received a $200,000 investment from Avista, a founding partner of the Network. The partnership allows Spokane STEM to implement key initiatives crucial to the network's mission of improving teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and math in the region.

The Spokane STEM Network, a collaborative effort of early learning, K-12, higher education, business and community organizations, works to transform the way we think, learn, work, and live through STEM (science technology, engineering and math) by enhancing STEM education opportunities for all youth in the region and by increasing the number of students pursuing and achieving success in STEM careers.

To learn more, read the Greater Spokane Incorporated news article here.

Walla Walla Community College Receives Financial Assistance Award for Workforce and Business Development Center

The United States Economic Development Administration has approved a Financial Assistance Award in the amount of $2.35 million to fund the construction of a Workforce and Business Development Center at the Walla Walla Community College campus in Clarkston, Washington.

The Workforce and Business Development Center will house classrooms and lab space for workforce training in mechatronics, industrial maintenance, welding and fabrication, precision machining, electricity and energy systems, and business programs. Space will also be available for community members and business owners to collaborate and grow entrepreneurial endeavors.

The investment is expected to help create 470 new jobs over a 10-year period.

For more information, visit www.wwcc.edu.

Washington State University Startup to be Showcased by the Michael J. Fox Foundation

M3 Biotechnology, a Washington State University startup, was selected as one of five companies to be showcased by the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for their work on neurodegenerative disease therapies. The MJFF aims to accelerate the research and development of projects in Parkinson’s disease research by making the researchers and projects more visible.

M3 Biotechnologies has been chosen by the MJFF to push the MM-201 development, their oral drug designed to reverse the neurodegenerative effects of Parkinson’s disease.

Visit http://commercialization.wsu.edu for more information.

Alturas Analytics Recognized Among Inc.'s 5,000 Top Growth Private Companies

Alturas Analytics, provider of LC/MS and LC/MS/MS services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, has been recognized among Inc.’s 5,000 top growth private companies as well as among the fastest growing companies in Idaho. Alturas Analytics’ skilled scientists to provide high quality contract research and personalized laboratory services.

To learn more, visit www.inc.com/profile/alturas-analytics or www.alturasanalytics.com.

BioCement Technologies Receives Small Business Innovation Research Grant

BioCement Technologies Inc. (BTI), high-tech manufacturer of bio-cement, was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant through the National Institute of Health for the amount of $53,968 to test bio-cement for bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Going forward, this will allow BTI to apply for phase II of the SBIR program as well as phase IIB, with potential grant awards of $1 million and up to $3 million in matching of investment funds, respectively.

For more information on the SBIR grant, visit http://sbirsource.com and to learn about BTI, go to www.biocementtech.com.