Joni Ernst: “Small businesses are key drivers of local enterprise and community life.”

The new commercialization standard rewards companies that convert research into customers and follow-on contracts that meet the mission, while limiting new seed awards to firms that have made SBIR grants their revenue model.

For too long, a select number of repeat winners have treated the SBIR and STTR programs as a steady income stream rather than a path to commercialize technology.

Top Notch Fireworks has done a spark-tacular job providing safe and fun fireworks to Iowans," said Chair Ernst. "Brandon and MaKenzi Vonk are dynamite at giving back to their community.

The Vice President's anti-fraud pledge was the right first step.