Arkansas Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program, 15 CAR pt. 141
Department of Commerce · Arkansas Economic Development Commission
- Status
- ALC review
- Citation
- 15 CAR pt. 141
- Comment deadline
- Sep 8, 2026
- Public hearing
- Aug 26, 2026
- ALC review
- Nov 19, 2026 · item C.5.a · ALC Administrative Rules
- Effective
- —
History The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program is offered through eleven federal agencies and provides funding to American small businesses. The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program complements the SBIR program and includes a requirement that businesses partner with a research institution. The SBIR/STTR programs are an important source of early-stage technology development funding for small businesses. Arkansas Act 166 of 2017, codified at Arkansas Code §§ 15-3-701 – 709, implemented a matching grant program for Arkansas-based small businesses that secure federal SBIR awards, but did not include STTR grants. It further placed a lifetime cap of three matching grant awards to any Arkansas business. SBIR awards are discretionary and are granted by the Executive Director following recommendations from the AEDC Science and Technology Board. 2025 SBIR Amendments Act 440 of 2025 amended Arkansas’ SBIR grant program to include STTR grants, bringing Arkansas into alignment with the federal program. The Act further removed the lifetime cap of three awards per business, which is critical for the growth of high-performing technology businesses, several of which have already received three awards. Finally, for the purpose of efficiency and streamlined administration, Act 440 transferred the recommendation power for SBIR and STTR grants from the Science and Technology Board to the AEDC. Arkansas Code § 15-3-709 requires the AEDC to promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of the statute. The proposed amended rule makes the above changes to effectuate the amendments to the SBIR grant passed in Act 440.
A public hearing was held on August 26, 2026. The period expired September 8, 2026. The commission indicated it received no public comments.
Experimental. Compiled from public records; inaccuracies may occur. Verify with official sources.