Illinois FAST Center at Research Park's EnterpriseWorks gets renewed SBA funding

CHAMPAIGN - The Illinois FAST Center at EnterpriseWorks in the University of Illinois Research Park has won renewed funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, according to an Oct. 19 release from Research Park. The release does not give the grant's amount or term.

The center helps Illinois small businesses seek federal research money through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. It says it served more than 1,200 clients statewide in the past 12 months, despite a six-month lapse in both programs. The release gives no figure for Champaign County.

Companies it worked with won nearly $5 million in SBIR and STTR funding last quarter and more than $70 million since the center opened in late 2020, the center says. Its workshops, mentoring and proposal help are free to Illinois companies.

“The renewal of our FAST grant will be instrumental in continuing this work,” said Ji Eun Kim, assistant director of the Illinois FAST Center.

Source: University of Illinois Research Park release, "Illinois FAST Center Renews Federal Grant to Support State's Innovators," Oct. 19, 2026 (https://researchpark.illinois.edu/illinois-fast-center-renews-federal-grant/).