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October 31, 2021 | Tom Ballard

“National Veteran Small Business Week” celebration tops our weekly news briefs

Topping our “News & Notes” is an important reminder about this week. The U.S. Small Business Administration is celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of veteran small business owners during “National Veterans Small Business Week” that begins today and runs through Friday.

“National Veterans Small Business Week is a time to honor the service and celebrate the impact of our nearly 1.8 million veteran entrepreneurs who are a driving force in our economy, generating approximately $1 trillion annually and employing nearly 4 million people,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The SBA team is committed to providing the capital, marketplace opportunities and supportive network of Veterans Business Outreach Centers so that our veterans and military spouses can continue to do what they do best – face hardships head-on to build, innovate, and adapt their businesses to survive and thrive.”

Other news items include these.

  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Oklahoma (OU) have executed a memorandum of understanding to officially recognize their partnership that is focused on pursuing shared research and development goals. In a news release announcing the alliance, Moe Khaleel, ORNL’s Interim Deputy Director for Science and Technology, said the two “are teaming together to support the development of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for the U.S. Air Force and to advance the nation’s hydrogen economy in support of the nation’s drive toward net-zero emissions.” OU recently announced: (1) the creation of the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute to grow the university’s capabilities to address challenges in aerospace, defense and global security; and (2) its selection by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to host the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High­ Impact Weather Research and Operations.
  • Jonathan Williams, Outreach Coordinator at Accord Federal Services LLC, says the company has five bullpen style co-working spaces available at its location, 1520 Washington Avenue, that include a standup desk, internet and cable television, a printer, and conference room. Accord is offering to do a no-fee lease for three to six months and then re-evaluate from there. Interested individuals can email Williams at jwilliams@accordfederal.com.
  • Thirteen tenants of Real Good Kitchen (RGK) will be participating in RGK’s “First Friday Pop-up Market” from 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday. The event will be held at RGK’s shared kitchen facility, 2004 East Magnolia Avenue. Help the vendors plan by indicating your plans to attend at this link.
  • Spiffy, the fast-growing Research Triangle start-up that acquired Tennessee-based Pit Crew in September, has secured an additional$22 million in venture capital with expansion in the Volunteer State top of mind. Pit Crew was founded by several UT, Knoxville alums.
  • Nashville-based Healing Innovations Inc. has announced the addition of Thomas Looby to its Business Advisory Board to help guide the start-up through early commercialization of its Rise&Walk InClinic®. In making the announcement, the company noted that his vast experience in the exoskeleton industry, as well as developing markets for other novel medical technologies, brings valuable insight to the Healing Innovations in a rapidly changing industry.


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