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Giving Start-Up Compaines and Angels Investors a Break

by Todd Shelton, Director, Athens County Economic Development Council

In the current economic climate raising capital is challenge for start-ups and small businesses.

I am always interested in learning and sharing information that may help our local business, and also help create more start-ups here in Athens County.

posted in: CEO, economic development, entrepreneur, incentives
July 9, 2010 | comments (0)
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Technology Investment Tax Credit Program

by Todd Shelton, Director, Athens County Economic Development Council

The Ohio University Innovation Center is now reviewing and forwarding applications for the Technology Investment Tax Credit Program for Companies and Investors. The program provides a tax credit for Ohio taxpayers who invest in small, Ohio-based technology companies. The amount of the tax credit is 30%. The maximum amount of investment to which the credit applies is $300,000. Investors are eligible for up to a $90,000 tax credit.

The credit can be claimed against personal income tax, corporate franchise tax, public utility excise tax or dealers in intangibles tax. The eligible entity or business must be involved primarily in research and development; technology transfer; Biotechnology; Information Technology; the application of new technology developed through research and development or acquired through technology transfer.

posted in: economic development, entrepreneur, incentives
June 26, 2009 | comments (0)
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Swimming the Capital Maze

by Todd Shelton, Director, Athens County Economic Development Council

If you are thinking about starting or expanding a business and wonder what type of various state and federal funding programs are available, then please join us for the Lunch and Learn Series organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Group (EDG).

The Athens County Economic Development Council is a proud partner of the Entrepreneurship Development Group (EDG) which works to promote entrepreneurship in the county and region. The Lunch and Learn Series is an educational and networking event that will be held monthly on the third Tuesday of each month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Innovation Center in Room 103. We will arrange to have one or more presenters speak on a topic at each workshop. Co-hosting organizations include: Innovation Center, Tech Growth Ohio, Small Business Development Center, and Athens County Economic Development Council.

posted in: CEO, economic development, entrepreneur, events, incentives, networking
June 11, 2009 | comments (1)
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Charlie Wilson’s Visit

by Michelle Greenfield, CEO, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power

Last Friday, April 17, Geoff and I had the honor of meeting our US Representative, Charlie Wilson, as well as our Ohio State Treasurer, Kevin Boyce. We were invited to give these officials a tour of the existing solar power system at the Wayne National Forest headquarters in Nelsonville, and then describe the new and expanded system that is going in this spring. Congressman Wilson was excited to learn about this “shovel ready” federal stimulus project that is about to get under way.

We always give a chuckle when we hear the phrase “shovel ready” to describe advanced energy projects and renewable energy projects that will benefit from the stimulus package. Third Sun’s solar projects are more like “roof ready”, as most of our solar panels are mounted on roofs, requiring no shoveling. Think about all the available roof space out there on warehouses, factories, malls, shopping centers and homes. This is valuable real estate for the owners of the buildings, if only they started thinking this way. Instead of empty space up there, building owners can have their own personal power plant.

posted in: alternative energy, government, incentives, leadership, people, power, solar
April 20, 2009 | comments (0)
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70% off Sale on Solar?

by Michelle Greenfield, CEO, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power

The word stimulus is on the lips of almost every US politician and citizen these days, whether mentioned in a positive or negative way. The stimulus package seems to promise lots of things to lots of places, industries and people. Thanks to the new administration’s commitment to diversifying our energy mix, renewable energy is one industry that is luckily included.

People keep asking us at Third Sun, “What does this mean for me and solar for my home?” The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), or stimulus bill as it is commonly called, offers 19 areas of incentives for solar power for consumers, whether commercial or residential. One of those incentives is a federal tax credit for homeowners purchasing solar power systems. For the average homeowner, solar has been a bit of an expensive proposition, with per kilowatt hour rates higher than Ohio’s average utility rates, and payback periods of more than 15 years. All that changes now with the enhanced tax credit offered in the ARRA.

posted in: alternative energy, incentives, power, solar
March 30, 2009 | comments (0)
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