Congressman David Price Hosts Innovation and Entrepreneurship Town Hall at First Flight
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Research Triangle Park, NC (November 5, 2019) – United States Congressman David Price, who represents North Carolina's Fourth District, held a Town Hall Meeting at First Flight Venture Center on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. He updated attendees on the Federal Government’s role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship as well as events in Washington.
First Flight, a non-profit incubator for science/technology startups, is a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. In less than four years, First Flight has helped bring $15.5 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to North Carolina companies through its award-winning LiftOff program. The U.S. Government funds SBIRs to commercialize innovation that also meets a federal need. For the second year in a row, First Flight has been awarded federal funding to deepen grant-readiness support to early-stage companies to develop SBIR proposals from under-represented groups including women, minorities and rural-based companies.
“The Research Triangle is home to some of the most innovative companies in the country, and First Flight embodies this spirit to help startups grow and succeed,” said Congressman David Price. “Seeing this work firsthand underscores the outstanding contributions that First Flight brings to advancing entrepreneurship in our community. I was particularly impressed with First Flight programs, such as the LiftOff program, which does a tremendous job of helping North Carolina and our companies locate resources and drive innovation.”
“First Flight’s true north is improving the probability of success of our early stage high science, high impact companies,” said First Flight Board Chair Mary Musacchia. “We look forward to working with outstanding members of our North Carolina Congressional delegation like Congressman Price to craft innovative approaches to supporting these disruptive companies.”
Prior to the Town Hall, Congressman Price toured Hangar6, the Research Triangle region’s premier prototyping and design assistance space for technology-based companies. Hangar6 enables the designing, building and modeling of prototypes using tools, such as 3D printers, CO2 laser cutter, metal fiber laser, automated CNC mill, metal bending equipment, a woodshop and a welding shop. Startups, entrepreneurs, corporations, design/engineering firms and other prototypers join Hangar6 through a monthly/annual/team membership model starting as low as $200/month. Hangar6 was made possible through the EDA I6 award challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“Hangar6 and its able staff are tremendous resources for companies throughout the state,” said Congressman Price. “I am so proud that First Flight has helped North Carolina companies to help define the future and made such effective use of our taxpayer dollars.”
“We want Hangar6 to help companies get better ideas to market faster,” said Hangar6 Shop Manager Sam Dirani. “Hangar6 is designed to knock down the barriers for companies so they can make dreams a reality.”
Contact:
Emil Runge
First Flight Venture Center
(404) 668-2136
U.S. Rep. David Price Brief Biography
David Price represents North Carolina’s Fourth District – a rapidly growing, research-and-education-focused district that includes parts of Orange, Durham, and Wake counties. He received his undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and went on to Yale University to earn a Bachelor of Divinity and Ph.D. in Political Science. Before he began serving in Congress in 1987, Price was a professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University. He is the author of four books on Congress and the American political system.
Price currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Budget Committee and is also a member of the Appropriations subcommittees on homeland security, State Department, and foreign operations. He is a recognized leader in foreign policy, serving as the Chairman of the House Democracy Partnership, which he initiated to help strengthen parliaments in emerging democracies. In North Carolina, David’s constituents know him as a strong supporter of education, accessible health care, affordable housing, clean air and water, and improved transportation alternatives.
David is a native of Erwin, Tennessee. He and his wife Lisa live in Chapel Hill and are parents of two children and two grandchildren.
About First Flight Venture Center
First Flight Venture Center is a high-science, high-impact science and technology incubator located in the heart of Research Triangle Park, NC. Established in 1991, First Flight has hosted more than 400 science-focused companies, providing strategic education, tailored resources, guidance, connections and office/lab space in a 25,000 sq.ft. facility. First Flight has launched businesses that have commercialized important new science breakthroughs and disruptive technologies, while creating thousands of jobs in North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ffvcnc.org or view the video.