Meeting with US Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Jay Williams
In early 2015, the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ received an i6 Challenge Award through the US Economic Development Administration (EDA). Through this, the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Center for Microgrid Technologies Commercialization (ACMTC) received one of twenty-six awards made by the EDA for the creation of regional innovation centers aimed at supporting startup creation, innovation, and commercialization.
ACMTC is a joint project between the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ (UAF) and the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Anchorage (UAA) meant to advance the commercialization of microgrid technologies with the objective of building a regional microgrid technology industry and to reduce cost of energy in remote ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and beyond. Participating organizations in the Center include UAA’s Business Enterprise Institute, UAA’s Small Business Development Center, UAA’s Center for Economic Development, and UAF’s ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Center for Energy and Power.
On October 6, the US Department of Commerce's Assistant Secretary Jay Williams traveled to Anchorage to meet with the ACMTC team. Serving in a leadership role at the EDA, Williams was able to participate in a meeting with the team as they presented their plans for the newly formed Center.
Left to Right: Angela Belden Martinez (US DOC/EDA), Christi Bell (UAA BEI), Shirley Kelly (AK representative, US EDA), Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jay Williams, Marc Mueller-Stoffels (UAF ACEP), Nolan Klouda (UAA CED).