A nonprofit company in Flint has received a 125- thousand dollar grant to help promote innovations in clean energy.
The state grant funding went to a company known as 100k ideas.
The group focuses on providing support for not just for business-minded entrepreneurs, but also for creative innovators.
Judy Palnau, a spokeswoman at the Michigan Agency for Energy, which awarded the grant.
“This is a very valuable service for Michigan's innovators, so that they can bring to market clean energy products that are focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. There will be a special emphasis on achieving energy waste reduction in manufacturing.”
Palnau said individuals or small businesses can contact 100k ideas and discuss their energy saving ideas. She says if the company sees potential, the grant funding can be used to support it.
She said businesses often face barriers to bringing their ideas to market. This grant, she says, should help ease that stress.
“the intent here is to empower innovators across the state, so that they can act on their ideas faster and with lower risk.”
David Ollila, is the President of 100k Ideas. He says the goal is to make innovation easier for small businesses and individuals.
“Really our goal is to rebuild the middle class one average household income at a time, and so we want to encourage anyone with an idea whether it a billion dollar idea or a 50 thousand dollar idea to bring those in and engage with 100k ideas. And start creating opportunities through the old american way of innovation.”
Ollila said 100K want to create more support for innovators in Michigan who may not have an entrepreneurial background.