CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Oct. 19, 2026) — The Illinois FAST Center at EnterpriseWorks has received renewed funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, allowing the center to continue supporting Illinois small businesses as they pursue federal research and development funding.
The renewal follows the most active year in the center’s history. Over the past 12 months, the Illinois FAST Center served more than 1,200 clients statewide, despite a six-month lapse in the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Throughout the lapse, the center continued advising founders and helping them prepare proposals, positioning them to apply as soon as the programs were reauthorized. In the most recent quarter, companies the center supported secured nearly $5 million in SBIR and STTR funding.
Since its founding in late 2020, the center has supported thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping them secure more than $70 million in SBIR and STTR awards. Its services include workshops, one-on-one mentoring and proposal assistance, all offered at no cost to Illinois companies.
“The renewal of our FAST grant will be instrumental in continuing this work,” said Ji Eun Kim, assistant director of the Illinois FAST Center. “Looking ahead, we will strengthen our support for Illinois innovators by broadening our expertise across a wider range of industry sectors and deepening our collaborations with federal agencies, state government, fellow incubators and accelerators, and state and local organizations.”
The Illinois FAST Center is located at EnterpriseWorks in the University of Illinois Research Park. Entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in SBIR and STTR funding can learn more here.
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