FUNDING PROGRAM: Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) Loan Program. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: sba.gov/7a FUNDING AGENCIES: Small Business Administration. OPPORTUNITY: The 7(a) Loan Program, SBA’s primary business loan program, provides loan guarantees to lenders that allow…
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Case by Case: Qualifying Expert Witnesses in the Bioeconomy
At LEC Partners, we’ve supported more than 100 bioeconomy expert witness cases, giving us direct insight into how specialized expertise can shape the outcome of legal disputes. This article reflects the lessons we’ve learned—built not…
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Scaling Bioprocesses Strategically: Unlocking Efficiency and Sustainability
Key Takeaways: Strategic Foundations Matter: Techno-economic analysis (TEA) provides a critical framework for scalable and cost-efficient bioprocesses. Driving Cost Reductions: Process optimization can reduce production costs by as much as 60%. Building Sustainable Models: Co-product…
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The Case for E-fuels Use in Aviation
by Pete Rocha, LEC Project Director and Low Carbon Hydrogen Center of Excellence leader Aviation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, and it is growing! The aviation industry produces 2-3% of all CO2 emissions…
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Turning Up The Heat: How Food & Beverage Electrification Can Unlock Competitive Advantage
In 2023, Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, set an ambitious goal: Chivas would implement carbon neutral distillation by 2026. Gourgues wasn’t making a hollow sustainability pledge. Today, Chivas’ Glentauchers distillery has proved…
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USDA Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program
FUNDING PROGRAM: USDA Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: RBS–24–BUSINESS–0008. FUNDING AGENCIES: USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). OPPORTUNITY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), a…
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Domestic Next-Gen Feedstocks: Revolutionizing the Bioeconomy (Part 2 of 2)
By Jennifer Kaplan In Part 1 of our series on next-gen feedstocks, we explored the exciting potential of agricultural byproducts in the bioeconomy. Now, let’s dive into the challenges, opportunities, and systematic approach used to…
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Domestic Next-Gen Feedstocks: Revolutionizing the Bioeconomy (Part 1 of 2)
By Jennifer Kaplan Imagine a bioeconomy where sustainability is a fundamental prerequisite. While we have made much progress on bioeconomy technology, the challenges of developing verifiably “sustainable” feedstock remains a challenge. The fact remains…
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USDA Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Years 2025, 2026, and 2027
Notice: USDA Delays First FY2026 REAP Grant Window The USDA has announced a delay in the opening of the first grant application window for Fiscal Year 2026 under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)….
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Green Hydrogen’s Growth Amid Market Challenges: Insights for Investors
The hydrogen economy is at a pivotal moment, with green hydrogen projects gaining traction despite recent setbacks in the blue hydrogen sector. Shell’s decision to halt a blue hydrogen project in Norway highlights challenges…
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