Forest Concepts, LLC of Auburn received a $1 million grant funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research program and Small Business Technology Transfer program.
Forest Concepts is a national leader in woody biomass technology. Its products and innovations enable low cost supply of biomass feedstocks to energy and second generation biofuels producers. The company is located at 3320 W. Valley Highway N.
The Auburn company was among five Washington state small businesses that received aid, joining Enertechnix, Inc., in Redmond ($999,995), Houghton Cascade Holdings, LLC in Tacoma ($998,367), Hummingbird Precision Machine Inc., in Olympia ($1,000,000) and Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc., in Bainbridge Island ($860,226).
“This is great news for the companies receiving these grants and the entire state of Washington,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire, who announced the awards Monday. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy – and any financial investment to help our small business owners succeed, expand and create new jobs is welcome news.”
Elsewhere
• Auburn’s Hudson Technologies, Inc., has opened a 60,000-square-foot warehouse and reclamation facility in Champaign, Ill. The new facility complements Hudson’s existing 50,000-square-foot facility and will increase the company’s production capacity and processing efficiency for the reclamation of refrigerants.
Hudson’s Champaign facility reclaims refrigerants, removing impurities – including moisture, oils and other contaminants – so that the refrigerants may be marketed for re-use in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Hudson’s Auburn facility is located at 1320 26th NW St.
• The Auburn Food Bank recently launched its new and improved Web site – www.theauburnfoodbank.org. The site was updated through the work of Praece Technology, Inc.
• Customers of TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores, with two locations in Auburn, recently donated $42,283 to Seattle Children’s Hospital.
TOP Food and Haggen stores in Washington offered Miracle Balloons for $1 apiece from June 2-15 as a fundraiser for the Hospital.
• Communities In Schools of Auburn – in partnership with the SuperMall – is collecting new clothes and donations to support the back-to-school effort as part of the Earning for Learning campaign.
Shoppers and diners at the SuperMall from Aug. 15 to Oct. 5 can earn points for the school of choice. The top five schools will win cash prizes. School can earn bonus points when shoppers bring a donation of clothing purchased at the SuperMall or donate $10 or more to CIS of Auburn. Those donating a piece of clothing and making a cash donation of $10 or more will be entered to win one of four $25 gift cards.
CISA provides supplies to Auburn students in need. For those who would like to be part of the effort, please e-mail cisauburn@comcast.net or call 253-288-7659.
• Greg Dobbs, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Auburn, is supporting a school supplies donation campaign by using his office as a drop-off location.
Local residents and businesses may help those less fortunate in the community by bringing in items to the office during regular business hours from now until Aug. 20. The branch address is 110 2nd St. SW, Suite 120.
