For Release:
June 16, 2008

For more information contact:
Tom Lacock
Senior Marketing and Public Relations Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2834

Mark Weitz
Kennon Aircraft
Sheridan, WY
Office: 307.674.6498
Cell: 307.751.9151
Web site: www.kennoncovers.com

Kennon Products of Sheridan nets SBIR award

CHEYENNE – The need for protection for passengers flying into and out of the Middle East has led Kennon Products of Sheridan propose a solution to the National Science Foundation. That effort will be aided with a $5,000 award in May through the Wyoming Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer Initiative (WSSI) and the Wyoming Business Council.

The SBIR Phase 0 Program helps Wyoming companies develop competitive proposals for the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The WSSI receives funding from the Wyoming Business Council and gives out $120,000 in Phase 0 awards each year.

According to Mark Weitz of Kennon Products, airplanes flying into and out of Middle East conflict zones have taken more sniper ground fire than in past military conflicts. The National Science Foundation is seeking proposals to protect passengers in those planes through use of aircraft armor. Weitz said modern-day armor plates of metal or ceramic are used but often left off planes due to the weight of the armor, which can measure nearly three tons.

“The kind of protection you use in an aircraft can be distinctly different than a bulletproof vest,” said Weitz. “We are going develop a lightweight armor to use in aircraft. It would be a combination of fiber or textile technologies and a composite technology to get a better protection at a lighter weight.”

Kennon is teaming with faculty at the University of Wyoming, Auburn University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore to develop a lightweight, composites based ballistic protection system.

This is Kennon’s third SBIR Phase 0 award. The firm has also received one Phase I grant in June of 2006. Weitz said the WSSI Phase 0 program is a great incentive for small manufacturers like Kennon to participate in the SBIR program, as it helps fund the professional resources required to develop a strong team and craft a winning proposal.
The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs make up the WSSI alliance and provide more than $2 billion annually in Research and Development (R&D) awards and contracts to qualified small businesses.

Eleven federal agencies are required by law to provide these funds by setting aside 2.5 percent of their annual extra-mural R&D budgets for use exclusively by U.S. small businesses for new product R&D. Hence, these programs provide a unique source of start-up and seed capital for small businesses to develop new innovative product concepts.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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