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Manufacturers – Join the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network
The Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) is a new Department of War initiative designed to strengthen our national defense readiness and supply chain. The CRMN is comprised of commercial (non-defense), dual-use, and defense-with-additional-capacity manufacturers who volunteer for the reserve and would be willing to pivot their everyday commercial assembly lines to defense production during a national crisis to support the warfighter. This is an opportunity for patriotic American manufacturers, businesses of all sizes that produce ANYTHING with ANY MACHINE or process—medicine, automotive parts, welded metals, paper towels, you name it—to raise their hand and say, 'If our warfighters and nation need me, I am willing to activate my production capabilities—or even just a percent of them—to support our military and the United States.’ The CRMN was established under Section 1841 of the FY26 NDAA. Complete the CRMN Pathway form at lynxconnect.io.
Questions? Contact your local APEX Accelerator Advisor for no-cost assistance.
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- Construction has begun at Harborview. The $1.74 billion design build project is led by Mortenson and Perkins&Will and will feature a new inpatient tower and parking structure. Learn more and register as a supplier here.
- Electricians – The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program provides comprehensive training and certification for the installation of electric vehicle supply equipment in North America. A new cohort launches this month. Visit here to learn more.
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Doing Business at Port of Seattle On-Demand Training is now available. Seven quality trainings for businesses interested in doing business at the Port of Seattle and other local government agencies. The one-hour sessions feature expert speakers on a variety of topics designed to assist small businesses in winning and managing their public sector work. Sessions include: Follow Up Strategies to Win Work, Dissecting the Bid, Filling your Pipeline for Sustainable success, Exploring the Costs of Doing Business and others. Register here at no cost here and access the all 7 trainings.
- DBEs – Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are encouraged to submit for reevaluation by December 1, 2026. WSDOT is preparing to reinstate enforceable DBE contract goals, subject to applicable federal requirements and implementation guidance. View FAQs and link to no-cost support at this link.
- Access to Capital advising available at no cost to firms interested in contracting with City of Seattle – Get support to strengthen your financial and operational readiness. Support covers from financial management and cash flow to access to capital and other business needs. Sign up here.
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Meet the BIGS!
November 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Airway Heights
Small business: You’ll have the chance to network with the largest government purchasers in the Spokane area, like Fairchild Air Force Base and the US Forest Service, as well as large prime contractors doing millions of dollars of work with the government every year.
Government agency or large prime contractor: Whether you are looking to expand your pool of suppliers and subcontractors, or you are needing to meet your small business/outreach goals, MTB will give you the opportunity to meet and talk about doing business with hundreds of local small businesses from a variety of industries.
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Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) funding is available to small businesses working on cutting edge technology. Your Washington APEX Accelerator SBIR Program can provide assistance with DOW, DOT, NASA and Department of Homeland Security. | |
Q&A With Grady
Question: What’s the deal with commercialization in SBIR, and why is there so much emphasis on it now?
Answer: Commercialization was always the goal. SBIR isn’t a research grant. It’s a path from an idea, or “Phase I,” to a product someone buys, or “Phase III.” In Phase I, you prove feasibility. In Phase II, you build a prototype. In Phase III, your firm profits from its hard work by commercializing the technology. Keep in mind, Phase III money must be non-SBIR: commercial sales, private capital, or government purchases or contracts that aren’t funded with SBIR money. According to SBA’s policy directive, every Phase II proposal must include a valid commercialization strategy. This includes customers, market, IP, financing, and other assistance. The 2022 Extension Act raised performance standards for high-volume firms. SBA’s September 2026 Federal Register notice then added an extra layer of restrictions: firms with more than 25 Phase II awards in five years must now show 33% non-SBIR revenue in FY27 and 50% after that.
Click here for the rest of Grady's answer and steps an SBIR-active firm could take to address this.
| Events and Other Announcements for Innovators | |
SBIR Coffee Hour
11-25-26 – REGISTER NOW
12-30-26 – REGISTER NOW
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Lacey Maker Space, Lacey, WA - Hybrid
What’s SBIR Coffee Hour? A monthly hybrid meetup for Washington innovators pursuing SBIR/STTR funding. Each session mixes program basics with short expert talks and open Q&A.
November will feature the INNOVATOR ROSTER, a working list of Washington innovators pursuing SBIR/STTR so they can find potential team members, collaborators, or complementary partners. Topics rotate, so check the current event page for who’s speaking and what’s on the agenda.
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Headlines
- AFWERX gave Geminus a Phase I open-topic award to build an AI model of a forward-deployed microgrid with diesel generators and batteries.
- NASA gave AstraQua a $1.27 million Phase II for onboard propulsion fault-prediction software.
- Air Force Global Strike Command and Southwest Research Institute are hosting Modular Open Systems Pod Industry Days November 17-19, 2026, in Louisiana. U.S. companies with TRL 6 or higher technologies for B-52 modular pod applications can present in private 50-minute sessions. Areas of interest include AI, edge computing, electronic warfare, counter-UAS, sensors, and PNT. Registration is due November 6.
- Air Force STTR Direct to Phase II topic DAF27TZ01-DV001 seeks AI and computer vision that analyzes KC-46 refueling video and gives crews automated debriefs. Proposals are due November 25.
- DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation launched the PROSPECT Implementation Prize, awarding up to $70 million to U.S. universities expanding the skilled workforce for domestic production, processing, recovery, and recycling of critical minerals.
- DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER) is using the FY 2027 Open Call (DE-FOA-0003665) instead of separate topical NOFOs.
- Department of War FY27 Release 2 pre-releases Wednesday, November 4, opens December 2, and closes January 6, 2027. FY27 limits each firm to one proposal per topic.
- Department of War SBIR/STTR topics now limit each small business to one proposal per topic, effective October 1, 2026.
- SBA comments on the updated commercialization benchmark were due Saturday, October 31, with no extension. The rule takes effect November 15 and applies only to firms with more than 25 Phase II awards in the last five fiscal years.
- SBA named nine new Regional Innovation Clusters. Most focus on defense and manufacturing.
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Click Here for the stories behind the headlines
Other Important Links
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Washington APEX Accelerator provides technical assistance to help Washington businesses successfully compete in the government marketplace. This APEX Accelerator is funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the Department of War.
A program of the Thurston Economic Development Council, in partnership with the following subcenters:
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