RUMFORD – The next business Lunch and Learn seminar will take place Wednesday, May 19. This is the fifth seminar in a six-month series. The seminar will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the River Valley Business Resource Center at 34 River St. The cost is $8 and includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Respond by calling Beverly at 369-0396 or e-mailing [email protected] by May 14.

The seminar will offer information on Maine Technology Institute seed grants. Elizabeth Crabtree, MTI seed grant specialist at the Maine Technology Institute, will be the presenter.

The seminar will explain the MTI seed grant process. MTI seed grants are intended to provide quick financing for individuals, businesses or research laboratories for specific small projects leading to the commercialization of new products or services in the state’s targeted technology sectors.

Since 2001, MTI has funded 264 seed grants totaling $2.4 million. Seed grants will support technical or consulting assistance leading to a MTI development award application, a full proposal for a small business innovation research award and other federal awards, investment presentation or other commercialization application. Seed grants may also be used to support specific small projects leading to new products or service commercialization, such as proof-of-concept work, prototype development, pilot studies, intellectual property filings, business plan development, market analysis or activities occurring between SBIR phase I and phase II award projects.

The Lunch and Learn seminars are intended to provide information to businesses in an affordable way. Business can gather resources and information for long-term success. In addition, the seminars are intended to facilitate networking among businesses in similar activities.

This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in applying for a MTI seed grant or simply to gather resources. The series is sponsored by the River Valley Technology Center, the River Valley Growth Council and the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.