Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone (PCKIZ)
Portfolio Company Grant Guidelines 2009

The Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone (“PCKIZ”) can provide grant money to qualified KIZ companies to support a project that promotes innovation and job creation. Eligible applicants can receive grant funding on future projects up to $25,000 in a one year calendar period.

Eligibility:

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The product or process being developed must be classified into at least one of the following industry sectors: Biomedical, Biotechnology, Energy, Green Building Products, Material Science, Information Technology, and Technology.
• A company interested in applying for the KIZ Grant must be a start-up business less than 8 years old that is located within the physical boundaries of the Pittsburgh Central KIZ or preparing to locate their principal place of business within the PCKIZ.  The company must be located within the physical boundaries of the Pittsburgh Central KIZ before grant funds are awarded. 
• Current registered students at Carlow University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, and Point Park University are encouraged to apply.
• Portfolio companies of The Idea Foundry and Innovation Works are encouraged to apply.
• Companies that are working with the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development and the City of Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority are encouraged to apply. 
• Companies that receive grant funds must remain within the PCKIZ for a 1 year time period from the date that the company receives the PCKIZ grant.

Project examples include, but are not limited to:

• Market analysis/research performed by one of the PCKIZ partners
• Patent applications
• Product design/development
• Prototype development and testing
• Feasibility analysis performed by one of the PCKIZ partners
• Specialized consulting services
• Purchase of equipment/ software that can specifically help the business create jobs
• Partial salary to hire a graduate from one of the PCKIZ participating universities to specifically help the company with a project that can help the business create jobs
• Marketing materials

Grant funding can NOT be used for:

• Facilities (rental payments or purchase costs/ renovation expenses)
• Insurance
• Legal fees except for Intellectual Property and Patents
• Delinquent Taxes or Debt 
• If grant funds are not used as specified in the grant application and approved by the PCKIZ grant committee then those grant funds can be taken back by the PCKIZ
• The PCKIZ reserves the right to audit the use of the grant funds

Grant Process

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements. PCKIZ grant applicants must complete a grant application.  Applicants that have received prior grant funding from the PCKIZ must discuss how the grant money that they received helped them achieve the goals that they stated in their previous grant application.  The PCKIZ grant committee will review and then choose a group of finalist.  Those finalists will be required to make a brief presentation before the PCKIZ grant committee.  Grant applications will be reviewed as submitted until funding is exhausted according to the following grant schedule. 

• Grant Application Deadline October 1, 2009; Grant Decision November 12,  2009
• Grant Application Deadline December 15, 2009; Grant Decision January 15, 2010

Grant applications submitted after the bi-monthly application due date will be reviewed during the next bi-monthly grant review cycle.  A grantee cannot receive more than $25,000 in a calendar year.  An applicant that does not receive a grant can reapply or an applicant that receives a grant below $25,000 can reapply until he or she reaches the $25,000 cap.     

Companies that received PCKIZ grants must remain within the boundaries of the PCKIZ for a 1 year time period after receipt of the grant.  If a company moves out of the PCKIZ then that company before the end of that 1 year time period, then the PCKIZ can request all or part of the grant fund that the company received.

Grant recipients will coordinate any efforts to publicize the grant award with representatives from the PCKIZ.