The BAY area houston economic partnership (bahep) proposes to administer the innovative space alliance technology outreach program (satop) through its texas satop regional center. Bahep has…

The BAY area houston economic partnership (bahep) proposes to administer the innovative space alliance technology outreach program (satop) through its texas satop regional center. Bahep has successfully administered the texas satop regional center since its inception in 1999. Beginning in 2001, bahep collaborated with the florida technology research and development authority, the greater syracuse chamber of commerce and the new mexico research and development corporation to form a four-state consortium to transfer technology from the u. S. Space program to the private sector to provide an economic impact. Today, bahep continues to operate the texas satop regional center through a subcontract to the greater syracuse chamber of commerce economic development corporation. Bahep proposes to 1) build on the existing satop program administered by the greater syracuse chamber of commerce economic development corporation and grants previously administered by the florida technology research development authority, 2) work with an additional 90 small businesses, and 3) not duplicate any work funded under NASA grant # NNXLOAB14G. The first objective of satop is to transfer the knowledge and technology of the U.S. Space program to small businesses located in texas, provide economic benefits to the community, and to raise public awareness of the U.S. Space program. The program does so by providing up to 40 hours of free technical assistance to small companies located across the state, helping them solve engineering and technical challenges that ultimately increase their odds of succeeding. Satop utilizes the technical resources of U.S. Space program's aerospace contractors, NASA johnson space center and local colleges; professionals within these participating organizations provide their time and expertise in solving the challenges brought by the small businesses. Collectively, these organizations are satop's alliance partners. The second objective is to facilitate incorporation of technology into the small business process to produce a viable product, serve as an advocate for the aerospace industry, and realize positive economic impact through increased revenues, capital investment, and increased employment. Bahep's third objective is to collaborate with the existing satop regional centers in new york, florida and new mexico to extend this technical assistance program to small businesses located in these states. Leveraging the capabilities ofthe four satop regional centers strengthens the overall program capability to match a business owner with an alliance partner which can provide a solution to its technical challenge.satop has helped more than 600 businesses statewide through job creation/retention and capital investment. Since the inception of the federally funded program in 2001, satop has infused an estimated $125 million into the texas economy. The technical assistance is made possible through a consortium consisting of NASA JSC and 20 NASA JSC aerospace contractors and colleges donating up to 14,500 engineering hours to the program valued at over $1 million. Satop matches the business owner with an alliance partner engineer to provide a solution to the technical challenge. Satop partners with economic development organizations such as chambers of commerce to market the program to businesses throughout the state. BAY area houston economic partnership and its consortium members in new york, florida and new mexico will use the grant funding to operate four satop regional centers. Satop will provide personal one-on-one assistance to small business owners facing technical challenges, recruiting engineers within the space program to solve these technical challenges, and helping to measure the economic impact that results from the assistance provided. With the looming GAP after the retirement of the current shuttle fleet in 2010 and the possible cancellation of the next generation of spacecraft, the sustainability of the space pro