How The Green Launching Pad Works

Background

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Launching green companies takes a lot of work--and a good deal of funding. Will it pay off for NH?

The Green Launching Pad (GLP) is an eco-friendly business incubator run by the University of New Hampshire and funded by federal stimulus money through the state’s Office of Energy and Planning (OEP). It’s just one of a number of programs the agency funds to help grow the state’s green economy.

To participate in the program, companies focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, emission reduction and green manufacturing apply during a set period for consideration. A panel of GLP-affiliated judges then selects the companies they believe show the most promise. Once a firm is chosen to take part in the Green Launching Pad, it receives a grant (awards have ranged from $20,000 to $94,700 so far), access to interns from the University of New Hampshire, as well as help from mentors and university staff in marketing and development.

Since it was established two years ago, GLP has helped launch 11 start-up companies, and offered grants to three environmentally-friendly manufacturing firms to expand fabrication jobs in New Hampshire. It has received $1.5 million in federal stimulus funding through the Office of Energy and Planning. Once the stimulus money runs out at the end of April, Green Launching Pad administrators hope to keep the program going through a combination of private support and other federal grants from the Departments of Commerce and Energy.

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March 13, 2013

From Black Gold To Green Economy: Long-Time Entrepreneur Talks New Markets

It’s been three years since the Green Launching Pad initiative was started at the University of New Hampshire with $1.5 million in federal stimulus money. The goal of the project was to fund and support the state’s most promising, eco-friendly start-ups, and enhance New Hampshire’s green economy in the long term. Under federal rules, the […]

March 6, 2013

Three Years Later: The Progress And Challenges Of The Green Launching Pad

A taxpayer-funded eco-business program is paying off for New Hampshire. The Green Launching Pad at the University of New Hampshire has given grants to more than a dozen start-ups in the state. But it hasn’t awarded any new funds since last year. But the scene at the statehouse last winter was one of optimism for a […]

March 5, 2013

Renewable Energy Entrepreneur Talks Benefits, Challenges Of Going Green In N.H.

This week, StateImpact will be checking-in on the progress of the University of New Hampshire‘s Green Launching Pad initiative. Begun in 2010 with $1.5 million in federal stimulus money, the GLP’s goal is to provide seed money, UNH faculty business expertise, and student interns to entrepreneurs in the state’s growing green sectors. One of the […]

May 7, 2012

Stimulus Funding Dries Up For Eco-Biz Incubator

The challenge of growing New Hampshire’s green economy just got more difficult. Federal stimulus funding for the state’s chief eco-friendly business incubator dried up at the end of April. Now, the University of New Hampshire‘s Green Launching Pad program is rooting around for private funding to keep the program going. Although early GLP grant funding […]

January 25, 2012

StateImpact Talks Job Growth And The Green Launching Pad

One of our most popular posts this week has been our in-depth look at the economic impact the Green Launching Pad, of an earth-friendly start-up incubator. The program was created with the help of federal stimulus money. StateImpact’s Amanda Loder discusses the economic impacts of GLP–and the program’s future–with NHPR’s All Things Considered host Brady […]

January 23, 2012

How A Start-Up Incubator Is Racing Against The Clock To Create Jobs

After launching 11 eco-friendly companies across the state, the University of New Hampshire’s Green Launching Pad (GLP) is racing to spend the last of its stimulus funding. For the past two years, GLP has used federal stimulus money to offer grants and support to up-and-coming green companies. The idea is, as the companies expand, more […]

July 29, 2011

NH Green Jobs Growth Picture Unclear

As the economy continues to limp along toward recovery, “green jobs” has become a buzz phrase, often tossed out as a panacea for our economic ails. But compared to the rest of the nation, New Hamphire’s share of this sector doesn’t exactly stand out. In a study released earlier this month, researchers found that from […]