The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $1.2M to three small businesses in California last month in order to commercialize environmental technologies in the state. 

On Jan. 13, the EPA announced that it had allocated a total of $1,199,586 in funding to three companies in California, including Hyperion Analytical LLC, Nikira Labs, and Verdant Structural Engineers, according to a news release from the agency. The money will be used specifically for the advancement of developing and commercializing technologies that are designed to protect environmental and public health. 

“California small businesses are leaders in creating innovative, practical technologies to tackle environmental problems,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzmanin in the news release.

 These technologies are focused on tackling pressing environmental issues including PFAS destruction, ethylene oxide monitoring, water reuse, and sustainable construction materials, according to the news release. 

“We are excited for this opportunity to combat climate change by developing this safe, durable, structural, carbon storing straw wall panel made from natural agricultural byproducts to replace plastic foam-filled structural insulated panels,” said Verdant Structural Engineers' Principal Anthony Dente. “This will be one of the few products storing carbon in buildings with biogenic materials, which is essential to lowering the carbon emissions of the building industry.”

All of the funding comes directly from the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research program, which aims to fund research proposals from science and technology-based firms. In total, 11 different federal agencies participate in the SBIR program and 30 small businesses have already been awarded funding.