WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced more than $18 million in grants to small businesses to conduct research and development that will lead to technological innovations in the agriculture industry. The awards were made by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

"USDA grants to small businesses have spurred the development of hundreds of technologies and products that help make American agriculture successful," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Today's announcement is another example of USDA's focus on science and research that can strengthen the economy and create jobs across the nation. Innovative agricultural research has helped make agriculture one of the two most productive industries in the U.S. economy since 1980, but we need a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill passed if we are to sustain it."

USDA made the grants through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, with the goal to stimulate technological innovations in the private sector and to strengthen the role of small businesses in meeting federal research and development needs. The program also fosters and encourages participation by women-owned and socially- or economically-disadvantaged small business firms.

Companies initially apply for Phase I feasibility studies, which may be followed by Phase II research and development projects. Phase I grants are limited to $100,000 and a duration of eight months, while Phase II grants are limited to $450,000 and a duration of 24 months. Approximately 50 percent of Phase I projects continue onto Phase II.

In fiscal year 2013, USDA awarded $5,862,650 in Phase I grants and $12,417,504 in Phase II grants. A complete list of fiscal year 2013 SBIR awards is available online: www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2013news/sbir_grantees.html

Since 1983, the USDA SBIR program has awarded more than 2,000 research and development grants to American-owned, independently operated, for-profit businesses with 500 employees or fewer.

USDA NIFA administers the SBIR program, with funding provided by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Research Service, NIFA, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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EVENT: Saturday, DECEMBER 14, 2013, at 11:00 am

On Saturday, December 14, Moms will gather at over 50 events in more than 35 states to honor the victims of the tragedy in Newtown and the thousands of Americans lost to gun violence every year. All events will include a communal bell-ringing to remember the victims and to show our resolve to never again be silent about gun violence. These events are co-sponsored by Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

In Des Moines, we'll hear from Rev. David P. Sickelka, Rev. Cheryl Thomas, Calvetta Berry of Mother's Against Violence, Rick Miller of OFA and Mayor Frank Cownie about the need to reduce gun violence. Our local sponsors, with whom we share a common goal of gun violence prevention, include The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Organizing for Action, American Friends Service Committee, Mother's Against Violence, The Ecumenical Peace Committee, The Methodist Federation for Social Action and Iowans for Gun Safety.  We'll ring bells loudly, honoring the first anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy with a promise to continue making noise on gun reform until change comes.

More information is available here: http://momsdemandaction.org/no-more-silence/

WHO:

•    Rev. Cheryl Thomas, Chapter Leader, Moms Demand Action for gun Sense in America

•    Calvetta Berry, President, Mother's Against Violence

•    Mayor Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, Mayors Against Illegal Guns

•    Rick Miller, Gun Issue Lead, OFA - Organizing for Action

•    Rev. David P. Sickelka, Board member, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa

 

WHERE: Ding Darling Indoor Shelter at Birdland Park/Union Park, 2100 Saylor Rd in Des Moines, Iowa

WHEN: Saturday, December 14, 2013, 11:00 am

About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America or on Twitter @MomsDemand.

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 1,000 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

New Study Finds We're Suffering a National Friendship Crisis

Most Americans (75 percent!) are not satisfied with their friendships; 63 percent lack confidence in even their closest friends; and almost half of us would choose to have deeper friendships rather than more friends.

Those are the findings of a new study, The State of Friendship in America 2013, by Lifeboat Friends at Their Best and Sea Change Strategies and Edge Research.

"Strong, trusting friendships are crucial to our sense of peace, happiness and well-being," says Dawna Hetzler, a speaker, women's mentor (and mentoree), and author of the new book, "Walls of a Warrior: Conquering the Fears of Our Hearts," (www.DawnaHetzler.com).

"But many of us, women in particular, build so many walls around our hearts to protect ourselves, we can never open ourselves to all the possible relationships we could have. Or, we do allow some people in, but we keep them at arm's length."

Strong friendships do make us happier, according to the new study. Forty-nine percent of people with seven or more close friends strongly agreed that they feel happy most of the time, while only 24 percent of people with just one good friend and 19 percent with no friends, could say the same.

"You have to know and trust a person before you allow them into your heart, because when you open yourself up, you become vulnerable," says Hetzler. "We all build walls to protect ourselves from hurt, fear, rejection, disapproval and other painful emotions, and that's natural. Some walls are healthy. But the invisible walls we're often not even aware of prevent us from experiencing the honest, real relationships that can benefit us in so many ways."

Hetzler shares some of what she learned working with Jericho's Girls, the women's group she founded that focuses on dismantling unhealthy walls:

• First, identify the walls you have. We build walls in response to many things - real and perceived threats, fears, conditioning, rejection, Hetzler says. Many of us put up walls to hide our weaknesses; if you have trouble asking for help, this may be you! Jericho's Girls members learned that acknowledging and being honest about their weaknesses allowed them to grow stronger. And that asking for help from friends offers those friends the gratification of giving. Making a list of your walls and understanding why they're there is a good place to start the process.

• If the wall is unhealthy, identify the steps necessary to dismantle it. Sometimes we erect walls to protect ourselves from ourselves, Hetzler notes. "One of my walls revolved around being needed too much," she says. "I tend to take on a lot, and then exhaust myself getting it all done." She realized she built a wall to prevent people from seeing that she really cannot do it all, and she pushed away those she feared might demand too much of her time and energy. She dealt with that wall by setting limits with herself and others. "I say no when I need to, which allows me to build friendships instead of pushing people away."

• Arm yourself with words of inspiration. Powerful words help when we need positive reinforcement or reassurance when the way ahead looks scary. Hetzler has found that calling upon a quotation that she believes in provides both. "Write down the quotes, Bible verses or other inspiration that have great meaning for you," she says. Each day, read one, reflect upon the meaning, pray or meditate, and contemplate the message it holds for you. "These words will stick with you, and you'll have them to call upon when you need them," she says.

Creating deeper, honest friendships begins with opening our hearts to others, Hetzler says.

"When you begin taking down the walls, you'll find you're more at peace with yourself," she says. "And that allows you to develop the wonderful relationships that come from trust and sharing."

About Dawna Hetzler

Dawna Hetzler owns a real estate firm and is an author and speaker focusing on women's connection groups and retreats. She's also a Bible study teacher and speaker for Stonecroft Ministries. She wrote "Walls of Warriors" based on her experiences with Jericho Girls - a group of women who meets to discuss the walls they build around their hearts that inhibit relationships with others.