Governor Perdue and Biotechnology

Governor Beverly Perdue visits UNC-Wilmington's Center for Marine Science, in a rare visit to the southeast region. Alganomics' Dr. Kim Jones was one of a handful of small business leaders invited to attend. Dr. Jones had the opportunity to personally thank the Governor for her NC Green Business Fund grant program. Governor Perdue expressed the need to keep pushing for new jobs, while competing on the world stage in biotechnology. She toured the Center for Marine Science and heard first-hand of the entrepreneurial business support provided by the University. For more, please visit http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=13583277

Opportunities & Collaborations

It has been a while between posts and Alganomics has been very busy! We attended the advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, "The First Billion Gallons" held in Washington, DC at the end of April. Immediately following that conference, we were one of a handful of businesses requested to the Embassy of the Philippines for meetings on the Philippine Biofuels Trade Mission, which is co-sponsored by the USDA. Hosted by the honorable Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, it was both a cultural and business bridge-building experience. Alganomics had the opportunity to meet with the CEO's from each of the biofuels businesses located in the Philippines. It is our sincere hope to find ways to collaborate.

A collaboration, which began in June with a presentation to the newly formed Caldwell Green Commission in Lenoir, is gaining traction, as funding is sought for a Bioenergy Park. At the end of October, we were happy to host their representatives on tours of our facilities in Brunswick County and facilities in Bladen County, which are part of another collaborative research endeavor. Caldwell County has an incredible opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons, by utilizing closed factories and brown field areas for the production of feedstocks for biofuels and incorporating renewable energy. Congratulations to the Caldwell Green Commission for moving into their new office, hosted by GOOGLE. Mark your calendars for the Caldwell Green Commission's Grand Opening at Lenoir, NC on November 23, 2010 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

Speaking of opportunities and collaborations, Alganomics has presented a project called the "Sustainable Mariculture And Renewable Technologies (SMART) Enterprise" to the City of Southport. Information was provided to the Board of Aldermen for their October meeting (Oct. 14, 2010). A request was made for a presentation at the November meeting. The next post will have more on the exciting opportunities offered by Southport's SMART Enterprise.

Oak Island Environmental Spring Festival

1st CRAWL SPRING FESTIVAL

The 1st Crawl (Environmental) Spring Festival will be held on Saturday, April 24th from 10am-2pm at Middleton Park. Alganomics, LLC will participate in this event, with its mobile laboratory trailer onsite. This is an appreciation event for the Oak Island Community with an emphasis on environmental education. The festival will appeal to all ages and will include informational booths, give-away items, speakers, demonstrations, entertainment, childrens activities, food and will kickoff with a Team Turtle Triathlon (paddle, bike, run/walk). Team Turtle Triathlon will begin at 8am. For more information call: 910-278-5518 COME OUT AND HAVE A BLAST!

Green Enterprise Resource Summit

On Monday, April 19th, U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre will host a “Green Enterprise Resource Summit.” Alganomics will be represented by Dr. Kim Jones. The Summit is open to all and will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cape Fear Community College’s North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne. Directions can be found at: http://cfcc.edu/campusmap/northcampus.html. Jobs are the most important issue facing our area, and this event will highlight federal and state resources that can assist green business and green job creation and will encompass a thorough discussion of what resources are available through state and federal government to grow green jobs. We will be welcoming representatives from multiple federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Green Business Fund, the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, and more. Attendees will learn what resources these and other agencies have to offer and how they can access those resources. The second half of the summit will provide attendees with the opportunity to ask questions of the agency representatives and to offer suggestions on how Congress and government, in general, can best assist their efforts to grow green sector jobs in southeastern North Carolina. Hope to see you there!

Presenting at National Algae Association

Alganomics will be represented via a presentation by Dr. Kim Jones at the National Algae Association's Mid-South Chapter Workshop on Friday, March 26, 2010. The workshop, titled "Algae: Mining Wastewater for Nutrients, Feed and Fuel," will be held in Huntsville, Alabama. The workshop description is as follows:
"With US freshwater supplies slowly dwindling and algae culture quickly becoming the centerpiece of bioenergy/bioremediation research, we must carefully examine our water and nutrient sources for an efficient, sustainable algal industry. This workshop explores how to minimize algae's freshwater and nutrient footprints by recycling anthropogenic wastewater streams including agricultural, municipal, and industrial while at the same time producing a host of valuable algal end products. In addition, we will learn of algae's tremendous potential as a cost-effective bioremediation tool for wastewater streams, effecting a more stable and healthy ecosystem."
Dr. Jones' presentation is titled, "Phycoremediation: Balancing the Chemical Budgets," with the following description:
Phycoremediation, or the use of microalgae for the removal of nutrients, organics and/or heavy metals from wastewaters, is gaining research intensity, as a result of biofuels/bioproducts and environmental mandates. Designing integrated chemical recycling systems will impact "algae to biofuels" through its environmental remediation, productivity and economics.
Please see the National Algae Assn. website for registration details, http://www.nationalalgaeassociation.com/.

Blessings

As the 2009 year comes to a close, reflection is called upon. So many blessings have been bestowed on Alganomics over this past year. Grants, project support, business guidance and encouragement are but of a few of the blessings. There are many organizations to thank, and although someone may get missed, a list is all too appropriate. Special thanks to the following:
Cape Fear Resource Conservation & Development
Clearwater Enterprises & Clark Brothers
Biofuel Center of North Carolina
NC Board of Science & Technology – NC Green Business Fund
North Carolina Biotechnology Center – Southeast Office
Brunswick Electric Membership Cooperative
Town of Oak Island
Small Business Technology Development Center – Wilmington
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School - BASE

May the Lord bless you and yours this holiday season!

Independance Day

As the “Old Glory” is the symbol of freedom celebrated on the Fourth of July, Americans on a daily basis are focusing more on freedom from fossil fuels. Renewable energy and recycling have become the battle cries and many have been called to arms. From “Big Oil” to the environmental entrepreneurs, technology development is accelerating at a rapid pace. American ingenuity is again showing its true colors of red, white and blue. As the information age has created a nation strong in technology, the renewable energy age seeks to bring energy independence to the American horizon. Start by joining in a skirmish or join in a raging battle, but know we are each needed on some level in order to make this a success story. “We Want You!”