River Bend Times

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, alongside U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, visited Coralville to emphasize the impact of Iowa innovation and the importance of small businesses in economic growth.

During their visit, they toured a local small business that has used funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop new medical technology, create jobs, and protect intellectual property from foreign competitors.

“Iowa’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and innovation is thriving right here in the heartland,” said Miller-Meeks. “Through programs like SBIR, we can empower entrepreneurs to pioneer groundbreaking technologies, create jobs, and strengthen our communities. I will continue working to ensure Iowa innovators have the resources and opportunities they need to compete and win on the global stage.”

“Innovation does not just come from the coasts—it’s thriving in the heartland, and I am thrilled Administrator Loeffler is championing that cause,” said Ernst. “The INNOVATE Act will ensure there are more small business success stories like this one in Iowa and across America. The SBIR-STTR programs must focus on investing in the best and brightest companies that are supporting our warfighters and developing the critical technology that powers our nation.”

“The SBIR program provides seed funding for American entrepreneurs who power innovation in national security, health sciences, and agriculture,” said Loeffler. “As part of President Trump’s agenda to strengthen our broad-based technological leadership, congressional reauthorization of SBIR is essential. I thank Chair Joni Ernst and Chairman Roger Williams for their commitment to critical technology breakthroughs, and for ensuring that the most innovative U.S. small businesses have a runway into the future.”

Michael Schultz, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at one of these businesses, stated: “The support we’ve received from SBIRs has been instrumental in enabling us to advance our mission to develop innovative radiopharmaceuticals to improve outcomes for cancer patients. It’s also given us the confidence to invest in R&D and manufacturing capabilities here in the U.S. This visit was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the passion driving our science, the excellence of our team, and the meaningful economic impact we’re creating in the Iowa community.”

The SBIR program is considered an important resource for fostering innovation among small businesses nationwide.

Miller-Meeks currently serves as a member of Congress representing Iowa's 1st district after succeeding Dave Loebsack in 2021. She previously served as an Iowa state senator from 2019 until her election to Congress https://millermeeks.house.gov/about. Born in Herlong, California in 1955, she now resides in Le Claire https://ballotpedia.org/Mariannette_Miller-Meeks. She earned her BSN degree from Texas Christian University in 1976.