(Nov. 4, 2009 – Vermilion, Alta.)  Lakeland College is now an approved service provider for the Alberta Innovation Voucher program, a program that helps small technology and knowledge-driven businesses in Alberta get their ideas and products to market faster.

Companies can apply for vouchers worth either $10,000 or $50,000 for business and technology development services. The deadline for applications is November 20, 2009.

“In the last competition, there was only one company in the region that was awarded funding,” says Mel Mathison, dean of agricultural and environmental sciences and applied research at Lakeland College. “Lakeland would like to see the number of local awards increase, which is why we became an approved service provider. We would be thrilled to support innovative local companies in commercializing their ideas.”

The college’s current applied research and innovation activities are geared towards enhancing and complementing teaching and learning, and advancing innovation-based rural community economic development.

Visit www.aet.alberta.ca/technology/support/vouchers.aspx for details on the Alberta Innovation Voucher program. To learn more about applied research and innovation at Lakeland College, phone Mel Mathison at 780 853 8741.