DETROIT, August 18, 2010- Many a researcher starting a biotech company has been lost in a maze of bureaucracy when applying for federal appropriations to fund their great idea.

Jon Kozesky, a government affairs expert from Cleveland-based G2G Consulting, has the tips and experience to lead you out of the dead ends and onto the right path. He'll provide guidance through the process of successfully applying for federal appropriations at TechTown's First Friday networking event in September.

Jon Kozesky

"I've seen such a tremendous response from Capitol Hill for biotech companies coming out of Michigan, because they're so happy to see the state branching out from the auto industry," Kozesky said. "There is real opportunity in the Detroit area for growth in the biotech sector."

Detroit's reputation as a hub of biotech activity has been growing for years. The medical centers in Detroit including the Henry Ford Health System, the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University invest more than a third of a billion dollars annually in research. TechTown, WSU's research park and the largest business incubator in the world, is creating a stem cell commercialization center that has attracted interest from researchers around the globe. In October, Detroit will host the World Stem Cell Summit, the world's flagship event uniting the stem cell community, which expects to draw more than 1,200 attendees from 30 countries.

TechTown will help biotech entrepreneurs in Detroit expand their own boundaries to the national level by offering this instructive session on how to win federal funds. Kozesky will share key factors for success when pursuing a federal appropriation, a timeline, plus tips on discretionary funding and the importance of government advocacy to today's small business.

"Government advocacy is undervalued these days," Kozesky said. "It's hard to overstate its importance to companies, and the benefits will amaze you. The doors it opens are endless."

First Friday is September 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at NextEnergy in TechTown, 461 Burroughs Street, Detroit. (The September First Friday will be held on the second Friday because of the Labor Day holiday.) A $5 donation is encouraged to help offset event costs; donations will be accepted at the door. Register for this event online at http://techtownwsu.org/ffsept2010/.

September's First Friday is sponsored by Asterand and MichBio.

For years, First Fridays at TechTown have been a gathering place for doers and thinkers in Detroit. The event has become a monthly networking hub for hundreds of entrepreneurs, mentors and innovators.

Jon Kozesky is Government Affairs Manager at G2G Consulting in Cleveland and represents clients in Washington, D.C. Previously, he worked for Congressman Steven LaTourette engaging with numerous local officials throughout Northeast Ohio while also managing case work and constituent projects. Kozesky also worked for former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, assisting with federal grants administration and speechwriting. In addition, he was a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. with several Congressional offices representing the Midwest region. His broad cross-party experience with Congress provides him with a well-rounded perspective and valuable relationships. Kozesky has a joint Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Case Western Reserve University.

Asterand plc is the leading global supplier of high quality, well characterized human tissue and human tissue-based research services to drug discovery scientists. Its mission is to provide human tissues and services to accelerate the identification and validation of drug targets and enhance the selection of drug candidates with an increased likelihood of clinical success. www.asterand.com

MichBio is the biosciences industry trade association and the official Michigan affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, BIO, which represents biotechnology companies across America and in 33 other nations. Formed in 1993 as the Michigan Biosciences Industry Association, MichBio is headquartered in Ann Arbor. http://www.michbio.org/

ABOUT TECHTOWN
TechTown is an urban community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and partners creating an internationally influential village in Detroit. TechTown brings the resources of Wayne State University to high-technology startup companies to diversify and strengthen Michigan's economy in high-growth emerging industries. For more information, visit www.techtownwsu.org.