| Increased and Retained Sales |
$1,365,100 |
| Cost Savings |
$1,440,760 |
| Investments in Improvement |
$1,571,121 |
| Created and Retained Jobs |
148 |
ISDA and TechHelp Partner to Help Food Processors
Over the next two years, TechHelp will provide workshops and on-site assessments to Idaho processors of potatoes, onions, apples, cherries, peas and lentils to help them improve food safety and productivity. The partnership includes the three state universities, the Idaho Grower Shipper Association, the Idaho Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association, and the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council. The $80,003 competitive grant will make Idaho’s specialty crop packers and processors more competitive, protect the integrity of Idaho’s agricultural brand, and improve the safety of our food supply chain.
TechHelp Honors Four Innovative Companies
Cowboy Tom’s Flapjacks of Declo, and Coyote Design, Fresh Air Manufacturing Company, and Nutra-Life of Boise received Spirit of Continuous Innovation Awards from TechHelp. The SOCI Award recognizes companies that invest in their people, products and processes to stay ahead of the competition. You can read their success stories on the TechHelp website at http://www.techhelp.org .
At left, Mike Wojcicki (L) of TechHelp and Idaho State Senator Denton Darrington (R) present the Spirit of Continuous Innovation Award to Charlotte and "Cowboy Tom" Armstrong during a ceremony at the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce. Charlotte created a memorable event by whipping up 6 different kinds of Cowboy Tom Flapjacks for visitors.
TechHelp in the News
The Idaho Business Review's lead story last week was "TechHelp Makes Things Happen." The article investigates how manufacturers are weathering the current economic storm and what will lead them out of it. Companies that innovate their products, processes and business models and can customize quickly will lead the recovery. TechHelp is helping them do that.
http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2009/10/26/TechHelp-makes-things-happen
Success Story:
Coyote Design in Boise invents and manufactures prosthetic and orthotic devices that help the physically challenged adapt to their circumstances. As amputees, owner Matt Perkins and his father, Dale – owner of Rehab Systems, Inc. – could envision product solutions better than what was available in the market, so they teamed up with TechHelp and the BSU College of Engineering’s New Product Development Lab to design and prototype better prosthetics. “Being able to match TechHelp’s engineering and design strength to our patient and technical usage ability makes for a strong combination,” said Matt. By partnering with TechHelp, Coyote Design increased sales by $50,000 and reduced development costs by another $60,000. Read more.
At left, Chief Coyote, Matt Perkins, believes in "innovation through continuous tinkering". "Because we work directly with patients, we always design products with the patient in mind," says Perkins.
About TechHelp
TechHelp provides technical and business assistance to Idaho manufacturers making them more competitive through continuous process and product innovation. The center is a partnership of Idaho’s three state universities and an affiliate of the federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It is also Idaho’s EDA University Center targeting economically distressed areas.
