Center for Research and Development, UNK: Nebraska state agency directors will speak in classrooms and at public town hall forums on topics that include taxation, economic development, banking and finance. Contact: www.unk.edu/crrd. Entrepreneurshop, Nebraska Business Development Center: Business consulting in evaluating business ideas, writing an effective business plan and getting financing; includes services of Entrepreneurshop. Contact: 402-595-1158; http://nbdc.unomaha.edu/about/eshop.cfm

Food Processing Center: Provides assistance to new and existing agricultural producers and value-added food processors on funding opportunities, including state and federal grant and loan opportunities. Assistance in applying for grants is available. Contact: http://fpc.unl.edu/Business/grants.shtml

Nebraska Business Development Center: Assists entrepreneurs in analyzing the capital needs of their business, and supports the pursuit of debt capital and angel equity investment. Assistance also offered in budget and operations analysis. Contact: http://nbdc.unomaha.edu/venture/; Omaha, 402-554-6270; Lincoln, 402-472-3358; Kearney, 308-865-8344; Scottsbluff, 308-635-7513.

R&D Partnership Program, Nebraska EPSCoR: Provides funding for scientific and technological research collaborations between university faculty and Nebraska businesses to promote technology transfer and economic development throughout the state. Contact: http://epscor.unl.edu/pdfs/R&DPartnershipRFP07.pdf; 402-472-8946.