USDA awards $649,998 grant to FR8relay

Bentonville, AR – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that FR8relay will receive $649,998 as part of its Small Business Innovation Grant Phase II program. The Trucker reported that in 2021, FR8relay received a USDA SBIR Phase I award to evaluate the potential impacts of their relay technology on major trucking industry problems while creating new economic development opportunities in a few rural and tribal communities along major trucking corridors.

The primary goals of this research and development effort include the completion of a relay software beta product, the coordination of pilot partners based in “relay exchange node” communities, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation throughout pilot implementation, with reports provided to participants and other stakeholders. Through the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs across the federal government, small business powers the U.S. economy and generates thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly.