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Two programs that since 1983 have provided millions of dollars and helped create hundreds of jobs for Wisconsin companies are scheduled to end later this month but could be reinstated.

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold, a Democrat, said Wednesday he will introduce legislation next week to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs, established to promote small business innovation and commercialization prospects and to enhance opportunities for women.

Feingold announced the plan at the Madison Gas & Electric Innovation Center, located in University Research Park on the West Side. The grants from the two programs have helped a number of businesses in the park and other technology parks in Dane County grow.

"It's been a great and wonderful investment for the taxpayer," said Tom Crabb, co-founder of Orbital Technologies Inc. "The small high-technology businesses are a core and central portion of a pipeline that really transports the ingenuity and entrepreneurial wizardry and spirit from the classroom all the way to this global economic marketplace."

Crabb's company last month had two plant-growth chambers it developed transported to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Endeavor. Orbitec also designs and produces rocket engines and fuel, simulated lunar soil and 3-D software for astronaut training.

Feingold's proposal is part of his E4 Initiative, which focuses on the economy, employment, education and energy. The proposed changes to the Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs would reauthorize the programs for an additional 14 years, increase funding for research and development and increase the amount of money awarded for projects.

"It's no secret that Wisconsin families, communities and business are facing difficult challenges in a changing economy," Feingold said. "But Wisconsin's unique strengths, including the work done in research parks like this one give Wisconsin the potential to be a national and global leader in addressing these challenges."

Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Center, said the SBIR program has been "a strong" program for Wisconsin and has provided funding to companies like Third Wave Technologies, Promega Corp. and Tomo Therapy.

"We think its important that the program not only be renewed but expanded," Still said. "We think this is a very important step forward. Wisconsin really is a small business driven state. That's where the innovation is taking place, in the tech sector."