The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invests resources in the Gulf and across the country to create an environment ripe for private sector investment, competitive markets, and small businesses to flourish.   The USPTO offers pro bono programs to under-resourced businesses seeking legal advice; accelerates patent examination options with big discounts for small businesses; provides IP assessment tools to help businesses realize patent strategies available to them; and offers Small Business Innovation Research grants. The USPTO remains dedicated to supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and independent inventors who may have limited resources.  As we reflect upon the 10^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are reminded that Americans rise up and leave a legacy of action, invention, and determination. 

As we prepare for the future, it is important to identify how individuals can get assistance with their innovation or business after a disaster. There are a variety of ways independent inventors and small businesses can easily contact the USPTO and get access—electronically or in person—to resources that can help get your business and your ideas up and running.

The USPTO has designated more than 80 Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) across the country, including 13 across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. These centers support the public with patent and trademark assistance by offering free electronic services and resources to support the intellectual property needs at the local and state level. They also employ USPTO-trained librarians to provide customer assistance on the use of the agency's patent and trademark databases and they give public seminars on intellectual property topics for novice and experienced users. In addition to the PTRCs, you can reach out to additional USPTO support centers which include a Public Search Facility, Inventors Assistance Center, Trademark Assistance Center, Patent Electronic Business Center, and Scientific and Technical Information Center. Another way to access the USPTO resources in the region is through one of our four regional offices or during a stop in your local community during one of our road tours focused on small business innovation.

Additionally, the USPTO has several free or reduced fee programs to assist independent inventors and small businesses in securing patent protection for their inventions. One of these is the Patent Pro Bono Program. Now available in all 50 states, the Patent Pro Bono Program helps under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses to potentially secure free legal representation to help them file and prosecute patent applications.

After a disaster a business may need to rebuild or adapt, or an inventor may have a breakthrough idea that can help with relief or prevent a similar disaster in the future. Through its locations and resources nationwide, the USPTO stands ready to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors at all times, and especially during challenging ones.