
2 minute read
Cville Match Spotlight
from 2022 Annual Report
by carpenterpa
Icarus Medical has developed a non-invasive, cost-effective brace that effectively addresses pain due to osteoarthritis. The braces are custom designed and made using large format 3D printers.
Icarus was awarded $100,000 in 2021 from the Commonwealth Commercialization Fund which qualified them for additional matching funds from Cville Match.
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In 2022, the company added 6 employees, raised $1.5 million in funding and moved into a 10,000 square foot office and manufacturing space near the downtown mall. In 2023, Icarus is planning to launch 3 new product lines to expand the impact of their technology.
SoundPipe is a medical device company developing an intravascular drug delivery platform that can enhance therapy in any form of cardiovascular disease.
In 2019, SoundPipe received a $750,000 SBIR grant through the National Science Foundation which enabled access to Cville Match funds.
The company continues to accelerate their technology and recently relocated to a new 4,000 square foot office/lab space, hired 5 additional employees and raised $1.5 million in additional funding.

GO Hire Workforce Grant
Throughout the year, OED continued the GO Hire program to align with the Recovery Roadmap initiative to better assist local business with hiring staff. The workforce-based grant is designed to assist City businesses that are growing and enhancing their workforce. Businesses that are hiring City residents for positions that pay at least $15.00/hour or who are retraining their existing workforce could be eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursements. Several City businesses took advantage of this grant program in 2022 to enhance their workforce.
One local business that utilized the program to their benefit was Jones Heating & Air. Established in 2007, Jones Heating & Air is a HVAC business providing residential and commercial services to Charlottesville and the surrounding region. OED was approached by Jones Heating & Air to discuss potential grants for training programs and helped to facilitate successful enrollment in the program. GO Hire funding will help facilitate a two-year training program for all staff members, consisting of in-class and handson training for technicians and video classes for office staff. The stated goal is uniformity for the entire organization, with the training expected to last until 2024.
The Go Hire Program was right on time! Once our employees completed and passed specific trainings to enhance their knowledge base, they were given raises and with the support from the Go Hire Program, it helped put our minds to rest knowing we had some assistance with this big undertaking.”

Sodora
Jones, Jones Heating & Air
Created in 2016, the GO Hire program has assisted over 60 City businesses and served over 150 employees. The overall program is divided into two distinct grants, each providing a specific area of assistance. The New Employee Wage Subsidy is provided when a city resident is hired to fill a new position or a vacant, existing position and paid at least $15.00 per hour. The Existing Worker Retraining Grant is provided when businesses train and/or re-train their employees. The training must target improving business efficiencies and provide an opportunity that will lead to additional skills for the company’s workforce.
GO Cook Program celebrates their 13th Graduating Class
GO Cook is a high-intensity, five-week culinary program that prepares students for entry level careers within the restaurant industry. It’s designed to help people with barriers to employment obtain credentials that will jumpstart a new career. GO Cook developed as a partnership between the City’s Office of Economic Development and Culinary Concepts AB LLC as the training provider. In recent years Albemarle County has also supported the program. Students leave the program with both a ServeSafe and a Certified Cook certification and an opportunity for job placement locally. GO Cook is free to eligible City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents, has no age or education requirements, and enrollment is open all year.
