Gerald Kashmerick, owner of Kashmerick Engine Systems, LLC in Brookfield, Wisconsin, discovered that he created more emissions mowing his lawn for one hour than driving 2,500 miles in his low-emissions car. So he decided to build a better utility engine. With help from the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network (WEN), Kashmerick successfully secured a $70,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 to advance his idea. Today he is one step closer to commercialization having recently received a $419,000 Phase II SBIR award to develop a proof-of-concept six-cycle continuous combustion small generator engine for the U.S. Marine Corps.