PLYMOUTH, Minn., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Once Innovations (ONCE) acknowledged it has received confirmation that the Energy Office of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has discontinued its LED Poultry Lighting Program. The program was designed to provide energy efficient lighting to Arkansas farmers using federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

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"The decision to end the LED Poultry Lighting Program was appropriate considering the repeated failure of the AEDC to change their specifications to reflect industry standards that would have allowed for a fair and open evaluation process," commented Zdenko Grajcar, Chief Technology Officer of ONCE. "It's disappointing for Arkansas poultry farmers who would have benefited had the program been handled properly and according to Arkansas state procurement rules. It's a missed opportunity for the LED lighting industry as well."

Michael Ostaffe, ONCE Executive Vice President, added, "Going forward, we'll work hand-in-hand with all interested parties, including the AEDC, to help Arkansas poultry farmers achieve long-term energy reduction and productivity improvements. We have a substantial presence in Arkansas and are growing our installed base rapidly. As such, ONCE is inviting poultry farmers to contact us via www.onceinnovations.com for a free energy evaluation. We are also encouraging them to visit us at The Poultry Federation's Spring Symposium Vendor Trade Show on April 19-20 in Rogers, Arkansas."

Once Innovations (ONCE) is a privately held LED technology development company that makes part of its IP portfolio accessible to companies under licensing agreements while manufacturing highly differentiated LED lighting products – including the AgriShift® line of lamps for specific poultry applications. The ONCE technology research, marketing, and product development campus is located in Plymouth, MN United States of America.

SOURCE Once Innovations