Penn State President Eric Barron, center, prepares to cut the ribbon during a celebration to dedicate the Mont Alto LaunchBox on April 3. Joining him, from left to right, are Richard Heddleson, regional director for the South Central Office of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania; Mike Ross, Franklin County Area Development Corp. president; Francis K. Achampong, Penn State Mont Alto chancellor; Lynn Dietrich, Penn State trustee; State Rep. Paul Schemel; Neil Sharkey, Penn State vice president for research; and assisting with the ribbon is Madlyn Hanes, Penn State vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor.
The Mont Alto LaunchBox, a business incubator funded by a seed grant from Penn State’s Invent Penn State initiative, will offer a free workshop entitled “Putting together a business plan” for aspiring entrepreneurs on March 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 40 North Second Street in Chambersburg. Cheryl Young, a business consultant with the Shippensburg Small Business Development Corp. (SBDC), will present the workshop.
As part of its Invent Penn State initiative, the University has announced four new seed grants, each valued at $50,000, designed to bolster entrepreneurship and economic development in communities surrounding Penn State campuses across the commonwealth. With the announcement, the University’s effort has grown to include 21 hubs for innovation spread across Pennsylvania including Penn State Mont Alto’s LaunchBox ― an undertaking introduced by President Eric J. Barron just two and a half years ago.
LaunchBox is a signature program of Invent Penn State, which is a Commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and University-community collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind. Connect with the initiative at invent.psu.edu.
Want to start your own business? The Mont Alto LaunchBox ― a business incubator funded by Penn State’s Invent Penn State initiative ― will host its inaugural micro-grant pitch competition, LION Tank, on March 16, at Penn State Mont Alto. Aspiring entrepreneurs can submit their business ideas to compete through February 28 a montalto.psu.edu/launchbox/apply.
