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Business Resources

Economic Development

Business Resources

One-Step Ahead

Competitive Advantage

The Chamber cultivates a competitive advantage by building on our unique and existing community assets to attract new investment and support existing businesses.

These place-based assets may include residents and their workforce skills, infrastructure, financial, academic, technical and medical institutions, and cultural, natural and artistic resources.

The Chamber is also a community partner of several other organizations throughout Centre County and works closely with other chambers and economic-development organizations throughout the region to positively impact our economy and enhance the quality of life of everyone in central Pennsylvania.

business resources

Invent Penn State

This 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 / industry collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind.

Innovation Park at Penn State

Innovation Park is an ecosystem that merges business, education and research. It offers 118-acres of office, manufacturing and research space and provides access to the university’s scientific, engineering, technology, and business resources, as well as support services needed to transfer knowledge from the university to the marketplace.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners/Central & Northern Pennsylvania

This invaluable resource provides startup funding and business support services to tech-based startups and small manufacturers, investing both funding and expertise into launching marketable ideas into the marketplace.

Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

This program provides high-quality consulting, training, and information resources to empower new and existing businesses in Centre County.

Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub at Penn State

This Penn State-funded program offers a co-working space, structured acceleration programs, legal and intellectual-property advice and business advice.

Centre County Growth Adventure Partnership (CCGAP)/Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB)

The nonprofit, membership-based HVAB is the official destination marketing organization for Centre County.

Happy Valley LaunchBox

A no-cost business accelerator program with business, legal and intellectual property advice and co-working space for entrepreneurial teams with a scalable business concept. Happy Valley LaunchBox has supported thousands of entrepreneurs and hosted more than 100 events.

Centre Region Entrepreneur Network (CREN)

Centre Region Entrepreneur Network (CREN) is a peer-to-peer networking group for entrepreneurs to get together to listen and learn and share best practices.

Innovative Manufacturers’ Center

Expert advice and actionable solutions are available to small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Centre County Government

Bellefonte SpringBoard

This initiative helps small-business owners and entrepreneurs launch their companies, set up shop in downtown Bellefonte and grow the local economy.

Loopnet

This commercial real-estate site amplifies industry opportunities in the region.

Susquehanna Economic Development Authority-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG)

SEDA-COG provides state and federal economic-development programs for building, site construction, export, and procurement assistance.

I-99 Innovation Corridor

The corridor comprises Centre, Bedford and Blair Counties and offers a technology-driven economy that leverages a highly educated workforce.

USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development supports rural prosperity in Pennsylvania by investing in modern infrastructure such as high-speed internet and water and waste-treatment systems. Programs include technical assistance for business owners and entrepreneurs, energy programs that finance renewable systems for agriculture and industry, and much more.

Keystone Opportunity Zones (KOZ)

Provide companies and investors with tax incentives to develop land for a certain period of time. State and local taxing bodies, school districts, economic development agencies, and community-based organizations determine prime investment and development areas.

Advance Central PA

Advance Central PA, the central region’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB), offers a comprehensive selection of solutions to help companies maximize the positive impact of their workforce with improved productivity, efficiency and performance. Advance Central PA manages the PA CareerLink® system across the nine-county region.

PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development acts as advisors and advocates, providing strategic technical assistance, training, and guiding businesses through grant and tax-credit projects and application processes.

PennTAP

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State is a federal, state and university partnership to stimulate statewide economic development. PennTAPs statewide network of expert technical advisors focuses on helping Pennsylvania businesses through three primary areas of service: energy and operational assessments, energy grants and rebates, and university engagement.

Regional Partners

Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO)

I-99 Innovation Corridor

The corridor comprises Centre, Bedford and Blair Counties and offers a technology-driven economy that leverages a highly educated workforce.

Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA)

Bedford County Development Association

Altoona Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD)

Governor's Action Team (GAT)

Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB)

Focus Central Pennsylvania

Focus Central Pennsylvania is central Pennsylvania's resource for corporate location and expansion decisions and provides current information on available properties, market data, labor data, and much more.

PREP Partner Program

Statewide network provides business-assistance services across 10 regions of the commonwealth.

Centre County Growth Adventure Partnership (CCGAP)

PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

Supports good stewardship and sustainable development initiatives across our commonwealth.

Office of International Business Development (OIBD)

College Township Industrial Development Authority (CTIDA)

IMAC International Marketing & Administration Corporation (IMAC)

Business Financing

Susquehanna Economic Development Authority-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG)

Ben Franklin Technology Partners/Central & Northern Pennsylvania

PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)

Chamber Revolving Loan Fund

Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

This program provides high-quality consulting, training, and information resources to empower new and existing businesses in Centre County.

Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA)

Provides low-interest loans and lines of credit for eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs and for the development of industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities.

PA First Program (PA First)

PA First is a comprehensive funding tool (grants, loans, loan guarantees) to facilitate increased investment and job creation within the commonwealth.

Manufacturing Tax Credit Program (MTC)

Provides tax credits to taxpayers who increase their annual taxable payroll by $1,000,000 through the creation of new full-time jobs.

Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP)

Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.

Site Selection

Bedford County Development Association

I-99 Innovation Corridor

The corridor comprises Centre, Bedford and Blair Counties and offers a technology-driven economy that leverages a highly educated workforce.

Loopnet

This commercial real estate site amplifies industry opportunities in the region.

Focus Central Pennsylvania

Infrastructure & Utilities

County Broadband Expansion

Counties have been at the forefront of broadband expansion in the commonwealth and are continuing to develop partnerships and creative solutions to provide internet connectivity for their residents, especially in rural areas, and better bandwidth capacity statewide at affordable rates.

I-99 Innovation Corridor

The corridor comprises Centre, Bedford and Blair Counties and offers a technology-driven economy that leverages a highly educated workforce.

Loopnet

This commercial real estate site amplifies industry opportunities in the region.

First Energy

Columbia Gas

explore Centre County economic-development Data

Website’s interactive mapping application provides specific information on land, buildings, infrastructure, utilities, and other key resources.

Economic-Development Data
Inventory of buildings & sites
Information on housing