News
KIZ Impacting Business Community
The Huntingdon County / Juniata College Keystone Innovation Zone turns one year old this summer. Noting this milestone gives the membership a chance to reflect on the positive effect the KIZ is starting to have on the local economy.
There are now four KIZ companies operating in the zone - New Age Consulting Corporation (NAC), The Tech Center, SimPlusEXP and Raystown Wireless. A fifth company, Best Instrument Incorporated, spent its formative days in the Sill Business Incubator before it ‘graduated’ into the Central PA community. While most of these companies have started up within the past year, they are already having a great impact on our local business environment. New jobs are being created, professional service providers – accountants, insurance providers and attorneys – are seeing an increased demand for their services...and Huntingdon County is being identified as a business-friendly region to launch a new venture.
Another benefit to local businesses is the KIZ Workshop program that kicked off this spring. These workshops are focused on exposing local entrepreneurs to the KIZ partner organizations from across the state and the funding and support programs available through this partnership. This has given KIZ companies, as well as those looking to start a business, a glance at their next steps forward and how to achieve success. Please watch www.hcbi.com for upcoming events.
The KIZ has also been instrumental in connecting our local businesses with support organizations throughout the state. HCB&I can introduce you personally with professionals from each of these valuable organizations:
- Ben Franklin Technology PArtners - technology investments and funding and business consulting
- Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum - assisting entrepreneurs in preparedness for seeking private equity, evaluating capital structure options and supporting angel investor group formation
- Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA - supporting proof of concept, technology transfer and companies in the life sciences
- St. Francis Small Business Development Center - aiding with business plan development, start-up procedures, financing proposals and market analysis.
Finally, the Quarterly KIZ Coordinator Conference was held in Huntingdon County this past May. Sixteen KIZ Coordinators from across the Commonwealth, as well as State officials, experienced firsthand our strong and growing economy.
Even with these successes, the KIZ has really only begun. The impact of this program will continue to spread, so look for more news on your Keystone Innovation Zone throughout the year. For more information, please contact Nathan Savolskis, the HCBI KIZ Coordinator at 814-641-6690 or nsavolskis@hcbi.com.