Ben Franklin News
The Pennyslvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) selected Ben Franklin TechVentures® business technology incubator as one of its off-site destinations for its Fall 2012 conference. The one-hour tour, presented on October 22nd by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania President and Chief Executive Officer R. Chadwick Paul, Jr., included a comprehensive overview of business incubation and visits at several resident companies.
Ben Franklin TechVentures brings together entrepreneurs, Ben Franklin staff, and Lehigh University faculty and students to accelerate the growth of the region’s technology economy. The Ben Franklin team supports TechVentures resident companies with management guidance, business planning, strategic planning, and marketing counsel; connections to angel investors and venture capitalists; and assistance in preparing and perfecting funding presentations. The facility provides an entrepreneurial culture that fuels innovation; shared basic office services and access to equipment, conference and meeting rooms; high-speed Internet; and other amenities.
The newly opened facility expansion, Ben Franklin TechVentures2, won the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association Project of the Year award in 2011, and received first-place national honors in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 ENERGY STAR Challenge. In 2011 it was selected as one of “10 Startup Incubators You Need to Watch” by Inc.com. In January 2012, the facility won the American Institute of Architects Eastern Pennsylvania 2011 Award of Merit, and two Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal Best of 2011 Awards for Favorite General Contracting Project and Favorite Unusual Green Project. Most recently, the National Business Incubation Association named Ben Franklin TechVentures the 2012 National Incubator of the Year, a remarkable repeat of Ben Franklin’s 2001 honor.
As the primary statewide organization representing economic development professionals, PEDA provides members with opportunities to engage in dialogue that supports local, regional, and statewide economic development initiatives. At its two annual conferences for economic development professionals, participants share best practices and experiences. This active engagement ensures that Pennsylvania will continue to aggressively position itself to retain, grow, and attract companies for future economic vitality in the Commonwealth.
