Business infrastructure is the underlying framework that supports companies in an area. Elements of infrastructure include physical buildings (such as business incubators), the availability of investment funds, and access to expertise, research and laboratory facilities.

Technology-based firms have many common needs, and the success of these firms is greatly influenced by the support infrastructure in their communities. A strong infrastructure supports and accelerates the growth of sectors in an economy, while a weak infrastructure hampers growth. As part of our mission, Ben Franklin initiates, facilitates and supports targeted activities that build the regional technology infrastructure.

Examples of these activities include:

• The creation of a Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network throughout our 21-county region. Ben Franklin TechVentures on Lehigh University’s Mountaintop Campus was the 2001 recipient of the National Business Incubation Association’s Incubator of the Year Award. Our staff has applied this expertise in developing the Ben Franklin Business Incubator Network.

• The financial support of colleges and universities for Centers of Excellence throughout our region. An example of this is the Plastics Manufacturing Center at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport.

• The support of the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) program, which aims to create “knowledge neighborhoods” close to colleges and universities to focus resources for emerging technology companies, including research and peer groups, entrepreneurial support, and workforce and financial assistance. BFTP/NEP has invested in the Southside Bethlehem, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pocono Mountains and Greater Susquehanna KIZs.
• The support of the Pennsylvania Angel Network (PAN) (hotlink to paangelnetwork.com), which is a statewide organization designed to provide resources to more than 2,000 angels in Pennsylvania. By increasing individuals’ knowledge base through information sharing, PAN provides an opportunity to assist angels in making connections with companies and to make the most of those connections.