Small Business Development Center

SBDC helps 'mompreneurs' balance success at work, home

12/18/12

When Anne Yorks' first child was born five years ago, she knew she wanted to stay home with her baby, but also continue contributing to the family income. So Yorks began a home business that became the Flour Box Bakery, selling gourmet cookies for weddings, baby showers and other special occasions.

Yorks, of Bellefonte, Pa., is part of a growing trend of mothers in Pennsylvania and nationwide who have found a way to stay home with their children while creating thriving businesses. The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has helped a number of those "mompreneurs," including Yorks, build their companies.

SBDC offers free course on the first steps to business ownership

11/1/12

Owning a business in Pennsylvania requires certain steps, but many people don't know what they are. That's why the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides training to entrepreneurs on how to get started.

SBDC looks to spark innovation during Global Entrepreneurship Week

10/31/12

Harnessing the instincts of young entrepreneurs is the main idea behind Penn State's Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), set for Nov. 12 to 16. Co-sponsored by the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the goal is to help students and the public realize their potential for becoming entrepreneurs. SBDC is hosting numerous events and partnering with colleges across campus to help people turn their business ideas into reality. SBDC experts will offer an array of business classes at various locations across campus during GEW.

Penn State SBDC marks 15 years of helping central Pa. businesses

10/10/12

The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is celebrating 15 years of helping the central Pennsylvania economy grow. The Penn State SBDC was founded in 1997 to serve Centre and Mifflin counties. It has helped start 297 businesses and assisted in the purchase of another 57, said director Heather Fennessey. The center has helped create 1,593 jobs and save 474 more. Clients credit the SBDC with helping them increase sales by $74.6 million.

Program offers federal grant application help for technology start-ups

8/24/12

Researchers and entrepreneurs can learn how to apply for federal research and development funding for technology-based businesses at a workshop Sept. 5 and 6 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on Penn State's University Park campus.

Penn State SBDC helped to create businesses, save jobs in 2011

5/3/12

Billy's BBQ in Reedsville, Pa., is now open and will be celebrating its one-year anniversary in October. It's one of 52 new businesses started in 2011 and one of three purchased with the help of the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

In 2011, the SBDC helped businesses create 130 new jobs and kept another 90 from leaving Centre and Mifflin counties. To accomplish this, the SBDC held 41 seminars and trained almost 700 clients over a period of 5,300 hours, said Heather Fennessey, director of the SBDC.

Video: New SBDC Philipsburg office opens for entrepreneurs

3/27/12

The Penn State Small Business Development Center now has an office in Philipsburg, Pa. This new initiative hopes to bring more jobs and economic development to the Moshannon Valley region.

Penn State SBDC partnership to support area entrepreneurs

3/5/12

A new initiative in the State College area will offer entrepreneurs a one-stop-shop for all of their business startup needs with help from the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Grand opening set for Penn State SBDC office in Philipsburg

2/20/12

Entrepreneurs in and around Philipsburg, Pa., soon will have a new resource to start or expand their own small business. The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host a grand opening celebration at 10 a.m. Friday, March 9, at the SBDC-Philipsburg Outreach Office, located at 203 N. Front St.

Penn State's SBDC and PennTAP consolidate leadership, some programs

1/4/12

Penn State Outreach has announced the strategic alignment of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP). Heather Fennessey, director of the SBDC, also will assume leadership responsibilities for PennTAP.

Inspiring entrepreneurs at Penn State's Global Entrepreneurship Week

10/28/11

Penn State will take part in Global Entrepreneurship Week this November for the third time since 2009. The Small Business Development Center, a part of Penn State Outreach, has planned a week that includes many seminars, speakers, and screenings on entrepreneurship.

To view the full schedule of Global Entrepreneurship Week and get updates on the event, students can visit http://geweekatpennstate.weebly.com, follow @geweekatpsu on Twitter, or like "Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State" on Facebook. Registration is required for some events.

Penn State SBDC receives USDA grant to help rural businesses

8/5/11

The Penn State Small Business Development Center has received almost $100,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to open an outreach office in Philipsburg, Pa. to expand services in rural Centre County. During the next year, the grant will be used to provide consulting and business assistance to both existing and start-up businesses in rural Centre County. David Jordan, a business consultant with the SBDC, will serve as the primary business consultant in downtown Philipsburg. The SBDC plans to host a series of low-cost classes in the Philipsburg area for small business owners and entrepreneurs to help bring new ideas and jobs to western Centre County.

Workshop offers advice about securing grant funding for entrepreneurs

5/17/11

'The Secrets to Winning SBIR and STTR Proposals: A Technology and Commercialization Conference' will be held June 1 and 2 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in Innovation Park.

This unique, one-time program will offer detailed instruction on identifying SBIR and STTR opportunities and submitting a competitive proposal.

Penn State SBDC recognized for contributions to community

4/13/11

The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was honored as the recipient of the Award for Excellence, Counseling Cases, presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The award recognizes Pennsylvania SBDCs for making outstanding contributions to the community in the past year. Linda Feltman, business consultant, accepted the award on behalf of the Penn State SBDC during the Annual Quality Circle 2011 Small Business Lending Conference in March.