PennTAP News & Announcements
Over the past three years, the FirstEnergy Foundation’s grant has enabled over 300 Penn State students to benefit from engineering design projects that support PA small manufacturers and businesses, leading to over $2M in economic benefits. Read more.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an award-winning tech-based economic development program, is looking for innovators with big ideas who are developing new products or processes in the agriculture (AG) and food/beverage industries. Winners will receive up to $25,000 in cash and an opportunity to pitch the business concept for a $10,000 seed grant. Learn more and apply.
The Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN) is a Pennsylvania-based program focused on saving jobs by restoring small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to good health. SEWN services are provided at no cost to the company through a partnership with the PA Department of Labor and Industry. The three key components to SEWN’s services are stabilizing a financial situation, helping to rebuild the operating platform, and repositioning the business for future success with a growth-based business plan. These strategies are customized for every company based on the situation. For more information, contact SEWN at sewn@steelvalley.org or 412-342-0534.
Featured Regional Highlights
Southwestern PA
Hosted by Catalyst Connection, the Winning Teams Lean Certification Series, supported by Kata practice, is designed to provide participants with a solid foundation in basic lean principles, including hands-on experience in the application of those principles. The program includes six days of classroom instruction as well as a practical application project. Learn more and register.
Eaton, a power management company, is offering a collection of in-person electrical trainings focused on teaching industry best practices through hands-on instruction, providing attendees a comprehensive learning experience in a true industry setting. Learn more and register.
Southeastern PA
For seven years, Penn State Lehigh Valley’s LaunchBox has held a business learning summer camp, Teen Entrepreneur Challenge, for high schoolers, culminating in a “Shark Tank”-style competition. Read more.
Business, industry, K-12 formal education, informal education, post high school education, non-profits, government, and related support agencies are all welcome. Make connections for potential internships. Learn more and register.
To learn more about what's going on in Southeastern PA, contact PennTAP advisor Rich Joyce.
Upcoming Webinars & Events
Hosted by PennTAP
Date: October 4, 2022
Time: 11:00 am – Noon

Penn State offers many opportunities for collaboration with the business community for funding opportunities. This webinar will highlight three of those opportunities, presenting the first steps for businesses who are seeking out funding for innovative products to engage with the university. Learn more and register.
Hosted by NWIRC
Date: Aug. 9, 17, & 23
Time: 8 – 10 am
Locations: Erie, Hermitage, & DuBois

Morning workshops for getting started with a strategic plan are scheduled at locations around the region in September and October. The goal of these no-cost sessions is to provide small manufacturers a launch pad to develop a new or updated strategic plan for moving the company forward. Learn more and register.
Hosted by the Penn State Materials Research Institute
Date: October 20 & 21 2022
Time: Noon - 12:30 pm

This year’s event theme is "Materials Impacting Society." Breakout sessions and topics will address a perennial issue in university research: researchers translating their discoveries in the lab to a point that they can be transitioned into the marketplace where they can benefit society. Learn more and register.