news & events

Shenango LaunchBox announces “Meet Ben” Sessions available for technology-based startups in Mercer County

SHARON, PA – The Shenango LaunchBox powered by the Greater Sharon Community has teamed up with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania to offer a series of brown bag events designed to help tech-based startups in the region.  The “Meet Ben” Sessions will be held on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning Feb. 21 through July 17 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and will include discussions with Brian Slawin, portfolio manager at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and other special guest speakers. As a bonus feature, attendees have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one sessions with Brian. Each...

Penn State LaunchBoxes accepting applications for 2024 Idea TestLab

SHARON, PA – Entrepreneurs will have a chance to learn and test out their ideas at the 2024 Idea TestLab, sponsored by the Shenango, Harrisburg, Mont Alto and York LaunchBoxes.   Applications are being accepted now through January 23, 2024, for this free, four-week, virtual accelerator designed to help very early-stage entrepreneurs determine the viability of their business idea. It is important to note that, even though the stated application deadline is January 23, interested individuals should apply as soon as possible as admissions are rolling and applications will close as soon as the cohort is filled, which could be earlier than...

Applications Open for City of Sharon Economic Development Grants

SHARON, Pa. — The City of Sharon and the Shenango LaunchBox powered by the Greater Sharon Community have jointly opened the grant application process for local entrepreneurs and businesses to request resources from the Sharon Economic Development Fund. Letters of intent, the first step in the application process, are accepted on a rolling basis. Last year, two endowments totaling $4 million were introduced by Penn State and the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, with the support of the Sharon community, to increase economic development in the region. The endowments established the Shenango LaunchBox, as well as the Sharon...

Shenango LaunchBox to unveil new space at ribbon cutting celebration on Oct. 18

SHARON, Pa. – The Shenango LaunchBox powered by the Greater Sharon Community is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, to celebrate the opening of its new location on the second floor of the Hope Center for Arts and Technology (HopeCAT) at 115 Anson Way in Sharon. The ribbon cutting event comes after more than a year of collaborative behind-the-scenes work to establish the Shenango LaunchBox and its programs and resources in the Sharon community. In 2022, two endowments totaling $4 million were introduced by Penn State and the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio,...

Webinar: Unlock the Power of AI and ChatGPT for Your Small Business

Date: 8/31/2023 Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (EDT) Join Penn State SBDC for a dynamic seminar tailored for small business owners. Led by Cameron Nelson, an advisor with the Virginia SBDC and owner of Tenzing Startup Consulting, this event will demystify artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, showing you how they can revolutionize your business. Register today! Discover how ChatGPT can elevate your marketing efforts, transforming communication and content creation. Learn how to seamlessly integrate AI on your website to enhance user experiences and streamline tasks. Don't miss this chance to embrace innovation and drive your business forward. Mark your calendar for August 31st...