About

What is North Central PA LaunchBox?

The North Central PA LaunchBox and Innovation Collaborative is a partnership focused on supporting manufacturing competitiveness and workforce needs, growing and attracting talented entrepreneurs and innovators, and creating the new high-knowledge, high-technology businesses for the region. Penn State DuBois serves as the convener to facilitate partnerships with and between businesses, education, industry, and economic and community development stakeholder to form a functional ecosystem for providing facilities and programming for industrial research and development, P-20 STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) educational and professional programming, business and community development for regional industries.

If you're an entrepreneur, start here
Our mission is to be the "hub" that connects local entrepreneurs to the support, resources, and facilities they need to build a sustainable and scalable business with a viable plan for growth. By centralizing our no-cost services, we help entrepreneurs to avoid the common mistakes startups often face and enable them to focus their time on de-risking and growing their businesses.
We offer:
  • Boot Camp/Accelerator
  • Business Consultant Services
  • Community Education Programs
  • Competitions
  • Event Space
  • MakerSpace
  • Mentorship Programs
  • Microgrant Programs
  • Product Development
  • Speaker Series
  • University Classrooms
Meet the LaunchBox Team
Bradley W Lashinsky, M.P.S.

Program Director, North Central PA LaunchBox

Brad Lashinsky is the Director of the North Central PA LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois as well as a lecturer of business for the campus. Brad has worked in the economic development field for past seven years previously as the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Development Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Criminology from Colorado State University-Pueblo and a master’s degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State. He serves on several boards throughout Jefferson County and the surrounding region, including the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, Workforce Solutions of North Central PA, the Jefferson County Planning Commission, and the Jeff Tech Advisory Board. He resides near Reynoldsville with his wife, Holli, and two daughters, Laken and Kendall.
Johnny Williams

Engineering Technologist

Johnny has bachelor of science degree in Computer Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and joins us from a career managing the Clearfield Municipal Authority. He began working with the North Central PA LaunchBox in 2020, designing and teaching Rapid Prototyping classes, installing and learning new equipment, and assisting regional entrepreneurs and businesses in development. Johnny is your go-to resource for anything Idea Lab and is excited to work with you!
Partners
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northen PA
Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce
Brookville Borough
BC3 @ Brockway
Clearfield Borough
Clearfield County Career & Technology Center
Clearly Ahead Development
Clearfield Revitalization Corporation
City of DuBois
City of DuBois Redevelopment Authority
City of Saint Marys
Downtown DuBois, Inc.
DuBois Chamber of Commerce
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson County Development Council
Jeff Tech
Junior Achievement
KIZ Resources
Manufacturing Education & Employment Advancement
North Central Regional Planning & Development Center
Northwest Industrial Resource Center
PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship
Pennsylvania CareerLink
Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Punxsutawney Borough
Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce
Punxsutawney Revitalization: Investing, Developing, Enhancing
Reynoldsville Borough
Saint Marys Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Township
SCORE Business Professionals
Small Business Development Center at Clarion University
Square One
Workforce Solutions