news & events

The eight finalists in the BIG Idea Contest will soon pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, and their presentations will be open to the public. All members of the community are invited to the event, which will conclude with the winner being announced, who could be awarded up to $50,000. Pitches get underway at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Old Deposit Bank Building at 2 East Long Avenue in DuBois, Pennsylvania. A catered networking reception is to follow, with the winner to be announced at 6 p.m. The BIG Idea Contest is being held by...

DUBOIS, Pa. — On Oct. 9, Clearfield County, on behalf of the North Central PA (NCPA) LaunchBox and Penn State DuBois, was awarded $725,850 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to develop and strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by attracting talented entrepreneurs and innovators, support manufacturing competitiveness with technical training opportunities, advance industry innovation through research and development initiatives, and serve as the convener to facilitate partnerships with and between business, education, industry and economic and community development stakeholders. “Clearfield County is excited to be part of this regional effort to expand resources that all business owners, large and small,...

Dozens of people located in North Central Pennsylvania recently applied to Ben Franklin’s $50,000 BIG IDEA Contest, held in conjunction with the North Central PA LaunchBox Powered by Penn State DuBois. This week the team had the difficult job of identifying just a few finalists from all of the great applications received from emerging tech startups and small manufacturers. The eight companies moving forward in the contest will make a pitch presentation to a panel of local judges on Thursday, Nov. 21 – location to be determined. Below are the eight companies moving on in the contest: Jeff Billett with...

DUBOIS, Pa. — Longtime campus supporter Charles Snapp has made a $50,000 gift in support of the North Central PA LaunchBox Powered by Penn State DuBois. This gift will double thanks to a matching program offered by Penn State, resulting in the $100,000 Charles E. Snapp LaunchBox Endowment. Penn State will match up to $1 million raised locally at DuBois to create a $2 million endowment that will keep the LaunchBox funded in perpetuity. Funding from the endowment will be used to support the North Central PA LaunchBox and Innovation Collaborative, programming and activities. “When I was informed about the...