news & events

DUBOIS, Pa. — The North Central PA LaunchBox Powered by Penn State DuBois partnered with Clearfield County Commissioners recently to process applications for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP). Authorized and allocated by the state, Clearfield County distributed a total of $880,000 in grants to 31 businesses. A remaining $13,000 in LaunchBox administrative fees have been donated back and will be awarded as mini grants for businesses in need. CHIRP funds were available to hospitality-related businesses such as hotels and restaurants that demonstrated at least a 25% reduction in gross sales for any quarter in 2020 relative to 2019,...

DUBOIS, Pa. — The North Central PA LaunchBox helped to make the end of the school year memorable for two students from DuBois Area High School. Peyton Kifer and Abigail Riffe, both 14 years old, were named winners in the inaugural LaunchBox “Dare to Dream” competition. Kifer took first place and Riffe second place in this pilot program that sought out ideas for new products or business ideas that would support the local economy. The winners received prizes including Visa gift cards and T-shirts. Kifer claimed $300 in gift cards for his first place idea, and Riffe took home $200...

DUBOIS, Pa. — The North Central PA LaunchBox will offer small business owners the chance to build marketing skills coming out of the pandemic with the latest program in the LaunchBox Speaker Series. ‘Social Media Marketing During a COVID and POST-COVID Economy for Small Business Owners’ will be presented by Izen Lingenfelter, owner, Blue Moon Media and Marketing. The free virtual program is planned for 6 p.m. on June 9. Participants can register at this link. This program is offered in conjunction with the North Central Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (NC PREP) Penn State DuBois Continuing Education. As the owner of...

DuBOIS, Pa. – The North Central PA LaunchBox Speaker Series will offer “I Can’t Hear You Through the Mask: COVID Communication Concerns for the Hard of Hearing” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 2. Register here for this free virtual program delivered by Zoom. This program is offered in conjunction with the North Central Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (NC PREP) Penn State DuBois Continuing Education, and sign language instructor Marla Ball. As a sign language interpreter and instructor who has helped interpret for many hearing-impaired residents in the north central region, Ball will discuss how masking has been an essential part of the COVID-19 process...