University Park, Pennsylvania – The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Recently welcomed the Pennsylvania SBDC’s annual growth conference for the first time at the Nittany Lion Inn.
The three -day conference brought together SBDC business consultants from the whole State for professional development -based development, technologies and emerging resources. The sessions have covered subjects such as navigation on prices, support for outdoor leisure companies and the integration of artificial intelligence in daily work flows.
The objective of the conference was to provide business and staff consultants with the tools and knowledge necessary to support their customers more effectively, as well as to connect business consultants with various regional resource partners.
Le Penn State SBDC offers advice and educational programs head-to-head to small businesses in the Counties Center, Clinton, Lycoming and Mifflin. Throughout the state, the Pennsylvania SBDC network includes 15 centers serving the 67 counties.
“Small businesses are the backbone of communities and the engine of the economy-they represent almost half of the private state labor,” said Andrew Read, vice-president of research at Penn State, who launched the second day of the conference. “They reflect the character, values and creativity of the communities they serve and are an essential element of our talent ecosystem.”
This year’s theme, “stimulating growth together”, stressed the importance of establishing solid connections and commitment with resource partners through the State. Representatives of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PATHE Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) In Penn State, the Penn State Dickinson Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic (EAC),, Penn State extensionand the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENTAP)were only a few of the resource partners who have been highlighted.
“Resilience is one of the key components here – the ability to bounce back and restore critical function in the face of difficulties,” said Brian Kelly, acting director of PA SBDC. “To what extent do we effectively support business owners to navigate these uncertain times thanks to our head-to-1 consultancy services and our group training programs? To what extent does PA SBDC work with our ecosystem partners for this to happen? What never – to link our entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses to research, to the appropriate resources and advice they need to make their next critical commercial decision. “”
The member of the Congress Rob Bresnahan, which represents the eighth district of Pennsylvania, closed the second day of the conference. He shared stories about his personal history in small businesses and his vision of the development of labor in Pennsylvania. He also underlined his strong support for the impact of the state of the SBDC.
“Each time someone presents me with a commercial challenge, I immediately direct it to an SBDC due to the richness of knowledge and expertise available,” said the member of the Bresnahan congress. “When I was financial director, I would have liked to know organizations like this – it would have made life much easier.”
The conference ended with a prize ceremony recognizing the exceptional SBDC staff, monitoring of sessions on the use of data -based ideas, the development of effective IA prompts and the establishment of solid relationships with lenders.
“We were honored to welcome this year’s conference at the Nittany Lion Inn beautifully renovated,” said Tim Keohane, director of the Penn State SBDC. “The sessions were incredibly insightful, and the opportunity to connect with colleagues from the whole state – as well as our precious resource partners – has been really invaluable. We hope to welcome the conference in Happy Valley in the future. ”
The sponsors of the PA SBDC 2025 growth conference included: Bank, Pennie, Enterprise Bank customers, Regional Development Funding Corporation, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the County Chamber of Center, Credit Farm, Pursuit and College Township Industrial Development Author.
About the Penn State SBDC
Support for financing and resources are provided by a cooperation agreement with the United States Small Business Administration; by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth through the community and economic development department; And partly by the support of Penn State. All services are extended to the public on a non -discriminatory basis. SBDC services are not accessible to individuals or entities that have been landed or suspended by the federal government.
SBDCs are organized by universities, colleges, economic development agencies and leading private partners, and partly funded by the American Congress thanks to a partnership with the Small Business Administration of the United States. There are nearly 1,000 local centers available to provide without cost and low -cost commercial advice to new and existing businesses. The Penn State SBDC Services Center, the counties of Clinton, Lycoming and Mifflin in the center of Pennsylvania.