MEADVILLE, Pa. – Nov. 9, 2007 – A regional partnership of four colleges and universities and four economic development organizations in northwest Pennsylvania has received a grant of $250,000 from Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to establish the Northwest Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone (NWPA KIZ). The counties involved are Crawford, Mercer, Warren and Clarion.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission will serve as fiscal agent and administrator for the newly designated KIZ.
“This grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development to the NWPA KIZ presents a unique partnering opportunity for the economic development groups and colleges and universities in our region,” said Denise McCloskey, executive director of the commission. “It will provide the chance to work together to develop industry and foster innovation, to grow technology-based jobs in our area, and to further sustain the economic vitality of northwest Pennsylvania. The Northwest Commission is privileged to play a key role in this new venture.”
Governor Ed Rendell launched the KIZ program in early 2004 as a way to capitalize on the commonwealth's network of quality colleges and universities. By encouraging those institutions to partner with community organizations and businesses, the program is designed to promote job growth in technology-related industries. Partners may also include business support organizations, commercial lending institutions and venture capital firms.
To date, more than $10.8 million has been invested in 29 KIZs throughout the commonwealth. This investment has led to the creation of 1,966 jobs, the retention of 2,763 jobs, the formation of 282 new companies and the leveraging of $368 million in new investments.
Amara Geffen is president of the NWPA KIZ board and director of Allegheny College's Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED). “One of the most exciting aspects of this newly designated KIZ,” she noted, “is the development of regional partnerships that bring the excellent resources of our higher education institutions into focus, positioning northwest Pennsylvania as an emerging leader in sustainable business development, green building and clean technologies. We are delighted that our efforts to build this regional partnership have succeeded.”
The KIZ grant for northwest Pennsylvania will be administered by the Northwest Commission and will operate under the direction of the NWPA KIZ Board, which comprises four educational partners — Allegheny College, Clarion University, the University of Pittsburgh-Titusville and Thiel College — as well as financial institutions, economic development service providers and private industry.
Among the goals for the NWPA KIZ are to provide outreach and business assistance to up to 20 companies, to create four start-up businesses, to create as many as 20 new full-time jobs, to provide research support to 50 entrepreneurs, to file three patent applications, to place up to 15 interns at KIZ companies, and to facilitate the infusion of up to $500,000 in KIZ companies and/or KIZ-related projects.
The KIZ program will focus on four target industries: clean technology, including energy conservation and environmental sustainability; advanced manufacturing; information technology; and life sciences.
