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    BIG IDEA Contest

    12/9/2020
    This contest, which targeted the counties of Indiana, Jefferson, Clearfield, and Cambria, attracted dozens of emerging innovators, tech startups, and small manufacturers with a BIG IDEA who wanted to win the $50,000. 
     
    The grand prize winner of $50,000 was Sarah Boyer and her team at Antria. The company has developed patented stem cell therapies that target wound care applications.
     
    As voted by the audience members, the “People’s Choice Award” winner was Nicole Sawyers with Neonatal Loving Kare. The company makes an FDA approved positioning device for premature babies called Nurture Rest.
     
    The other four finalists were: 
     
    ·        Michael Reed, with Micro Gainz, has developed micro weight plates for barbell lifting.
     
    ·        Anthony Caiola, with Back 40 Funding, is developing a platform that connects real estate developers with local investors using online crowdfunding.
     
    ·        Gregory Kenning, with Nanomagnetic Electronics, has developed solid state, heat integrating sensors that monitor perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, and machinery lubricants.  
     
    ·        Tanvi Bharathan, with Staff Atom, is developing a software application that consolidates and simplifies essential tasks for staffing agencies.
     
    Stephen Brawley, President and CEO of Ben Franklin, commented, “The judges must have had a very difficult job in choosing a winner, as all those who participated in this contest did an excellent job. Congratulations to Sarah Boyer and her team and many thanks to all who dialed in to support these entrepreneurs.” 
     
    Mark Hilliard, President of the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce stated, "Now more than ever it is so encouraging to see that entrepreneurship is alive and well, and each of these finalists did an amazing job. If this contest is any indication, the future of small business and entrepreneurship in this region is looking bright."
     
    The Big Idea Contest was devised to provide an impetus to people who have innovative ideas to come forward and receive technical assistance and possible funding to enable them to commercialize their ideas.  Because Ben Franklin of Central and Northern PA serves a predominantly rural marketplace, this program is an effective tool for prospective entrepreneurs to make themselves visible to Ben Franklin and other partnering entrepreneurial development service providers.  Whether or not an applicant wins a cash prize, each one benefits by way of access to advice, funding resources, networking and training to help them transform their ideas into viable businesses that will create jobs in the most rural parts of the region.  The region’s economic development community benefits by having a way for fledgling entrepreneurs to self-identify as prospects for their services.
  • Wed, 27 Jan 2021 09:50:00 -0500

    Board hires assistant principal, approves technology purchases

    The Blairsville-Saltsburg school board hired an assistant principal and authorized additional technology purchases, among other topics addressed at a virtual voting meeting Tuesday.
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    County leaders scrutinize office deputy pay rates

    A chain of promotions triggered by the retirement of a longtime Indiana County Court House employee led Tuesday to an analysis of pay rates for second-in-command department workers by the county salary board.
  • Wed, 27 Jan 2021 09:45:00 -0500

    S&T Bank declares quarterly dividend

    The board of directors of S&T Bancorp Inc., the holding company for S&T Bank, declared a fourth-quarter per-share cash dividend of 28 cents at its regular meeting Monday.
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    First Commonwealth reports financial results

    First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, the parent company of First Commonwealth Bank, on Tuesday announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020.
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    Cody's Law is back at square one

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    MC approves in-person return for K-6

    Marion Center students from kindergarten through grade six will return to an in-person instructional delivery model beginning next Monday, the school board decided unanimously in a meeting on Monday night.
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    Club donates special chair to Alice Paul House

    The Homer City Women’s Club participated in the Artful Chair online auction fundraiser last fall and made the winning bid on the chair painted by Carter Cavalier, of Homer City.
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    United Way prepares for Souper Bowl fundraiser

    The United Way of Indiana County will offer the annual Souper Bowl fundraiser from a new location this year, the Hilton Garden Inn at IUP.
  • Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:54:00 -0500

    Indiana County COVID-19 update

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Keeping Hope Alive

    The coronavirus pandemic has im­pacted the lives and livelihoods of mil­lions across the nation and within the Commonwealth. Not only has the econ­omy been decimated with many individ­ual sectors and small businesses facing closure, but the corresponding revenue loss and the staggering cost of adapting to the pandemic has depleted the funds meant to help those most in need. The […]
  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    PPP Loans: How Should You Prepare to Apply for Forgiveness?

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    FROM THE EDITOR

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Documentary takes viewers to the front lines of Geisinger’s COVID-19 response

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Front Line Healthcare Workers Among the First to Receive Vaccine in Central PA

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    One Day After Revealing His Own Diagnosis, Gov. Wolf Imposes New Covid-19 Restrictions

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  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Indiana Pennsylvania: Christmas Tree Capital of the World!

    According to the Indiana County Christmas Tree Growers’ Association, the county traces its Christmas tree roots all the way back to 1918, when local farmers were the first in the U.S. to grow the trees as crops. In 1956, an estimated 700,000 were cut in the county. Around that time, an Associated Press Dispatch dubbed Indiana the “Christmas Tree Capital […]
  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Indiana County Center For Economic Operations and Ben Franklin Technology Partners announce BIG IDEA Winner!

    The Indiana County Center For Eco­nomic Operations (CEO) partnered with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA to present the Big Idea Contest. The search was for tech entrepreneurs, software developers, or small manufacturers who are bringing to market new products or software appli­cations. Ben Franklin awarded $50,000 for the winning application. More than 100 friends, family […]
  • Fri, 18 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

    Indiana County on the Move!

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  • Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:02:01 +0000

    Bank of America's Pittsburgh market president leaving

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  • Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:39:29 +0000

    Pittsburgh Public Schools delays return to in-person learning until April 6

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    County working on ways to streamline vaccine registration process

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  • Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:01:37 +0000

    What the state's saying about more vaccine shipments in next few weeks

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  • Wed, 27 Jan 2021 19:44:19 +0000

    Pennsylvania Senate passes $912 million pandemic aid bill, including funds for hospitality industry

    The measure allocates $145 million in grants to small businesses including taverns and restaurants throughout the state.
  • Wed, 27 Jan 2021 19:23:28 +0000

    U.S. Steel names interim head of tubular solutions

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    Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford resigns

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    Richard King Mellon Foundation unveils 10-year, $1.2B strategic plan

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    Reports: Lowe's Home Improvement to take 100,000 square feet at Imperial Business Park

    New owner Silverman Group lands big box retailer as it works to expand the Imperial Business Park
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