The Indiana County Small Business Incubator was established in 1986 to provide assistance to start-up or developing companies. The incubator has been funded in part by the Ben Franklin Partnership of Central and Northern Pennsylvania since its inception. The program is dedicated to increasing Indiana County’s economic prosperity by encouraging high-tech development and industrial diversification.
What is a small business incubator?
- A facility designed and dedicated to aid the entrepreneur through the critical first years of operation
- A route for the entrepreneur to turn initial business plans into a new company
- A technical management resource center for the local business community
As an incubator tenant, a company will benefit from the nurturing assistance and various services provided in-house that will help to build a solid foundation to support future growth. U.S. statistics show that business incubators increase the survival rate of start-ups from 35 percent to 87 percent.
What are the services?
As a unit of the Management Services Group within the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, a number of services are offered to incubator tenants:
- Low initial rent
- Receptionist
- Shared use of fax and copy machine
- Business advice
- Mentoring
- Conference room
- Networking with other businesses
- Student interns
Who should apply?
A start-up or developing business that is involved in engineering services, software development, information technology, light manufacturing, assembly, mail order/direct marketing, or other selected service or manufacturing activities may be eligible to apply as a tenant for space within the incubator facility. The program specializes in helping individuals move their innovative business ideas from development to commercialization.
Gradual rental increases ease the initial financial burden faced by all businesses in the start-up phase. At the same time, it prepares the business for its ultimate responsibility in the greater community.
The incubator also offers an “Extended Tenant” status for a company that who has not yet progressed to a sufficient stage of business development to apply for space as a tenant. This status offers all incubator services without occupying space within the facility.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Eberly College of Business and Information Technology
Indiana County Small Business Incubator
Phone: 724-357-2179
Fax: 724-357-4514
For additional information, visit www.eberly.iup.edu/incubator.
