Pennsylvania Tech News to be Thankful For
State Budget Invests in Tech: Our recently passed state budget allocates $17 million to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund. A minimum of 80% of that money will go to Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) for investment in and resources for local tech companies across the Commonwealth. Since 1983 BFTP, seen as a national model for economic development success, has helped generate 148,000 jobs through investment in more than 4,500 tech-oriented companies in Pennsylvania.
App Improvement: Winning in your sector increasingly is dependent on usability, with an app and website that is easy to navigate and utilize. That is not just true in business, as the 70,000 students in Berks County schools have been served well by the recent relaunch of the Career Ready Berks platform can attest. The new website is an initiative of the Berks County Intermediate Unit, a private/public partnership that provides training and other resources while connecting students with job opportunities and internships. If you’re in our home county and have students in your household or you’re an employer looking to participate, visit Career Ready Berks to experience the snappy new look and improved UI.
High-Tech Manufacturing Comeback Story: Our hometown of Reading is a comeback story in itself, and we’ve reported on a wide range of community development initiatives that are succeeding. So we love to see an important Keystone State manufacturer actually rising from the ashes in aerospace-industry manufacturer SPS Technologies announcing plans to rebuild their Abington Township facility following the terrible fire they suffered in January. We look forward to the completion of their tech-heavy new facility and appreciate their recommitment to Eastern Pennsylvania manufacturing.
The Inquirer Finds Entrepreneurs Staying Positive: When you see all the good news in our area, which we’ve previously reported on here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, you can see why entrepreneurs interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer have a positive outlook for the success of their organizations. There’s a lot of good stuff going on in admirable organizations made up of hard-working people who are looking to make the Commonwealth a better place.
We’ll be back soon with more good news from our compatriots in the Eastern Pennsylvania tech community.