BCEDC Held Its First PREP Roadshow
Economic Pathway to Success – PREPping Your Business for Growth! was held on January 23rd at the Bucks County Technical High School (BCTHS) in Fairless Hills, PA.
PREP (Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance) is a statewide network of partners designed to work in concert to deliver vital business assistance services across ten regions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
BCEDC held its first PREP (Partners for Regional Economic Performance) Roadshow, Economic Pathway to Success – PREPping Your Business for Growth! on January 23rd at the Bucks County Technical High School (BCTHS) in Fairless Hills, PA.
PREP (Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance) is a statewide network of partners designed to work in concert to deliver vital business assistance services across ten regions of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Southeast PREP partners have the experience and know-how to assist individuals who have an idea and need help with the basics of starting a new venture.
The first Bucks County Roadshow was a great success with thirty five attendees from manufacturers to bankers to real estate brokers as well as representative from the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce and Bucks County TMA.
Scott Saunders, Culinary Art Instructor, and his team of students prepared and served breakfast to the attendees. Scott and his students served a variety of breakfast foods; the food was excellent and the service was outstanding.
Dr. Leon Poeske, Director of BCTHS, passionately explained how the school prepares the students for potential job openings for local business and industry and how manufacturers and businesses may benefit by hiring a BCTHS student or graduate. BCTHS is a comprehensive technical school where the students stay at one location for their education rather than spending a half day at their home school and the other half of the day at the technical school as they do at Upper Bucks Technical School and Middle Bucks Technical School.
Each speaker gave an overview of their organizations services.
Core PREP Partners (Funded by Commonwealth of PA)
- Eustace Kangaju, Executive Director, Temple Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)
- Rob Crossette, Director-Business Development, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC)
- Bob Cormack, Executive Director, Bucks County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC)
Other Partners:
- Gene Wills, Small Business Mentor, SCORE
- Elizabeth Walsh, Director, Bucks County Workforce Investment Board (BCWIB)
- Peter Krauss, Executive Director, Bucks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA)
- Greg Olson, Director Southeastern Region, Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN)
- Dr. Tony Green, Vice President –Technology Commercialization, Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP)
The attendees learned how to potentially fund their growth or expansion projects from BCEDC, BCIDA, BFTP or how they may get help to improve their operation from DVIRC or how to find assistance in hiring or training employees from the BCWIB. They also gained knowledge that TSBDC may provide them with business management consulting or SCORE may provide them with services such as business planning or patents and trademarks. They also learned that SEWN is available to support them with services to avert the elimination of jobs.
We thank Dr. Leon Poeske, Kevin Ody, Scott Saunders, Al Hopkins and the other staff and students involved in the planning, prepping and execution of the success of BCEDC’s first PREP Roadshow.
“This was an excellent example of the numerous programs that are available to assist business and industry in Bucks County and the Southeast region. All the partners programs address specific components to companies in providing guidance which supports growth and expansion. The programs are available to all and calling your PREP partner will connect you to the regions resources. The simple solution is to call BCEDC and we will be your connection”, said Bob Cormack. Pictures were courtesy of a student photographer at BCTHS.
The next road show will be held in the Upper Bucks County in the late Spring or early Summer. If you are interested in learning about the services of Core Partners or Regional Partners, please contact Kelly Doughty.