What Do You Need?

We Can Connect You with Other Penn State Resources that Can Help You:
Find Out About Economic Development Research, Training, and Workforce Analysis
Facilitate Workforce Development
Find Student Interns
Technical Assistance
Gain Access to Applied Research
Business Assistance
Learn about Technology Transfer and Commercialization
Identify Funding Opportunities
Other Needs

Economic Development Research, Training, and Workforce Analysis

The Center for Regional Economic and Workforce Analysis (CREWA) is a unit within the Penn State Office of Economic and Workforce Development and a key component in the Workforce Education and Development Initiative. The center's mission is to conduct economic and workforce analyses; develop tools and services; identify funding, University resources, and external partners for economic and workforce development projects; prepare proposals for and manage analysis projects; and establish and maintain communications with clients, partners, and University personnel.

Penn State's Economic Development Research and Training Center provides a wide range of expertise and resources to support economic and workforce development activities. These include education and internationally accredited training for economic development and workforce practitioners; needs assessments; custom-designed surveys; economic impact analyses; profiles of key economic and demographic indicators and trends; and research studies and projects that provide objective information for decision making.

Contacts
Rose M. Baker, Ph.D., Director
Center for Regional Economic and Workforce Analysis
814-865-9919 
rmb194@psu.edu

Mike Behney, Director
Economic Development Research and Training Center
717-948-6178
mikebehney@psu.edu

Workforce Development

Penn State provides an array of programs and services to address the workforce development needs of organizations to improve productivity, enhance communications, attract and retain talent, stay competitive, and support workforce pipelines for industry. Expertise and resources are available to support organizational and training needs assessments, customized training programs, job and occupational competency analyses, and youth career awareness programs. Organization-specific programs include noncredit, certificate, and degree programs that are tailored to meet employer-specific needs and are delivered on-site.

Contact
Frank Sorg, Interim Lead
Workforce Development
814-865-6696
fxs15@outreach.psu.edu

Student Interns

Penn State campuses statewide provide students from a range of disciplines to work in organizations as interns or on longer-term cooperative education (co-op) arrangements. Internships combine an on-site supervised work experience with a structured learning plan for which a student earns academic credit. Engaging student interns or co-ops provides employers with significant benefits: bright and inquisitive students, fresh from an educational environment, with refreshing and stimulating new ideas and viewpoints; an excellent source of potentially permanent employees; and increased employer visibility upon the students’ return to campus.

Contact
Bill Curley, Senior Director
Statewide Continuing Education
814-865-9888
wgc2@psu.edu

Technical Assistance

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) helps Pennsylvania companies improve their competitiveness by providing a limited amount of free technology assistance and information to help resolve specific technical questions or needs. The program focuses on helping smaller firms that normally do not have the in-house expertise or resources to resolve specific technology questions or needs. PennTAP technical specialists assist small companies by providing technical advice, technical information, and connections to other expertise, resources, or programs. PennTAP services Pennsylvania through a network of technical specialists who have specific areas of technical expertise and are located throughout the state.

Contact
Wayne Figurelle, Director
PennTAP
814-865-0427
wfigure@psu.edu

Applied Research

Penn State is well equipped to partner with industry to produce higher-quality, lower-cost products or services and to implement more efficient processes through the application of University expertise. The Industrial Research Office works with companies to help assess their needs, facilitate linkages to appropriate Penn State faculty expertise and research centers, and foster University/industry partnerships.

Contact
Tanna Pugh, Director
Industrial Research Office
814-865-9519
iro@psu.edu

Business, Environmental, and Energy Assistance

The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and its Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP) provide free and confidential consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start, grow, or improve a small business. SBDC consultants work with small firms to help them compete and grow in today's highly competitive global economy. The SBDC provides high-quality business management consulting, information, and educational programs that build small firms' capacity to compete in domestic and international markets. EMAP provides small business owners in Pennsylvania with the answers and assistance they need to effectively manage their environmental concerns, reduce regulatory risks, and save money. For additional information, visit http://www.sbdc.psu.edu/.

Contact
Heather Fennessey, Director
SBDC
814-863-4293
hxm103@psu.edu

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Technology Transfer and Commercialization

Penn State promotes the transfer of inventions and technologies from University research through licensing agreements and other arrangements to support the creation and start up of companies and to create new or improved products and processes. It fosters commercialization through facilitating arrangements with the private sector to transform University research into commercially viable technologies.

Contact
Tanna Pugh, Director
Industrial Research Office
814-865-9519
iro@psu.edu

Funding Identification

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development may be able to help you identify potential funding sources for you to pursue to support your efforts.

Contact
Timothy V. Franklin, Director
Economic and Workforce Development
814-863-2561
tvf2@outreach.psu.edu