What Do You Need?

We Can Connect You with Other Penn State Resources that Can Help You:
Find Out About Economic Development Research and Training
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 and Training

Penn State 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.

Contact
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
Michael Lawrence, Director
Workforce Development
814-865-6696
mdl15@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 Assistance

The Penn State SBDC provides free and confidential consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a small business. SBDC consultants work with entrepreneurs in one-to-one sessions to help test a new business proposition, shape a business plan, or investigate funding opportunities. Addressing topics ranging from compliance issues to marketing tactics, SBDC programs serve to inform and assist entrepreneurs with the many tasks a new business owner faces.

Contact
Donna Holmes, Director
SBDC
814-865-1862
dah17@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
Vacant, Director
Economic and Workforce Development
814-865-0427
oewd_admin@outreach.psu.edu