Alvernia brings business support program to Pottsville campus

Alvernia University has expanded its Spark Business Incubator services to the university’s CollegeTowne campus in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Alvernia officials said Thursday.

Spark Business Incubator is a support system through which a network of mentors, staff, and students offer participating entrepreneurs a suite of services, including business planning, branding, website development, technology transfer and digital and traditional marketing assistance.

The program, overseen by Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute, was officially launched Oct. 5 in partnership with the Pottsville Area Development Corp. (PADCO) and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s IGNITE Schuylkill entrepreneurial development program, according to a press release.

Dr. Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Alvernia’s vice president of research, economic development and innovation and chief operating officer of the O’Pake Institute, said the university is thrilled to be able to support Pottsville’s entrepreneurs alongside the Pottsville Area Development Corp. and the IGNITE program.

“PADCO and IGNITE Schuylkill are the natural homes for critical economic development activity, aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and community outreach in Pottsville and Schuylkill County, making them integral to this venture,” Ridley said in a press release.

Spark will offer Schuylkill County businesses the following services: funding preparation, business model canvasing, business plan development, feasibility analysis, financial services, industry research, intellectual property acquisition, management, search and strategy, logo development, market research, non-profit advising, opportunity assessment product and prototype development, publishing, social media marketing posting plan and strategy, SWOT analysis, venture investment preparation, and website development.

“(The O’Pake Institute) helped us get our startup business on track with their expertise,” said Bob Alonge, CEO of Volunteers in Medicine. “They helped me with things I did not know how to do. We are early into this semester, so we are still a work in progress, but I can tell you that I do not believe that I would be this far in our business without Alvernia.”

The Pottsville Area Development Corp. was founded in 1984 to oversee the revitalization of Pottsville’s downtown commercial district.

It offers various financial and operational small business support and coordinates with many other organizations throughout the county to help small businesses develop or expand, depending on their needs.

IGNITE Schuylkill is an entrepreneurial development program for aspiring business owners, offering access to a professional network of more than 800 member organizations and programs, including money savings programs, workforce development, talent attraction and more.

“Small business as a whole is constantly evolving. The resources we have as a PADCO-Alvernia partnership and the existing networks currently in place can help to facilitate a business climate that aligns with everyone’s goals,” said Savas Logothetides, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., and owner of Wheel Restaurant Group and SavasLogo Restaurants LLC. “Technical services, financing, and helping to create and sustain business in the area is at the forefront of helping this community. Our alignment on creating economic and community development and the impact we can have on the community at large is a benefit for everyone involved.”