Pa. — The Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State recently received another $125,000 grant from the County of Berks. The grant is part of the county’s IMAGINE Berks Strategic Economic Development Action Plan. The Berks LaunchBox will use the funding to continue to offer “IMAGINE Your Business” microgrants for Berks County entrepreneurs
Of the total grant awarded, $12,000 will be set aside for Penn State Berks student entrepreneurs participating in the college’s Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center Customer Discovery Lab, which will be distributed to awardees in $1,000 increments.
Since the original grant funding from the County of Berks in early 2024, the Berks LaunchBox has supported 44 entrepreneurs and small businesses with microgrants. Expansion of this program will allow the LaunchBox to continue offering impactful funding opportunities in Berks County.
Jessica King, founder of ElderCARE Collaborative, received a grant earlier this year. ElderCARE Collaborative provides personalized guidance and advocacy to older adults and their families as they navigate complex healthcare, Medicare, caregiving and long-term care decisions.
“As a new small business, this funding allowed me to invest in resources for community outreach needed to build strong partnerships and reach more families across Berks County,” King said. “In just our first six months, ElderCARE Collaborative has already supported more than 30 local families navigating some of the most complicated decisions that come with aging, caregiving, healthcare and long-term care.”
The IMAGINE Berks Strategic Economic Development Action Plan includes five areas of focus, with one area being small business and entrepreneurship. A key strategy in the plan is to support small businesses working to scale their operations to increase efficiency and achieve exponential growth.
“Small businesses are the backbone of any vibrant community,” explained Derek Harris, economic development coordinator with the County of Berks. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the Berks LaunchBox and cannot wait to get more of the IMAGINE Your Business grants into the hands of local small businesses and entrepreneurs.”
“These funds will go a long way to supporting early-stage startups and entrepreneurs in Berks County, helping them to de-risk their startup and scale their business successfully,” said Erica Kunkel, director of innovation, workforce and community impact at Penn State Berks.
Berks County entrepreneurs with early-stage businesses can apply for LaunchBox “IMAGINE Your Business” microgrants of up to $2,000 for a variety of business needs. For more information on grant criteria, the application process and deadlines, visit the LaunchBox website.
About the Berks LaunchBox
The mission of Berks LaunchBox, located in Suite 105 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is to support economic development and entrepreneurship. An innovation hub of Penn State Berks, the LaunchBox connects local early-stage entrepreneurs to the support, resources and facilities that they need to build sustainable and scalable businesses with a viable plan for growth. Services include assistance with prototyping, conducting market research and connecting with advisers. Berks LaunchBox offers entrepreneurship workshops, co-working space for startups, workshops focused on business development, a makerspace with 3D printers and special youth programs.
Berks LaunchBox is supported by Invent Penn State — a commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu or contact Kunkel at 610-396-6221 or ELS5014@psu.edu.
