Business Incubator Launches at Alvernia’s Pottsville CollegeTowne

Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship recently launched Spark Business Incubator services at the University’s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus.

This effort is in partnership with the Pottsville Area Development Corporation (PADCO) and IGNITE Schuylkill, a branch of the Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce.

Rodney S. Ridley, Ph.D., RTTP, the Vice President of Research, Economic Development and Innovation at Alvernia University and the Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute said in a statement, “Alvernia and O’Pake’s mission is to serve those in the communities that we reside, and we are thrilled to be able to support PADCO and IGNITE Schuylkill in strengthening Pottsville’s entrepreneurial community by providing our business services and resources.”

Services now available to Schuylkill County businesses include financial services, industry research, intellectual property guidance, market research, logo development, social media marketing strategies, SWOT analysis, and more.

Bob Alonge, CEO of Volunteers in Medicine, highlighted the role of the O’Pake Institute in his startup’s journey.

He said, “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.”

Savas Logothetides, Executive Director of PADCO, reflected on the evolving business landscape.

“Small business as a whole is constantly evolving,” he said. “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.”

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