About Our Connect Partners
Connect is built upon the strength of our core partners. Collectively, we provide the experience and expertise necessary to understand your needs, identify solutions, develop strategies, and provide the resources to help you start and grow your business.
Our Service Partners
Wilkes University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC): The Wilkes University Small Business Development Center is a member of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers statewide network. The SBDC provides quality, no-cost, confidential business consulting and training to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Family Business Alliance (FBA): The mission of the Family Business Alliance is to be the trusted resource providing world-class services to empower regional family-owned businesses. The FBA accomplishes this through educational programs, networking, counsel and guidance so that success is achieved for the community.
Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce) is a member-driven organization representing hundreds of businesses and organizations, focused on helping members grow and succeed in Northeastern PA.
Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: The Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship is dedicated to teaching the principles of free enterprise and entrepreneurship. As an independent Center, affiliated with the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University, the Center serves the entire University and region of northeast Pennsylvania.
Diamond City Partnership: The Diamond City Partnership (DCP) is Wilkes-Barre’s nonprofit alliance for downtown revitalization, serving as the caretaker of our community’s vision for Downtown Wilkes-Barre.
The Institute of Public Policy and Economic Development: The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development (The Institute) is an economic research and applied research and consulting group that provides customized client solutions and strategies to facilitate decision making and planning that enhances growth, impact, and sustainability for organizations. The Institute was formed as a partnership of 13 colleges and universities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area and the business community. The Institute’s managing partner is Wilkes University.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP): The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) invests in and supports companies to create and retain highly paid, sustainable jobs, catalyze technology-based economic growth in northeastern Pennsylvania, and advance technologies that improve the human condition. View the Ben Franklin TechVentures virtual tour.
Wilkes-Barre Launchbox: Penn State Wilkes-Barre is an academic institution offering 10 baccalaureate degrees and 4 associate degrees that can be completed in their entirety at the campus. Invent Penn State is a university-wide initiative focused on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation programs, tools, and resources that accelerate the movement of great ideas to the marketplace and make a substantial economic development impact in Pennsylvania and beyond. Our local hub is the Wilkes-Barre Launchbox.
Our Referral Partners
Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania is committed to the mission of inspiring the youth of our community. Please see below for links to an informational video from our President, online giving to support our mission and free resources for teachers and parents.
Leadership Northeast: The mission of Leadership Northeast is to develop informed and committed leaders from all segments of the community who will serve, strengthen and improve Northeastern Pennsylvania. Hundreds of people connect with LNE every year through our six Leadership programs, community impact project initiatives and active alumni network. There are multiple entry points into the organization offering varying degrees of opportunity to explore your potential, widen your sphere of influence, engage in authentic relationships with other leaders, and ultimately impact the quality of life in our region.
NEPIRC: NEPIRC is a not-for-profit technical assistance firm that provides world-class assessment, performance evaluation, training and consultative services to small and mid-sized manufacturers throughout northeastern, the northern tier and parts of central Pennsylvania.
NEPA Alliance: Founded on September 23, 1964, NEPA Alliance, a regional community and economic development agency, serves the seven counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. NEPA Alliance services include Federal and State grant assistance, Business Financing, Government Contracting Assistance, International Trade Assistance, Non Profit Assistance, Transportation Planning and Research and Information.
PA CareerLink®: Launched in July, 2012, PA CareerLink® is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s initiative to transform the landscape of how job-seekers find family sustaining jobs and how employers find the skilled candidates that they need. Through this initiative, a user-friendly, premiere job-matching system has been created to help bridge the gap that currently exists between job-seekers and employers.
Penn's Northeast: As the regional economic development agency, Penn's Northeast is dedicated to attracting quality employers to Northeastern Pennsylvania. We serve as the single point of contact for site selection consultants, real estate brokers, developers, and businesses looking to expand or relocate to our area.
tecBRIDGE: tecBRIDGE was built on a foundation of growing information technology industries while fostering innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Northeastern PA. The combined efforts in these areas are aimed at attracting and retaining a talented workforce while boasting a better quality of life.