BELLEFONTE — Prospective tenants for the SpringBoard business incubator in Bellefonte may be able to point to a high school senior’s work for their inspiration to locate in the historic community.
At the April 11 meeting of the Centre County Board of Commissioners, it was announced that Penns Valley senior and CPI student Abigail DuVall was the winner of the SpringBoard Bellefonte Incubator Design Contest. Her brochure design topped 32 other submissions from fellow CPI students, as well as pupils from South Hills School of Business and Technology.
DuVall, who will attend Penn College, earned a $500 check from the county for winning the contest.
“It’s a great design that incorporates everything we wanted in the brochure,” said Commissioner Mark Higgins, who has spearheaded business incubator projects in both Philipsburg and Bellefonte. “There are a few things we need to tighten up with it, but we couldn’t have asked for a better job. There were a lot of really good submissions, and it was tough picking the winner. We think, though, this design has all the elements we want.”
According to Higgins, the brochure will be used to market the coming small business incubator space to prospective businesses and entrepreneurs.
“There are 150 companies that get started in Centre County each year,” said Higgins. “Adding a sixth business incubator here in the county with SpringBoard is going to open up even more opportunities to entrepreneurs looking for a place to start.”
When Higgins was elected as a county commissioner, he vowed to open new small business incubators in Philipsburg and Bellefonte, to supplement the already four existing Centre County business incubators. The Philipsburg incubator opened several months ago, and Higgins said the Bellefonte facility will be opening “soon.”
“I can’t give an official opening date yet as we still need to take care of the occupancy permit,” said Higgins. “But, it will be soon.”
The Philipsburg incubator, which is housed at Dixon.com on Front Street, gained its first tenant late in 2016 when David Roscoe and his ITT consulting firm Jade A. Consulting located to the facility. During the meeting, Higgins announced a second start-up — Fire Pit Barbeque — has taken occupancy in the incubator.
Fire Pit Barbecue produces several varieties of barbecue sauces and has hopes of smoking meats and vegetables once the business “takes off,” he said.
“It’s exciting to have our second tenant in Philipsburg,” said Higgins. “I understand they want to eventually open their own retail establishment, but we’re happy they are getting their start here with us.”
In other business, the commissioners:
■ Approved a STOP Grant coordinator consultant contract with Dawn McKee. The total cost is not to exceed $4,900.
■ Approved a contract addendum between Centre County 911 and Tyler Technologies for the 2015 Mobile Component of Computer Aided Dispatch contract, effective Nov. 17, 2015, with the New World Systems.
■ Authorized the allocation of Act 13 “At Risk Local Bridge” funds for two projects — township Route 468 Rodgers Road Bridge in Walker Township, $12,164, and TR 810 Gum Stump Road Bridge, Boggs Township, $25,000. These funds will be placed on the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Improvement Plan for disbursement.
■ Announced Centre County government offices will be closed Friday, April 14, for spring break.
