We are fortunate to have so many resources available for business owners and entrepreneurs in Western Pennsylvania. Whether you are an experienced business owner or are considering starting a new business, the following organizations and agencies will give you the information that you need to succeed:

Act 32 - New instructions for employers withholding Local Earned Income Tax in Pennsylvania.  It is just under 15 minutes long and gives a nice overview of Act32.

PA Chamber of Business & Industry - Keep in touch with PA State legislation and issues that affect your business.

Contact Your Elected Officials

The Small Business Watchdog - Official blog of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.  Advocacy invites you to post your thoughts on this moderated blog, provided as a forum for the small business community.  Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.

Small Business Administration - The U.S. Small Business Administration provides resources for starting a business, managing a business, financing, business law & regulations, marketing and more.

Small Business Development Centers – Clarion University is the area’s SBDC, which provides free consultation to entrepreneurs and business owners on many facets of business. You will receive guidance to draft a business plan and advice about financing—vital steps for success. The consultant will meet with clients here at our chamber office by appointment. Meetings with SBDC representatives are private and confidential.

EMAP - EMAP consultants will help you understand and comply with regulatory requirements and help you make your operation more efficient and cost effective. Consultants provide free and confidential environmental compliance assistance to small businesses in Pennsylvania. 

SCORE – Service Core Of Retired Executives is an organization that offers free expert advice for small business owners or those thinking of starting a business. You can schedule a consultation with a SCORE consultant to meet with you at our chamber office. Their web site is a valuable resource. Meetings with SCORE representatives are private and confidential.
Phone: 814-234-9415
Email: score(at)statecollege-pa.comjohnvincenti@comcast.net

SDF EZ - The Enterprise Zone in designated areas of Sandy Township, DuBois, and Falls Creek offers a loan funding program for businesses.  Funds may be used to acquire machinery & equipment, building improvements, new building construction, site improvements, infrastructure.  Contact Gary Dovey at 814.371.4220 or gdovey(at)sandytownship.org>

County Economic Development Agencies - Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation and Jefferson County Department of Development provide a variety of services to businesses--assistance with site selection, financing, and business expansion.

North Central PA Regional Planning & Development Commission – This regional office can assist you with employee training, business loans, grant opportunities, guidance for import/export marketing, and more.

PASiteSearch - Enter your criteria to find the business location that best fits your company's needs.

DuBois Career Link – This office is part of Team PA Career Link, a resource for employers and job seekers. Job matching, membership in local employer-training consortium, skills training for new and current employees, testing and assessments, and labor market information are just a few of the services available.
Email: tvanderbur(at)state.pa.us
Phone: 814-371-0250

Northwest Industrial Resource Center – The NWIRC provides consulting and assistance to industrial and manufacturing businesses for strategic planning, succession planning, new product development, sales and marketing, lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, quality improvements, ISO support, and workforce training.
Phone: 814-590-1219

Government Contractor Registration –Are you ready to sell to the government? Federal, State, and local governments purchase all manner of goods and services. For information go to www.fedmarket.com; for registration go to Central Contractor Registration.

United States Patent and Trademark Office – Information on obtaining patents and registering trademarks, plus additional business guidance.

I Want to Start My Own Business, Where Do I Begin?

Tri-County KIZ - The Keystone Innovation Zone is located in areas within Clearfield, Jefferson, and Elk Counties.  This program brings the expertise and resources of education institutions, together with private industry to develop innovations in products and processes for target industry clusters: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing; Information Technology; and Energy (Includes Energy Efficiencies). 

Small Business Development Centers – Clarion University is the area’s SBDC, which provides free consultation to entrepreneurs and business owners on many facets of business. You will receive guidance to draft a business plan and advice about financing—vital steps for success. The consultant will meet with clients here at our chamber office by appointment. Meetings with SBDC representatives are private and confidential. Contact Corry Riley.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners – Financial and technical assistance for new tech-based products and processes; start-up or early stage companies. Under the Challenge Investment Program, the company is required to pay back financial assistance.

eBizitPA – The center for eBusiness and Advanced IT, a statewide Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority initiative to help Pennsylvania businesses and organizations understand and use information technology and e-business tools.

SCORE – Service Core Of Retired Executives is an organization that offers free expert advice for small business owners or those thinking of starting a business. You can schedule a consultation with a SCORE consultant to meet with you at our chamber office. Their web site is a valuable resource. Meetings with SCORE representatives are private and confidential.
Phone: 814-234-9415
Email: score(at)statecollege-pa.com

Pennsylvania’s Business Web Site – A comprehensive resource that provides information on state licenses and permits, tax regulations, legal and accounting issues, business types, forms, and the Entrepreneur’s Guide.

Financial Assistance and Loan Programs

SDF EZ - The Enterprise Zone in designated areas of Sandy Township, DuBois, and Falls Creek offers a loan funding program for businesses.  Funds may be used to acquire machinery & equipment, building improvements, new building construction, site improvements, infrastructure.  Contact Gary Dovey at 814.371.4220 or gdovey(at)sandytownship.org   

North Central PA Regional Planning & Development Commission – This regional office can assist you with employee training, business loans, grant opportunities, guidance for import/export marketing, and more.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners – Financial and technical assistance for new tech-based products and processes; start-up or early stage companies. Under the Challenge Investment Program, the company is required to pay back financial assistance.

Northwest Industrial Resource Center