We partnered with students and faculty from the Communication Arts Studio at the Hazleton Area Arts & Humanities Academy to build a portfolio of creative work to be featured on DiscoverNEPA.
Participating students worked with the DiscoverNEPA team to capture compelling videos and photos and to write articles featuring their school and community.
A Launchpad for Local Business
The CAN BE Innovation Center, located in West Hazleton, is a space designed to support local entrepreneurs and help new businesses ideas grow. Its mission is to foster entrepreneurship and new venture development in the Greater Hazleton area. The center works as a business incubator, offering entrepreneurs a place to develop their ideas for about three to five years before launching them into the community. Just like an egg incubator, businesses are “hatched” here – carefully developed in a supportive environment until they’re ready to thrive on their own.
Helping Hazleton’s Entrepreneurs Take the First Step
What makes CAN BE unique is its openness to all types of businesses. While some incubators focus on tech or specific industries, CAN BE supports a wide variety- from tech startups to lifestyle business like hat makers, screen printers and even permanent makeup artists. Entrepreneurs can choose to become physical tenants in the building or virtual clients who benefit from the center’s many services without an office space. These include access to valuable partner organizations such as the Penn State LaunchBox, Wilkes Small Business Development Cebter, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. CAN BE also plays a big role in the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, known as The Hazleton Innovation Collaborative – or THInC by also mentoring students through business plan competitions and other events.
Hatching Ideas and Growing Businesses
CAN BE was established in the early 2000s after a study showed that Northeastern Pennsylvania had the potential to become a hub for entrepreneurship. Since then, the center has stayed true to its mission, even as facilities and programs have grown. One recent success story is Joey Halcisak, a former student who joined the center after the high school business plan competition and went on to study software engineering. Even though not every idea turns into a lasting business, CAN BE gives people the chance to test and grow their dreams.
For those interested in applying, the center’s website has an “Apply Now” button that opens the door to a supportive, opportunity- filled journey.
