A $10,000 grant could spark an entrepreneurial dream Scranton, PA — A business idea in Lackawanna County could lead to $10,000. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce has announced a new entrepreneurial program called TechCelerator @Lackawanna County: a collaborative effort of Lackawanna County, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA, TecBRIDGE, and the Chamber. The goal is to inspire entrepreneurs with early-stage, tech-based ideas to start a small business in Lackawanna County. Businesses that complete the program requirements will receive $10,000 in grant funding to offset their start-up costs. “Lackawanna County is thrilled to help facilitate the funding for entrepreneurs to see their dreams get started right in our county. Individuals who are even considering starting a tech-base business should apply to the TechCelerator @Lackwanna County program. Our goal is to see our community’s base diversify and new businesses be successful from start to finish in their entrepreneurial journey,” shared Jerry Notarianni, Chairman of the County Commissioners. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a ten-week in-person experience where participants have access to formal mentors, educational opportunities, and access to subject matter experts on topics like business formation strategies, customer discovery, marketing, financial planning, and risk management. The result of the ten weeks is to build, share, and present a business plan for their early-stage companies. The program will be presented in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center, Carbondale Technology Transfer Center, The Penn State Scranton Launchbox, and the Lackawanna College Venture Lab. “Supporting entrepreneurship is at the core of the Chamber’s mission: to Attract, Sustain and, in this case, Grow in our region. This is a natural extension of our ongoing efforts to assist business start-ups through the IGNITE program, where our regional network of partners is working together to provide the platform for entrepreneurial success,” says Robert Durkin, President of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Hoping to ignite the county’s entrepreneurial spirit again, this unique program may very well change the participants’ worlds with $10,000. “One of the hardest parts of starting a business is taking the initial step to do it,” said Brianna Florovito from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce affiliate, IGNITE. She continues, “[…] the TechCelerator program was created to walk entrepreneurs through the steps they need to take to establish their businesses and then provide them with the funding to grow.” The TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a competitive application process. All with ideas or early start-ups are encouraged to submit applications but not all will be selected to participate. To apply, visit the Chamber’s affiliate, IGNITE website at IGNITE.ScrantonChamber.com. Applications are due by January 16. To apply, visit IGNITE.ScrantonChamber.com and look for TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Nominations for the 2023 ATHENA Award are Open! Scranton, PA—Nominations for the 2023 ATHENA Awards are open at ScrantonChamber.com. Today, nominate a person that advocates for women in the greater NEPA community. The ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ATHENA Award is sponsored by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants and will be presented at the Chamber’s International Women’s Day luncheon, sponsored by Honesdale National Bank, which will be held at Marywood University on Tuesday, March 8, 2023. The final day to submit nominations is 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 20. Find the application and eligibility criteria online at www.scrantonchamber.com. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by providing programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com. NOMINATE TODAY!
Nominations for the 2023 ATHENA Awards Open in a Week Scranton, PA—The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2023 ATHENA Award will open on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at ScrantonChamber.com. The ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ATHENA Award is sponsored by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants and will be presented at the Chamber’s International Women’s Day luncheon, sponsored by Honesdale National Bank, which will be held at Marywood University on Tuesday, March 8, 2023. Nominations for the ATHENA Award will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20. Find application and eligibility criteria online at www.scrantonchamber.com. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by providing programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Scranton Chamber Celebrates 2022 SAGE Award Winners at Chamber Gala The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce congratulates all finalists and winners of the 2022 SAGE Awards. The SAGE Awards honor outstanding local businesses for their talent, creativity, and innovation and were presented at the annual Chamber Gala on Friday, November 18. This year’s event was held at the Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center and was sponsored by Friendship House. Chamber board chair, Deborah Kolsovsky, opened the ceremony thanking all finalists, award sponsors, and Gala sponsors for their dedication to the NEPA community. Bold Gold Media Group’s Market Manager, Michael G. Stanton, was the emcee for the evening. The Ritz Mainstage Players and the talented students from the Creative & Performing Arts Academy provided entertainment for the evening. SAGE Award winners in each category are: BEST PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT• Tobyhanna Army Depot BEST PRACTICES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE• CTB Studio BEST PRACTICES IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS• Market Share Consulting BUSINESS OF THE YEAR• Montage Mountain Resorts FASTEST GROWING COMPANY• Nibbles & Bits HOMETOWN STAR• Scranton Area Foundation – NEPA Gives IMPACT: COMMUNITY OUTREACH• WVIA IMPACT: PEOPLE AND CULTURE• Tobyhanna Army Depot IMPACT: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES• Inspired Studio NEW AND EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR• TheKIMMY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR• Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley PEOPLE’S CHOICE• Camp Freedom SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR• Nibbles & Bits More pictures from the Chamber Gala
Chamber Member Small Business Saturday Deals Get ready to support the local businesses in our community. Join us for #SmallBizSat on Nov 26 and keep shopping all season long. Find shop small deals from our members here! Free goods with Bakcou Ebike purchase40% off Lakewood Cases30% off BigShot TargetsAll 2022 Bow Models on sale.25% off MTN OPS$50 Dollars off All in stock Blinds and TreestandsGift certificates available Stop in to register for Montage Mountain Archery Fest hosted by us! Offers valid until 11/30 We offer a large variety of cookies, cakes and pastries for all of your holiday parties! Follow our Facebook to see all of our new flavors for the holiday season and to see what vendor pop-ups we’re attending! Christmas menu coming soon! Custom orders always welcome! We have Keto too! Must Call Directly for Sale Buy a $250 Gift Card, Get a Bonus $20 orBuy a $500 Gift Card, Get a Bonus $100 Promotion Runs 11/25/22 – 11/28/22 *Bonus dollars given as gift card BOGO Sale. When You Book One Room You Get Another Night FREE! Nights Do Not Have to be Consecutive. The Room Type Value Will Be The Same. Offer Valid Midweek January 1st to April 30th, 2023. Offer cannot be used in combination with any other offer or with preexisting reservation. One hour massage $85 ($100 value)Elixirs, tinctures, tonics & teas 30% offBuy four items from the body-care bar for 20% offBuy three items from Barnaby skincare line for 25% offMix & Match stocking stuffers
Melissa Gilbert – EMPOWER Conference Keynote Speaker The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce Melissa Gilbert, Emmy winning, Golden Globe nominated actor, director, producer, and NY Times Best Selling author, as the keynote speaker for the 2023 EMPOWER NEPA Women’s Leadership Conference. The 2023 EMPOWER NEPA Women’s Leadership Conference will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. Melissa Gilbert is an Emmy winning, Golden Globe nominated actor, director, producer, and NY Times Best Selling author. As a producer her recent film Guest Artist, written by and starring Jeff Daniels premiered in 2019 at The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. As an actress Melissa’s career began at the age of 2 appearing in commercials and guest spots. Melissa achieved iconic status by the age of 19 after a 10 year run on the television classic Little House On The Prairie (Golden Globe Nomination). She has starred in over fifty television movies and feature films including The Miracle Worker (Emmy Nomination), The Diary of Anne Frank and Splendor in the Grass. Her television series credits include Little House on the Prairie (Golden Globe Nomination, 2 Young Artist Awards), Sweet Justice, Stand By Your Man and Secrets and Lies for ABC. Her company, Halfpint Productions, produced several films including The Miracle Worker (Emmy Award). Melissa made her stage debut in 1979 as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker”. A member of the legendary Actor’s Studio, Melissa’s other professional theater credits include Laura in Glass Menagerie, Elma Duckworth in Bus Stop, Melissa Gardner in Love Letters, and Rose White, a role she created, in “A Shayna Maidel,” (Outer Critic’s Circle Award and Theater World Award). In 2008 Melissa also created the role of Ma in the Guthrie Theater’s presentation of Little House on the Prairie:The Musical, and toured north America the following year. In 2014 Melissa played M’Lynn in a production of Steel Magnolias at the Totem Pole Playhouse. Melissa’s off Broadway credits include If Only:A Love Story at the Cherry Lane, The Dead 1904 with the Irish Repertory Company and My Brilliant Divorce at the New Ohio Theater. Most recently Melissa starred in the premiere of the critically acclaimed play When Harry Met Rehab at the Greenhouse theater center in Chicago. As an author Melissa has penned three best-selling books; Prairie Tale: A Memoir (New York Times Best Seller) Daisy and Josephine, a children’s book and My Prairie Cookbook. Her fourth book, Back To the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered, written for Simon and Schuster’s Gallery Books, was released in May of 2022. In 1996, Melissa made her television directing debut with the ABC after school special “Me and My Hormones.” Melissa was president of Screen Actors Guild for two terms 2001-2004. She served on the executive council of the AFL-CIO, The California Film Commission and in 2016 was the democratic nominee for Michigan’s 8th congressional district. In 2015 Melissa and her husband Timothy Busfield co-starred, co-wrote and co-produced the multi-award winning short film “One Smart Fellow.” Gilbert was honored with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award and when she was twenty-one, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Melissa is very proud to tell people that her star is just a short walk from her father’s. She is the proud mother/stepmother of six sons and one stepdaughter. She is also grandmother/step-grandmother to her absolutely perfect, brilliant grandchildren, Lulabelle, Ruby, Eli, Vito, Aury, Bowen and Ripley .
The Chamber Announces the 2022 SAGE Awards Finalists Today, we announced the finalists for the 2022 SAGE Awards, the Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence. The SAGE Awards honor outstanding local businesses for their talent, creativity, and innovation. The winners will be announced on Friday, November 18 at the Chamber Gala, a Hollywood-style, black-tie optional event held at the Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center. This event is presented by the Friendship House. More than 85 applications were received for this year’s awards and 50 community leaders and professionals volunteered to review applications and select finalists. The Chamber is proud to honor businesses that are making valuable contributions to the region and contributing to our overall quality of life. The finalists, in each category, are: BEST PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Settlers HospitalityTitan Tree Service, inc.Tobyhanna Army Depot BEST PRACTICES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE Century Dental AssociatesCTB StudioNortheast Music Center Inc BEST PRACTICES IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Golden TechnologiesMarket Share ConsultingSettlers Hospitality BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Disaster BlasterMontage Mountain ResortsUnited Sports Academy FASTEST GROWING COMPANY FNCBNibbles & BitsUnited Sports Academy HOMETOWN STAR Camp Freedom, Inc.Scranton Area Foundation — NEPA GivesUnited Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties IMPACT: COMMUNITY OUTREACH Penn State ScrantonTobyhanna Army DepotWVIA IMPACT: PEOPLE AND CULTURE Coal CreativeTobyhanna Army DepotUnited Sports Academy IMPACT: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AlleimaFidelity BankInspired Studio NEW AND EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR EMOBILE GYM FITNESS LLCThe Prescription Center-Cherry StreetTHEKIMMY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR Camp Freedom Inc.Children’s Service Center of Wyoming ValleyNortheast Pennsylvania Youth For Christ, Inc. SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Blu Elefante EventsNibbles & BitsThe Training Loft, LLC Congratulations to all finalists!! The recipient of each award will be announced on Friday, November 18 at the Chamber Gala, a Hollywood-style, black-tie optional event held at the Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center. GALA TICKETS In addition, all award finalists can also win the People’s Choice Award, where the winner will be chosen by a community wide online vote on our website from Monday, November 7 through Friday, November 11.
Join the Chamber Influencers Club The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce launches the Chamber Influencers Club. Join a dynamic group of Chamber members representing a variety of professions and industries. Influencers will be an extension of the Chamber by participating in member ribbon cuttings, assisting with Chamber events, and helping with the promotion of Chamber programs and services. Monthly meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 PM at various member business locations throughout the greater Scranton area. Join Today! For more information, contact Mari Potis, mpotis@scrantonchamber.com or 570-342-7711, extension 130.
2022 SAGE Awards Applications Open Now The SAGE Awards, Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, recognize the outstanding efforts, talent, creativity and innovation in northeastern Pennsylvania. Applications are open now through September 23. APPLY Applicants must be members of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in good standing in order to apply. Applicants may not apply for an award received in the past – unless it is one of the following two awards – Best Practices in Marketing and Communications and Hometown Star. Previous award winners are invited to submit in these categories again, as long as the project is a new endeavor and notably different from your prior award achievement.
