Penn State Harrisburg opens center to help entrepreneurs

(Middletown) — Penn State Harrisburg is taking a step towards bringing a slice of Silicon Valley to the region: it’s opening a center to encourage entrepreneurship among its students.

Students are already getting to work on ideas at the new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

It hosts the student entrepreneur club and an incubator that will provide support and advice for students and serve as a place to throw around ideas.

Professor Kevin Harter is director of the center and says he’s aiming for some version of Silicon Valley or Boston’s Route 128 corridor…

“While we may never be that level of job creation from new technologies, I think the opportunity is certainly here to be creating jobs and really creating a lot of activity around the technology areas,” he says.

Harter says the center won’t cost the college any money – it’ll pursue grants and help from outside companies.

“You know, rise the tide and float all the boats, if you will, for the community as a whole. And not worry about whether or not it’s going to happen in Harrisburg or Middletown or Carlisle or Hershey, but look at ways of partnering with the entire community.”

It’s funded by a $50,000 grant awarded by Penn State President Eric Barron.

The college also offers a minor to provide help for entrepreneurs.