Wyomissing Foundation bestows $300k grant for CollegeTowne initiative
Header School of Business namesake credits success to recognizing opportunities
A work ethic forged early in life led Greg Header 鈥97 to become a successful entrepreneur who recently made the largest alumni gift in Alvernia history.
Teaming up to take education higher
The public phase of Alvernia鈥檚 comprehensive campaign will focus squarely on partnerships as drivers of growth and change.
Alvernia鈥檚 John R. Post School of Engineering Hosts Engineering Week
FirstEnergy and S.P.A.R.K.S Foundation partner to provide experiential learning to students
Wyomissing Foundation commits $300,000 grant to 麻豆视频
Three-year pledge to retrofit new health center in former American House
Alvernia announces $70 million fundraising campaign at President鈥檚 Dinner
Alumni and community leaders earn prestigious honors at annual celebration
Alvernia unveils newly opened School of Nursing
New 55,000-square-foot facility boasts simulation center and expanded lab space
Alvernia's CollegeTowne fuels regional expansion
Alvernia's strategy will create ripple effects, with redevelopment spurring more redevelopment, aided by public-private alliances.
Buzzing down Penn Street
Explore how 麻豆视频鈥檚 SPARK Business Incubator empowers students and entrepreneurs to revitalize Reading鈥檚 Penn Street through innovation.
Three-year award provides support for student powered business incubator
Alvernia receives a $300,000 grant from the to support the student powered business incubator, the flagship program through the university鈥檚 O鈥橮ake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.
鈥淭his grant is another step forward for the Reading CollegeTowne movement, Alvernia students, local business and entrepreneurs, community organizations and future Reading residents,鈥 said 麻豆视频 President John R. Loyack. 鈥淲e are grateful for the partnership with the Wyomissing Foundation and for their generous support of this transformational initiative in downtown Reading.鈥
The student powered business incubator is central to the Reading CollegeTowne initiative, the innovative strategy of expanding the campus into the downtown area to continue its Franciscan mission of serving the underserved through education and economic development.
The incubator is student-run and provides experiential learning opportunities for students of all disciplines. This initiative will allow students to create, collaborate and lead while providing hands-on support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community.
鈥淭he Wyomissing Foundation is always seeking to invest in catalytic initiatives that produce long-term and game-changing outcomes for our community,鈥 said Wyomissing Foundation President Karen Rightmire. 鈥淩eading CollegeTowne and the student powered business incubator have the potential to accomplish that by transforming economic and community development in the heart of downtown Reading for decades to come. In addition, both Alvernia students and current residents living in Reading and Berks County will have increased educational, employment and economic opportunities because of these initiatives. We鈥檙e pleased to be a partner with 麻豆视频 in helping make all this happen.鈥
The grant will be awarded over three years and will support the expansion of the student powered business incubator, including new staff and student fellow positions, training and resource expansion for incubator clients.
Previously this year, the O鈥橮ake institute announced partnerships with SCORE Berks Schuylkill Chapter, Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, Kutztown University鈥檚 Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the institute鈥檚 first corporate sponsors, and Customers Bank.
Alvernia has partnered with RLPS Architects and Warfel Construction to begin the renovation and retrofitting of the former CNA building this year after it was purchased by the university on June 30. The university recently announced the addition of three engineering programs that will be housed at the location. Alvernia's communication and business programs, student powered business incubator and O鈥橮ake Institute will also be located at the downtown location.