Our Stories

Rural Net was introduced to many economic development partners in the Northern Tier and received much support by way of planning, designing, and monies. Rural Net has recognized more than $100,000 in economic benefits to date.

PennTAP helped Rafferty Electrical Systems identify a financially viable alternative to their less-than-adequate Internet connection. The new Internet service provides a more-than-acceptable Internet performance boost, allowing the company to perform daily Internet activities without experiencing unnecessary delays. The economic impact is estimated at $72,050.

PennTAP discovered that the Iron Horse Engraving website had been hacked. The website was then updated, eliminating the illegitimate web pages and securing it from further attacks, and Google’s Index was rebuilt. Although there is no effective method to identify the amount of lost sales, the total economic impact is estimated at $70,000.

Palcon wanted to reduce their energy consumption and the carbon footprint of their production operation. PennTAP performed substantial research, data review, energy calculations, and analysis, and found energy saving opportunities. Improvements resulted in a cost savings of $20,000 per year. Palcon also received a $5,000 SBAG grant award to upgrade their lighting.

PennTAP’s technical analysis at Kampel Enterprises, Inc., determined that by replacing the current lighting system and repairing compressed air line leaks, the electric energy savings is expected to be approximately $11,703 per year, giving a simple payback of two years.

PennTAP’s Innovation Team helped a student entrepreneur gain exposure and financial support through her participation in some campus competitions, to demonstrate her speech assistance technology prototype device. She won the Lion LaunchPad award, received Penn State Summer Founders Award of $10,000, and won first place and $17,000 in start-up funding in 2015 Inc.U Intercollegiate competition.

With PennTAP’s help, the Mill Street Caramel Corn reported receiving substantial economic benefits, including a $12,000 sales increase, 10 days saved, $12,000 in capital expenditures, two jobs created and retained, and a $3,000 cost avoidance.

Since 2009, more than 40 engineering students have been engaged with PennTAP for a total of more than 14,300 student hours to conduct 144 industrial pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessments.

PennTAP helped Matson apply for a $135,000 grant to help replace the existing roof with a new energy-efficient roof. The energy lost through the roof is expected to be reduced by 86%, with an annual cost savings of approximately $9,600 per year. Matson is also expected to increase production by $497,000.