DCED awards over $500,000 in grants to regional economic performance networks

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that $519,351 in grants has been awarded to the 10 Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) regions throughout the state.

Davin emphasized that the PREP network is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategy. Since the pandemic’s beginning, it has provided key technical assistance and resources to businesses.

Here are some of the special initiatives undertaken by the partnerships:

The Lehigh Valley PREP network will direct resources to address cybersecurity awareness and study child care needs faced by local businesses.

Northeast and Northern Tier PREP will join forces and use funds to expand Get Connected, an e-commerce technical support program for small businesses.

North Central PREP projects will include rapid prototyping assistance and providing counseling and training on 3-D printing, design and associated business development.

Southern Alleghenies PREP will assist in creating an e-commerce marketplace for regional entrepreneurs to sell their products.

The PREP network is composed of trained professionals who offer one-one-one counseling, specialized workshops, online training, financial incentives and other services. Each regional PREP network “coordinates with local economic development service providers and complementary economic and workforce development organizations,” the release stated.

Gov. Tom Wolf requested an additional $1.5 million in his 2021-22 budget proposal for the PREP network, which includes Small Business Development Centers, Local Development Districts and Industrial Development Organizations.

“Pennsylvania’s partners have hundreds of trained and experienced consultants able to counsel businesses and assist in their growth and development,” Davin said in the release, “and this supplemental funding will enable them to focus additional efforts in our statewide economic recovery efforts.”