ENTREPRENEURSHIP FEATURE
Being Human in the Age of AI: The Student Startups Bringing Us Back Together
From Whirl Pong to Now You Know, Penn State founders are building experiences that trade screen time for real connection, signaling where the world is heading. Something is changing. Not slowly. Not quietly. You can feel it at Penn State tailgates, in student apartments, and at pitch competitions where the ideas gaining traction are no longer just apps or platforms. They are experiences. They are real. And they are solving a problem that has been hiding in plain sight.
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Creativity Pays Off: The ROI on a Thriving Arts Scene
On any summer evening at 3 Dots and other arts spaces across Centre County, you can see the local economy in action: musicians unloading their gear, artists displaying new work, and food trucks arriving as people stop by, grab a drink, and stay awhile. Families fill the streets, visitors photograph and post murals to social media, and young professionals build connections that root them here—to commit, buy a home, and to invest deeply in our community. This isn’t just entertainment—it’s what keeps our streets vibrant and our economy moving.
“Random Collisions of Goodness” Spark Unexpected Connections in Reedsville
In Big Valley, even an economic development event feels like a homecoming By Cara Aungst Last Wednesday, Ben Franklin Technology Partners collaborated with the Juniata Valley Chamber of Commerce for an entrepreneurial networking event celebrating innovation, connection, and the power of community in the tiny town of Reedsville. The event
Readers Speak: Why Leading with Heart Resonates in Happy Valley
“So happy to see ‘art and heart’ finally getting the recognition it deserves. We’ve spent too long celebrating size and scale alone—there’s so much to learn from founders who lead differently.”
Built on Love: A Blueprint for Growing Your Business Without Losing Its Heart
In a world where fear often pays off—and efficiency is rewarded—it takes a different kind of entrepreneur to build with love.
But that’s exactly what’s happening in Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania.
Not through national franchises or outside capital. But through wild-eyed local founders who, at first glance, might seem like dreamers—but who are quietly transforming their town through vision, grit, and deep devotion to people and place.
Proud Sponsor Downtown Improvement District (DID):
Something for everyone to discover.
DSCID is a non-profit Neighborhood Improvement District with over 350
participating businesses, established by ordinance of the Borough of State College
in accordance with the laws of Pennsylvania. The District extends from Atherton
Street to Sowers Street, College Avenue to Highland Alley.
