Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) on Tuesday will be honored by the Erie County Historical Society.
The Historical Society has chosen the incubator, 130 West 8th St., located within the Gannon campus, for a Historic Preservation Award. The award, in the specific category of “Construction Project,” will be announced at the Historical Society’s annual dinner at the Erie Maennerchor Club, 1607 State St.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday with the awards being presented at approximately 7 p.m.
Formally dedicated last October, the incubator is housed within the former building of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie. The facility, which dates to the 1890s, underwent a complete renovation after Gannon University acquired the property and has grown to include 11 resident companies and six affiliates.
The society’s Construction Project award recognizes the restoration or substantial rehabilitation of a significant historic or architectural resource, said Melanie Kuebel-Stankey, director of operations, Erie County Historical Society. “The Historical Society is very supportive of the rehabilitation of downtown Erie, not by demolishing historical and older buildings to clear the way for new construction, but by taking those buildings and giving them a new lease on life,” she said. “Gannon’s work on the Boys & Girls Club building has been transformational.”
The incubator, Erie’s only technology incubator, is a catalyst for encouraging investment and creating knowledge-based jobs in northwestern Pennsylvania. Designed to nurture early-stage and start-up advanced technology businesses and entrepreneurs by providing key mentoring and support services, the project represents a key strategic initiative of Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.
The facility covers approximately 33,000 square feet on three floors, with 17,880 leasable for tenant occupancy of serviced office space and shared facilities. Offering many combinations of secure and open plan offices, the ETI can accommodate sole operators as well as companies with up to 25 employees.
The ETI is designed for, but not limited to, businesses and entrepreneurs focusing on ventures in information technology, engineering technology, and scientific technology – three areas that complement the growth sectors established by the Erie Keystone Innovation Zone. They also were chosen in part to allow the incubator to leverage Gannon’s strength in its academic programs in those areas.
The ETI also has external members and offers “virtual incubation,” giving businesses the flexibility to choose to work off site while still being able to access the incubator’s full support and benefits.
For more information on the Erie Technology Incubator, call 814-871-5609, or visit http://erietech.org/.
