Media Coverage
December 2, 2024
Source: Bedford Gazette
December 2, 2024
Source: Tribune Democrat
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Raised in a poor village of then-communist Albania, Leo Karruli fled political and economic turmoil when the Mediterranean country’s communist party fell.
He made a dangerous voyage to Italy as a young man in 1991, and worked in a restaurant while planning to emigrate to America and become a U.S. citizen. “In the beginning, it was tough for me,” Karruli, 57, said in his heavy accent. “You think about your mom, dad, brother, sister. But this is what you call sometimes the American Dream. America gives you the opportunity to open business, to create business, to make money and to create family and everything.” At that time, thousands of miles from where Karruli was fleeing communism and the unrest that followed its collapse, the grand opening of The Johnstown Galleria would soon be celebrated. The mall would enjoy its heyday through the 1990s, then it would begin a slow decline amid economic recessions, shifts in national shopping trends and multiple changes of ownership. Two of the four large anchor stores with doors leading to the heart of the mall closed in 2018. Many store and food court spaces in the enclosed portion of The Galleria were hollowed out by the time the mall went into foreclosure in 2020, even before the COVID-19 pandemic squeezed out more – including Victoria’s Secret. Through the transition, The Galleria stayed open while creditors repossessed the site and prepared to auction it off to the highest bidder. With enclosed shopping malls failing across the country, competitors in the online auction were widely expected to have other, non-retail plans for the property at 500 Galleria Drive. Bath & Body Works, American Eagle and Spencer’s left The Galleria for the Richland Town Center in 2022, six months prior to the mall’s precarious placement on the auction block. However, the bidder who won the mall for $3.1 million was Karruli. For the past two years since acquiring the mall, he has been working to restore the American Dream there – not for himself, he says, but for the people in the Rust Belt community of Johnstown who want to see revitalization.Holding it together
Karruli has replaced the mall’s air conditioning units and lighting. He’s repaired the children’s jungle gym, and the fountain. He’s paved the mall’s entrance roads and parking lots that had been long riddled with potholes. He’s welcomed tenants who sometimes turn around and leave behind hefty overdue water and sewer bills, which he pays so that he can take a risk on welcoming others. Like the escalator that is on a long list of features still to be repaired out of his own pocket, he wants to stop going sometimes. “But I say, ‘No, hold on now.’ I have something I promised these people,” he said. “My promise is to keep it going until I fill the mall. Today you are working so tomorrow you get a phone call to make you happy. I have big things in mind.” The food court has been filled since Karruli acquired the mall, and stores are repopulating, but multiple store owners said people tell them, “Oh, wow, how long have you been open? I haven’t been here in so many months” or “We didn’t know this mall was still open.” The mall still lacks a new, big-box presence to grab people’s attention. “But if they really would look at this closely, they’ll see what Leo is doing,” said Vic Smith, who recently retired as owner and president of The Italian Oven restaurant in the mall. Lately, nearly every day, Karruli can be spotted at The Italian Oven, at times making pizza himself and doing cooking preparation when a chef is unavailable. Smith, 74, said he came to Karruli in June to tell him that he was retiring and that his daughter, who ran the restaurant with him, wanted to pursue other interests. Smith was grateful to his loyal customers, but it appeared the restaurant would close. “We were concerned about the employees who’ve made a living there, raised their kids there and still work there,” Smith said. “So, I thought, well, let’s sell it to somebody who can run it, and I thought, well, Leo is here. He’s trying very hard to make a go of that mall and keep it viable for the Johnstown community, which is admirable for him, very, very admirable. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to go speak to Leo.’ ” They worked out a deal in 15 minutes, Smith said. Not wanting to close the restaurant for even one day, Karruli has kept the business going without a hitch for the past four months. He’s looking for the right person to take it over. But for now, Karruli – a seasoned restaurateur – is in the restaurant business. After working in an eatery in Italy, he emigrated to the United States, where he worked his way up from being a dishwasher to opening his own restaurant with 40 seats, then another with 300 seats and another – until he owned 19 Italian restaurants in Florida. A regular customer who was in property development recommended that Karruli invest his restaurant earnings in real estate, he said. Karruli started with houses, and then commercial properties and eventually sold all of his restaurants to get into property development. He still owns shopping centers in Florida and North Carolina, but The Galleria is his first enclosed shopping mall and his full-time job. “People are going off of malls, but I like it,” he said. “It’s a family of people together. It makes me feel comfortable. Here, you get in touch with the people and work hand to hand.” Karruli’s approach may be a throwback to the mall’s early days, when it was owned by the local Zamias Services company, led by Galleria founder George Zamias, of Johnstown. Over time and economic obstacles, the Zamias company sold off the mall to more distant owners. A Florida- based company, Adar Johnstown LLC, owned the mall at the time of foreclosure, though Zamias Services continued managing the mall for Adar.Giving people a shot
The mall now has about 40 occupied locations, not counting a couple of new businesses Karruli said are about to open. Many of the tenants are well supplied with knowledge of Karruli’s strategy and express shock at his generosity and transparency. Husband-and-wife business partners Matt and Jodi Rupert opened Mister Jays hobby store and tabletop game venue a year and a half ago. Their success has led them to move into larger spaces in The Galleria on three occasions since they opened. Recalling how Karruli gave their “island of misfit toys” a chance made Matt Rupert emotional – stating that a previous Galleria owner “wouldn’t give us the time of day.” The former construction worker gathered himself as tears escaped from his eyes. In the pause, the chatter of about 10 of his store’s patrons could be heard as they played their games set up on long tables. Some of the patrons playing together had only met each other that day in the store, which is an example of the culture developing at the mall, Rupert said. “He saw our information left behind from the previous mall owners and he reached out to us right away when I just didn’t think we were going to get a chance,” Matt Rupert said. “When he called us and gave us a shot, I was shocked.” Jodi Rupert punctuated her husband’s comments. “Leo is a special guy,” she said. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. How many malls give moms and pops a chance? He’s a special guy, that’s all you can say.” Karruli’s father was a mechanic and his mother worked in a factory. Living in Albania was difficult for his family, especially because his grandfather deserted the ruling communist party’s army in the 1940s, he said. “It was very bad to live in the communist country because, if somebody deserts, they take your family from the city and put your family in the village,” he said. “They don’t give you the school. They don’t give you the right to do anything because they say, ‘Oh, his grandfather left the country,’ you know.” After Karruli came to America, he brought his parents to become U.S. citizens, too. “Everything I come from … my parents, they used to be poor people and still I’m not considering myself anything but a regular person,” he said. Tenants said Karruli calls meetings to consult them on needs for mall repairs, and that he’s so reasonable on rent that he must be taking a loss. Karruli confirmed that he is taking a loss sometimes. “I say it 100 times – I’m not in it for the money,” he said. “But what I’m doing with mom and pops, you can’t hold a business, you know what I’m saying? Moms and pops, I’m doing more to fill up the mall to bring the traffic to tell the big-box stores, ‘Hey listen, the mall is not dead.’ The mall is here for the people.” Evelyn Vargas, owner of Gotham City Bakery, said, “It’s got to hurt his pocket at some point in time, but as long as we all stay together, we can do it.” Vargas and her daughter relocated from New York City and opened Gotham City Bakery at the Galleria’s food court in July. “Cake orders are flooding in now,” she said. “You go to any mall, especially in New York City, and the first thing they want you to do is pay six months of rent ahead of time,” she said. “He doesn’t do that to you. He gives you somewhat of an open contract, see how it goes. If you want out, you can get out. He doesn’t lock you in there like most malls do. That’s why I considered this the first small business mall ever.” She recently added an old-fashioned diner counter at her bakery where people can sit, talk and enjoy a meal, harkening to days when Gimbels and Macy’s had that personal touch, she said. “Everything is too much internet right now. It’s shopping online,” she said. “The personal touch has been lost, and we need to bring it back. That’s what we are trying to do here.”Drawing big business
From top to bottom, family-owned small businesses can be found at the mall, though for now, their hours and days of operations vary and are heavily dependent on individual circumstances. “A lot of us are just starting out, so it’s hard for us to be here for the amount of time that people expect a mall to be open,” said Terri Yacko, owner of Yacko Art, a gallery on the second floor of the mall. “But I’m hoping that, as this picks up, all of our businesses can grow and get more people working so we can be open more hours,” she said. Yacko launched her business in June on the second level of the mall following the success of her mother and sister’s business, Apples and Bananas parent/teacher store, located across from Boscov’s on the first level of the mall. “When they said how wonderful it was to work with Mr. Karruli, I said, ‘That would be a great place to try,’ ” she said. For 11 years, Yacko was an art teacher before she decided to open her gallery. She now teaches classes, offers art party rentals for children, and displays the work of artists in her gallery. “He’s given me a bit of a deal so that I can see if I can get this to work,” she said. “I know he’s trying to get small businesses like me to come in and see what we can do because he said the bigger ones will come in when the smaller ones are here, and the smaller ones will do better once the bigger ones are here, so it’s kind of like, ‘Let’s help each other out.’ ” Sometimes Karruli stays until 3 a.m. in his office for paperwork and taking care of leases. There have been many “bumps in the road,” Karruli said, and the time he spends at the mall puts a strain on his wife, he said. “Sometimes I have too much because between the mall and the Italian Oven and everything, it’s getting to be a little too much, but I’m trying to get it done,” he said. “My dad was hard-working, too, and I never give up. I want to show the people something I’m doing for Johnstown.” A slate of recently renewed leases has encouraged him to press forward. JCPenney renewed its lease, he said. In addition to securing that main mall anchor, he said Maurice’s clothing store, Shoe Dept. Encore, AT&T, T-Mobile and Claire’s all signed new leases within the past few weeks. “So it makes me happy, and I work harder,” he said. Gardners Candies, which left the mall prior to Karruli’s ownership, returned in September and has experienced a much stronger business. “Our sales and foot traffic have almost tripled since we moved back here from our last location,” Gardners Candies store manager Haley Markel said. “I’ve seen more businesses open in the mall. The food court is great. Each place is now full. Many people, even if they are not visiting to shop, come into the mall for something to eat.” However, big-box retailers want to see 80% occupancy of the mall, and then maybe they’d be interested, Karruli said. “If I do that, tomorrow I can get a call and change everything,” he said. “It’s waiting for that time. Right now, I am at 65% occupancy. I’m working for more.” Chasing big tenants Target, Sam’s Club or Costco are at the top of his list of tenants he’d like to draw. However, even if a big-box retailer calls him, there’s another limitation Karruli faces: He doesn’t own the sprawling, two-level, vacant anchor locations where they naturally fit at the mall. Three of the four anchor stores, each with two public entrances to the mall, have been separately owned since the mall opened in 1992. JCPenney has been the only anchor store directly leasing from the mall. With that recently renewed lease, Karruli said, “I can see a little bit of daylight for myself.” Boscov’s department store is owned by the family-owned Boscov’s parent company that remains committed to the Johnstown market, recently completing a multi-million-dollar renovation. But filling the vacant anchor locations formerly held by Sears and The Bon-Ton requires cooperation between Karruli and the owners of those spaces. Karruli bid more than $1 million on the Sears location when it was auctioned a year after he purchased the mall. But he was outbid by a Michigan- based storage company with plans that did not include retail. The Richland Township Zoning Hearing Board subsequently denied the request of Storage of America to turn the former Sears location into an indoor storage facility. The zoning hearing board ruled in May that a storage facility was not fitting with the character of a retail district. Karruli and the family of small business owners who’ve worked to see the mall again become a retail hub cheered the decision and held a party at the mall. However, Storage of America continues to own the Sears location and has sought to overturn the zoning hearing board’s decision at the Cambria County courthouse. That appeal was filed in June and remains open. Karruli said he is hopeful that the owners of Storage of America might partner with him to bring a retailer instead of a storage facility to the building. The Bon-Ton closed in 2018. Its space was sold in 2021, a year prior to Karruli’s successful bid for the enclosed portion of the mall. Galleria Drive LLC, a subsidiary of Sara David Realty in Florida, owns the Bon-Ton location. “When we first bought it (The Bon-Ton), tenants were thinking the whole use of the mall would have to change (to something non-retail),” Sara David company member Bennett David said. However, that sentiment changed after Karruli purchased the mall, free of its previous debt, then moved to Johnstown and got to work. “He has done a good job, and he’s filling up the empty stores,” David said. “The mall is stabilizing, it seems to me, and the feedback I’ve gotten is a little bit of interest from potential tenants in The Bon-Ton location, but not much.” He said concerns about the mall’s foot traffic have deterred businesses from leasing, but Karruli’s continued work at the mall and the addition of the Park Home Furniture Store at 600 Galleria Drive in 2022 are elements that David has highlighted to attract potential tenants for the former Bon-Ton location. “There are two possible tenants right now showing some interest in the property,” he said. “There’s nothing firm. We are just trying to get them interested in the space and the mall, which is improving, in my opinion, when I go there.” The mall’s Christmas decorations are up. Black Friday is a day away, but The Galleria is also a place for Small Business Saturday shopping. Karruli plowed the mall’s roads during a recent snowstorm. He had to do the job in a pinch because a maintenance worker was out. The phone calls he makes with big-box retailers haven’t yet paid off, but eager small business tenants are met with enthusiasm. “From the beginning, I had a vision,” Karruli said. ”I said this mall has potential … I know 100% this can come back with the hard work of not only me, but the people around me.”
December 2, 2024
Source: Tribune Democrat
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Shopping local will be rewarded this holiday season.
For shoppers interested in a chance to win $500 by buying gifts locally, their first step is to purchase a $10 “Shop Small Crawl” tote at Classic Elements, 345 Main St., or Flood City Cafe, 137 Clinton St., in downtown Johnstown. Shoppers who add 20 buttons to their totes – one button is awarded per purchase from participating stores – can win a grand prize of $500. A map of participating stores can be viewed here. Shoppers who collect 15 or more buttons are eligible to win one of five local gift baskets. The Shop Small Crawl, promoted by the nonprofit You in Flood City, begins Saturday and runs to Dec. 21. “It is a collaborative effort to promote the vibrant local businesses that add character and charm to our beloved community,” the nonprofit said in a press release. The Shop Small Crawl features 20 businesses in Johnstown. “From cozy boutiques to specialty gift shops, participating businesses will offer exclusive deals, promotions and festive experiences that are sure to delight shoppers of all ages,” You in Flood City said. In Ebensburg, an economic development nonprofit – Ebensburg Main Street Partnership – is sponsoring a “Shop Small Contest” for local residents Saturday. For the past 15 years, the Saturday after Thanksgiving has been promoted by communities as Small Business Saturday so that local businesses don’t get looked over for big-box stores during the holiday season.“We are a community of small businesses and we want to do everything we can to help our small businesses thrive,” Danea Koss, community development director for the partnership said.
To enter the contest, shoppers are required to spend at least $50 Saturday at small businesses in Ebensburg. Proof of purchase must be submitted, either by snapping a picture of a receipt and texting it to 814-619-6071 or emailing dkoss@ebensburgpa.com. Once the receipt is submitted, participants are entered to win one of six $25 gift cards to the Ebensburg small business of their choice. “We encourage everyone to support your local community by shopping small in Ebensburg this holiday season and all throughout the year,” Koss said. “When you shop small you’re not just supporting a small business, you’re boosting your local economy, supporting local jobs and families and keeping local businesses in business.”
December 2, 2024
Source: The Tribune Democrat JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Shop Small Crawl that began Saturday features multiple coffee shops in downtown Johnstown; so, many caffeine-fueled shoppers may have been doing more darting than crawling Saturday from store to store. The Shop Small Crawl brought people downtown to explore small, independent shops on Small Business Saturday – the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, a day to knock out holiday shopping while supporting small businesses. With small businesses working to repopulate downtown Johnstown in recent years, the second annual Shop Small Crawl, promoted by the nonprofit You in Flood City, beganSaturday to support those small business owners. The Shop Small Crawl features 20 businesses, many of them in downtown Johnstown. A map of businesses participating in the Shop Small Crawl can be found here The event sparked the interest of Michelle Trotz, who just moved back to Johnstown in October after living outside of the area for the past 13 years. Trotz said Saturday that she was impressed by the number of businesses that have been established downtown, including the Creative Corner & Co., Classic Elements, Flood City Cafe, the Write Cup, Lamb- cakes Bakery and Balance Restaurant. “I decided to check some of the town out and there’s an amazing amount of fantastic places,” Trotz said. “I’m so thrilled with what my city has done. I’m overjoyed and overwhelmed at what I see the city doing.” The Shop Small Crawl began Saturday and runs until Dec. 21. Participating shoppers can win a grand prize of $500 by collecting buttons that serve as proof of purchase from the 20 businesses that are part of the promotion. Shoppers pin the buttons to a “Shop Small Crawl” tote available for $10 at Classic Elements, 345 Main St.; Flood City Cafe, 137 Clinton St.; or The Write Cup, 134 Gazebo Park, all in downtown Johnstown. Shoppers who add 20 buttons to their totes – one button is awarded per purchase from participating stores – can win a grand prize of $500. The event is sponsored by Lofts on Upper Main at 605 Main St., owned by Bill and Kim McKinney. The couple purchased and renovated that eight-floor, 18,000-square-foot building in recent years to help revitalize the area and bring more residential units to dovetail with the growing number of small businesses downtown. Kim McKinney visited local businesses along the path of the crawl Saturday. “We try to promote downtown as best we can,” Kim McKinney said. “It has so much to offer.” Daphne Janik, of the small community of Elton, said she has begun coming downtown regularly to visit Craftwork Studios located on the upper floors of 134 Gazebo Park, above the Write Cup coffee shop. “I remember coming to Johnstown when I was a little kid, and it was always magical at Christmas time,” Janik said. The closure of Penn Traffic department store after the 1977 Johnstown Flood and the subsequent closure of Glosser Bros. department store in the 1990s contributed to a long period of decline downtown. “I support the young shop owners,” Janik said. “They’ve really been revitalizing Johnstown. It’s been a long time coming.” The Creative Corner & Co., a retailer of local artisan goods opened at 416 Main St. in September. “The Shop Small Crawl is nice for us because we are so new,” said Katie Kinka, who co-owns the shop with Tara Bagley and Amy Harris. “The visibility is great.”
March 16, 2023
Tim’s American Cafe, located in Altoona, is set to reopen on Monday, March 20. The new owner Paul Charles said he’s excited to continue operating the same restaurant the community has come to love. Here’s what we know so far!
March 14, 2023
Hats off to Startup Alleghenies entrepreneur Kelly McGee! Her journey to create her company Aesthetics by Kell is featured on WTAJ. Kudos, Kelly — can’t wait to see what’s next!
March 7, 2023
This remarkable Bedford County woman is making change for Central Pa soldiers. Founder of Horizon Behavioral Health in Everett, Dr. Peggy Steinbrunner spends her life serving in three major roles: a psychologist, a soldier, and a mother. Her clinic is crucial in assisting locals with behavioral health and wellness services. Read more from the full story on WTAJ.
March 6, 2023
We honor Startup Alleghenies startup SEADS Garden Center in Johnstown, which was solely created to allow adults with disabilities to work. Here’s an inside look at how they create sustainable employment opportunities — and purpose — for adults with disabilities.
March 4, 2023
Stacie’s Sweets & Eats just opened in Somerset with help from Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI) and Matt Reckner, Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurship and innovation coach for Somerset County. Read more here!
March 4, 2023
Craving home-cooked goodness? Join us in welcoming Startup Alleghenies’ entrepreneurs at Grub Shack as they open downtown Johnstown in just a few weeks!
February 27, 2023
Startup Alleghenies is happy to be included among Pennsylvania Business Central's Top 100 Organizations of 2023! Here's to another year of making an impact in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon & Somerset Counties by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs and small businesses! Connect with your coach at StartupAlleghenies.com.
February 27, 2023
Huntingdon-based Rebelz Mobile Cuisine debuted “The Stray” this past week at Juniata Brewing Company — a sidewalk cart focused on fun street food. Follow them on Facebook to find out where, and when, the stray will appear next!
February 25, 2023
Bedford County’s economic production grew more than any other Pennsylvania county from 2020 to 2021. “Bedford County’s No. 1 statewide ranking in GDP growth in 2021 is a reflection on our diversified manufacturing base, the astute leadership teams and talented, committed employees at our local companies.”
February 21, 2023
Somerset county distillery is expanding to add a saloon and dining, continuing its Old West theme. See how the space will continue to stay ‘one step ahead for its customers.’
February 20, 2023
Appalachian Regional Commission loves local entrepreneurs! Since 2018, ARC has invested $112+ million in projects and partners like JARI and Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, which created Startup Alleghenies. See how they empower startups here.
February 17, 2023
Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurs The Spice Sisters were featured in the Tribune Democrat, talking about how Johnstown became the new home for their business, winning out over Bingampton, New York; Scranton; Vermont; and Altoona. “Johnstown turned out to be a better fit.”
February 16, 2023
Olde Bedford is the first of its kind in Bedford. And it’s one of the best of its kind in the whole state. Proud to be on your team, Dave and Mary Heller! Read the story here.
February 4, 2023
Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurs at Deadluck Manufacturing were featured in the Altoona Mirror this week. “We solve problems for local businesses,” the metalworking company said. See their full story here.
January 21, 2023
Kudos on to Startup Alleghenies' business Chow Korral, who was featured this week in the Huntingdon Daily News. "No matter how much time someone may live in a different place from where they grew up, one of the best ways to connect to a new community is through the foods that remind them of home." Read more here.
December 29, 2022
In less than four months, The Johnstown Galleria mall’s food court has gone from virtually empty to becoming a multicultural hub for food in the area. Startup Alleghenies startup Tin Mackrille, which serves Jamaican and American cuisine is one of the restaurants that has set up shop at the Galleria. Read more here.
December 15, 2022
Huntingdon County reported that local businesses specializing in outdoor recreation saw an increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021, which contributed to an overall boost to the state’s economy. See how outdoor recreation has been growing across the Commonwealth.
December 12, 2022
Small businesses are on the rise in Somerset County, according to industry officials. "No closures. Only openings." Read more here.
November 22, 2022
Kudos to entrepreneur and veteran Rhonda Smith on her recent interview with WTAJ. We’re honored to work with her and help her fuel her vision to help other female veterans. See her story here.
November 16, 2022
Bedford County commissioners have entered into an agreement with Horizon Behavioral Health to provide debriefing services to help deal with tragic and traumatic incidents. Read more about this groundbreaking work.
November 15, 2022
The Bedford County Chamber of Commerce just welcomed its youngest entrepreneur — 7-year-old Tukka Saari. His tie-dye company is setting out to help those in need and, of course, save up for a hot new set of wheels. You can read more about Tukka and his quest for a Lamborghini here.
November 11, 2022
Photo: @VisitJohnstownPA
The Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2022 economic summit showcased plans for growth for downtown Johnstown, highlighting Johnstown's branding opportunity as a "mountain town" with quality-of-life metrics some bigger cities lack and unveiling a 24/7 maker space in downtown Johnstown. See the full story here.
October 27, 2022
Kudos to SAP&DC director of business development Debbi Prosser. She was chosen from many nominations to be named as a Woman Making a Difference by Women in Business publication. Read her bio here!
October 27, 2022
Congrats to Startup Alleghenies Huntingdon and Fulton County coach Christa McGeary for being named as one of Pennsylvania’s Women Making a Difference for 2022! She was chosen from the many nominations sent in by business and community leaders. Read all about her here!
October 27, 2022
Congratulations to Startup Alleghenies Bedford County coach Jen Marsh for being named one of Women in Business’ Women Making a Difference for 2022! She was chosen from the many nominations sent in by business and community leaders. You can read her biography here.
October 24, 2022
Thanks to the Altoona Mirror for giving this e-letter a shoutout (You can read it here). Do you know someone who would like to join the mailing list? Sign up here!
October 17, 2022
Shoutout to Startup Alleghenies coach Matt Fox, who was interviewed by the Altoona Mirror. Read the full interview here!
September 29, 2022
Listen to Prism, a podcast series that shines a light on the power of creativity in PA communities. This episode features the Center for Metal Works in Johnstown, where metalwork returns to a shuttered steel facility.
September 14, 2022
Restored Grounds in has created a place for friends and neighbors in Martinsburg to refuel and reconnect. Hear from owner Sunshine Sassano about her vision and her startup journey.
September 13, 2022
Governor Tom Wolf announced funding allocations through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD Corp.) was allocated $4 million. Read more about how the funds will benefit local startups here!
August 31, 2022
There are some familiar faces on the Pour Tour from our friends at Raystown Lake Region. Love seeing our "alumni" businesses thriving! Watch the video here.
August 29, 2022
It's great to see Bumbleberry Farms staying in the family! Congratulations to Karen on her retirement and to her son Jon who will transfer the business to Pittsburgh and create an urban rooftop apiary! You can still get your favorite products online at bumbleberryfarms.com and at many retailers. Read the full story here.
August 28, 2022
'Fitness and business smarts': North Star graduate and powerlifter Jamie Augustine opens her own gym right out of high school. Read the full article in Yahoo News here and see her Startup Alleghenies interview here! (Photo: Tribune Democrat/Todd Berkey)
