MILFORD - The Pike County Board of Commissioners today proclaimed February 21-28 as Entrepreneurship Week throughout Pike County, kicking off the local celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week.  The proclamation indicated that entrepreneurship is vital to the county’s growth and prosperity, the creation of new jobs, and an integral part of the dreams and pursuits of many young adults.  The celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week was acknowledged as “an opportunity to focus on the innovative ways in which entrepreneurship education can bring together the core academic, technical and problem solving skills essential for future entrepreneurs and successful workers in future workplaces.”

Entrepreneurs are the foundation of economic development in the Pike County area and throughout the nation.  All three of Pike County’s Commissioners have entrepreneurism in their backgrounds and understand the challenges that entrepreneurs face and the environment in which they thrive.  “Owning and operating a business is both challenging and rewarding;” said Commissioner Rich Caridi, “properly preparing is essential to success.”

Other activities as part of the 1st annual Pike County celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week include the announcement of the availability of new entrepreneurial reference materials and a computer station dedicated for the use of entrepreneurs at the Pike County Economic Development Authority’s office, and a program offered in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Scranton on “1st Steps in Opening a Business” which will be held on Saturday, February 28th at the offices of the PCEDA at 209 East Harford Street in Milford.  In honor of National Entrepreneurship Week, the $10 fee for this program has been waived by the SBDC.  To reserve a place at this event, please call the PCEDA office at 570-296-7332.

The Pike County Economic Development Authority offers services to support entrepreneurs throughout the county all year round and is spearheading this 1st effort to promote National Entrepreneurship Week locally.   The new reference materials the organization is making available to the community include information on the national and local market, financial data on many industries, including start-up, operational costs and profit margins, basic information on many franchises and access to numerous and varied electronic resources.  “Fostering entrepreneurship by providing resources within the county to help prepare our entrepreneurs will strengthen Pike County’s economy and our future,” said Com. Harry Forbes, who serves on the PCEDA Board of Directors.

The Pike County Economic Development Authority is an outreach location for the Small Business Development Center at the University of Scranton and partners with them to provide free small business counseling for the support of entrepreneurism in the area.  The SBDC works with clients in Pike County who are pre-venture or already operational businesses and can provide assistance in a myriad of topics, not limited to but including, writing a business marketing and financial plan, accessing new markets, addressing human resource challenges, succession planning, conducting a breakeven analysis, or filing the appropriate paperwork to open a business legitimately.   The SBDC has a large reference library accessible to Pike County residents at the University either directly or through their professional staff.  Initial information on accessing the SBDC’s services is also available by contacting the PCEDA office.

The Pike County Economic Development Authority (“PCEDA”), the lead economic development organization in Pike County, is a municipal corporation.  The members of its Board of Directors are appointed by the County Commissioners and its activities are funded by grants, service fees and state and county taxes.