What is IGNITE?
IGNITE Schuylkill Youth Program, is an entrepreneurial development program for aspiring business owners designed to support and nurture the growth of early-stage businesses. IGNITE Schuylkill, which is EITC approved, will create a non-traditional form of economic development by investing in human capital to foster a community where emerging businesses can succeed and thrive.

CONCEPT: Through participation in a 16-week entrepreneurship development course, aspiring entrepreneurs from Schuylkill County high schools will have the opportunity to compete for  flexible scholarship funding, startup capital and prototype development, in addition to a $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year for four years) from Alvernia University and $5,000 technical assistance scholarship from the O'Pake Institute. 

OUR CURRICULUM: Different from other entrepreneurial programs, our curriculum aims to address the real-world obstacles faced by first-time business owners presented by local experts who have done it first-hand. Classes will be held on Penn State Schuylkill's campus.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
As the economy goes through a cyclical, philosophical change, downtown areas and small businesses across the nation are being romanticized. According to JP Morgan Chase & Co., over 99 percent of America's 28.7 million firms are small businesses and have created over 50 percent of new jobs in recent years. The IGNITE Schuylkill program is deliberately focused on boosting the local economy by strengthening Schuylkill County's business community in density and quality. 

IGNITE Schuylkill Youth Program Application Documents

The application period is now closed.

IGNITE Schuylkill Youth Program Official Rules, Eligibility, and Criteria

IGNITE Schuylkill Youth Program Hold Harmless and Confidentiality Agreement