Small Business Development Center at The University of Scranton

10/09/2026

What started as a passion project at her home in 2023 has grown into a thriving small business for Katrina Parks, owner of Kat's Knots and Pots located in Milan in Bradford County. Katrina grows and propagates her own unique houseplants, creates handmade macrame pieces, and even developed her own custom soil blend, “Kat’s Dirt,” selling her products at a local vendor mall and events.

Outgrowing her home nursery, she planned an expansion into a garage space. Katrina turned to The Small Business Development Center at The University of Scranton, where she worked with Business Consultant Gretchen Kukuchka to create her first three-year business plan, prepare financial projections and prepped for the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission Rural & Rooted Pitch Competition. Katrina’s hard work paid off when she was selected as a winner in the competition. Katrina also secured financing through NTRPDC, helping her move her nursery expansion from an idea to a reality.

10/08/2026

Thinking about starting an agriculture-related business in Pennsylvania, but not sure where to begin?

Whether you’re considering production agriculture, a farm stand, agritourism, value-added food products, agricultural services, or another venture, getting started takes careful planning.

“The First Step: Starting Your Pennsylvania Ag Business”, an on-demand webinar, can help you:

✅ Assess your goals and resources
✅ Understand Pennsylvania’s agriculture business landscape
✅ Navigate legal and regulatory considerations
✅ Plan for risk management and financing
✅ Identify resources and next steps

You’ll also learn how Pennsylvania SBDC consultants can provide no-cost, confidential assistance as you plan, start, and grow your agriculture business.

Register & watch on your schedule at www.pasbdc.org/scranton-training-events.

“The First Step: Starting Your Pennsylvania Ag Business” was developed in partnership with Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission through the Ag Industry Partnership.

10/07/2026

Ready to turn your idea into a business, but unsure where to begin?

“The First Step Express: Starting Your Business” can help you understand the key steps and decisions that come with starting a business so you can move forward with greater confidence.

In just one hour, you’ll get an introduction to business planning, business structures such as LLCs and sole proprietorships, applications and licenses, financing options, and the SBDC services available to support you along the way.

📅 Wednesday, October 21 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
📍 Attend in person at The University of Scranton
💻 Or join online via Zoom

Your business may start with an idea. This session can help you understand what comes next.

Learn more and register at https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33850.

10/01/2026

📣 Spreading the word!

Sharing this great opportunity from one of our partners. Check out the original post below for all the details! 👇

𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦: 𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘! 🚀

As of October 1st, eligible small businesses in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming Counties can apply for the Regional Investment for Small Enterprise (RISE) Microgrant Program.

RISE microgrants are designed to help small businesses:
✨ Grow their business
✨ Strengthen operations
✨ Make strategic investments

Eligible applicants may receive 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 $𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 for qualifying, reimbursable business expenses.

📅 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝘀𝘁–𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

If you're a small business owner in the Northern Tier looking for support to take your business to the next step, RISE may be a great opportunity for you!

Funding is limited, so don’t wait to explore whether the RISE Grant Program could help your business take its next step!💰

📋 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
https://northerntier.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/RISE-Flyer-09.30.2026.pdf

📝 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://northerntier.org/rise-application/

Questions❓: Contact Cynthia Traore, Business Development Administrator at [email protected].

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘋𝘉𝘈 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘈 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

🌱 Helping Northern Tier Businesses RISE & Grow. 🌱

10/01/2026

Have an agriculture-related business idea, or looking for new ways to grow and diversify your farm?

Whether you’re just getting started, considering selling products online, or exploring agritourism, making informed decisions early can help you choose the right path forward.

The Ag Industry Partnership is offering three on-demand webinars to help:

🌱 “The First Step: Starting Your Pennsylvania Ag Business”
🛍️ “Selling Products Online: Setting Your Rural Business Up for Success”
🚜 “From Idea to Implementation: Making Agritourism Work for Your Farm”

Explore the planning, requirements, risks, and opportunities involved so you can determine your next steps with confidence.

Register & watch on your schedule at www.pasbdc.org/scranton-training-events.

These webinars were developed in partnership with Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission through the Ag Industry Partnership.

09/26/2026

Another new business to celebrate in ! 🐾✂️

I joined Serenity Pet Spa for a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new business and their participation in the University of Scranton's Small Business Development Center.

Congratulations and thank you for choosing Scranton to call home!

09/24/2026

Congrats to Serenity Pet Spa on their Grand Opening today!

09/22/2026

Severe weather, power outages, cyberattacks, equipment failures, or supply chain issues can disrupt your business with little warning. While you can’t prevent every problem, having a plan can help you respond and recover more quickly.

September is National Preparedness Month, making it a timely opportunity to make sure your business is ready for the unexpected.

Check out our latest blog post for four steps to get started: www.scrantonsbdc.com/ready-for-anything-small-business-continuity-tips

09/16/2026

Thinking about selling your products or services beyond the U.S.? Exporting can open the door to new customers and new opportunities, but knowing where to start is key.

Join the Pennsylvania SBDC for this no-cost webinar and learn the fundamentals of exporting, including how to determine if your business is export-ready, identify promising international markets, navigate the export process, and connect with resources that can help you succeed globally. Whether you're exploring international sales for the first time or ready to take the next step, you'll leave with practical guidance you can put into action.

📅 Thursday, September 24
🕘 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
📍Zoom Webinar

Register here: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33721

09/15/2026

You have a business idea. But how do you know if it will really work before investing significant time, money, and energy into it?

Join The University of Scranton SBDC for “How to Know if Your Business Idea Will Really Work”, a one-hour session designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs take a closer look at their ideas and determine whether they’re worth pursuing.

You’ll learn how to assess your resources, research industry regulations, define your target market, identify your competitive advantage, understand the importance of a business plan, and more.

📅 Wednesday, September 23 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
📍 Attend in person at The University of Scranton
💻 Or join online via Zoom

Learn more and register at https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/33851.