Chester County Economic Development Council

A Panel of Visionary CEOs
2025-03-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | West Chester University Asplundh Theater, 700 S. High Street, West Chester, PA, 19383
For the first time, four of Chester County’s most prominent organizations are jointly hosting a milestone gathering of industry leaders to pinpoint the pivotal issues shaping Southeastern Pennsylvania’s economy and future.

An esteemed panel of CEOs from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) CTDI, Vanguard and Wawa will be presented by the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (CCCBI), Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) and West Chester University.
“Executive Insights: A Panel of Visionary CEOs” will take place at West Chester University’s Asplundh Theatre on Friday, March 14, 2025 bringing together business leaders, policymakers, educators, and community stakeholders.
The event will feature 6ABC’s Tamala Edwards as the moderator, leading a dynamic discussion on criticalissues including economic growth, workforce development, sustainability, education, transportation, and corporate responsibility.

“This event exemplifies the power of collaboration in Chester County,” said Laura Manion, President of CCCBI. “Uniting these four organizations alongside such an outstanding panel of high-caliber CEOs highlights our collective dedication to advancing economic growth, sparking innovation, and equipping our workforce to meet the opportunities and demands of the future.”

“CCEDC is proud to be part of the partnership that is bringing this important conversation to our business community, and we are honored to feature influential CEOs from four of our region’s most recognizable and global companies,” said Mike Grigalonis, President and COO of CCEDC. “It promises to be a thoughtful dialogue that will provide businesses, educators and policymakers from across the region with important perspectives as we plan for 2025 and beyond.”

Key issues covered of include:

Economic Growth and Regional Impact – Insights into how these organizations are shaping the region’s economy through innovation and strategic leadership.

Workforce Development – Strategies for addressing workforce challenges and fostering talent pipelines.

Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility – How businesses are integrating sustainability and community impact into their operations.

Education and Transportation – The role of partnerships with educational institutions and transportation infrastructure in supporting business and community growth.

“We anticipate welcoming over 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs, economic development professionals, educators and local government representatives to join us for this impactful conversation,” said Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, President of West Chester University. “It’s an honor to provide a space where these vital discussions can take place and drive meaningful progress for our region.”

Women in Agriculture
2025-03-19 17:00 - 19:30 | Good Girls Bakery, 565 Wellington Square, Exton, PA, 19341
Spend an evening networking with industry professionals, learning about financial support initiatives and business resources.
Come and enjoy local refreshments and enjoy the company of fellow women ag professionals. We will hear from several guest speakers related to financing/funding options, and how to best utilize existing resources.
AGENDA

Braiding Available Workforce Funds to Maximize Support – Stephanie Smith, Chester County Workforce Development Manager

Tips for Managing Cash Crunches in Tight Times – Jodi Gauker, PSU Extension Educator

Farm Service Agency Programming – Victoria Behm, County Executive Director

GBA: Business Immigration Basics and Trends
2025-03-20 08:30 - 10:00 | Fox Rothschild, 747 Constitution Drive, Exton, PA, 19335
Navigating Immigration Challenges: Professional Roundtable for Businesses
Immigration issues are affecting businesses of all sizes and industries, creating challenges in workforce planning, compliance, and growth. Pennsylvania Global Business Advisors (GBA) is excited to present this roundtable session led by Fox Rothschild’s Sam Finkel and Mark Harley that will help cut through the complexity and provide actionable insights on key immigration issues.
Topics discussed:

Recruiting talented foreign workers and navigating complex immigration laws
Ensure hiring and employment practices comply with immigration laws
Supporting international professionals seeking employment in areas of IT, education, manufacturing, medicine, research, pharmaceuticals, architecture, finance, sports, music, human resources and more
Helping multinational firms with intra-company transfer of executives, managers and specialized knowledge employees

Join us for an insightful event on business immigration basics and trends. Learn about the latest updates and key information to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of business immigration. Network with professionals in the field and gain valuable insights to enhance your knowledge and skills. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your understanding of business immigration!
Note: Current GBA board members and supporters, as well as CCEDC investors, may attend at no cost. Advance registration required by COB, March 18.

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About GBA: Pennsylvania Global Business Advisors (GBA) is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council. It is a world-class, private sector, B2B advisory board for regional and international companies looking to expand imports, exports, foreign direct investment and international partnerships.

The Road to LionCage - Women Founders
2025-03-26 17:00 - 21:00 | Penn State Brandywine, 25 Yearsley Mill Rd, Media, PA, 19063
Road to LionCage is a series of six small, intimate pitch competitions that lead to the LionCage Pitch Competition in the fall of 2025. The March 26 session is focused on Women Founders only.
Details:

The program will kick-off with a dynamic and informative panel discussion featuring women entrepreneurs and moderated by Jaclyn Gallo of Spark Your Light Studios and including Penn State Alum Julianne Gardner of Bottimals, Susan Springsteen of H20 Connected, and Yasmin George of Trend Lab.
5 to 7 women entrepreneurs will pitch their idea, product or service. Each will have five minutes to pitch followed by three minutes of Q&A with a panel of judges.
Two winners will be selected. Prizes: $500 to first place and $250 to second place. PLUS, the first place winner will automatically qualify for the main LionCage Pitch Competition on November 14 where participants compete for thousands of dollars in prize money.

March 26 Agenda:
5:00 p.m. Registration
5:30 p.m. Opening Remarks
5:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
6:30 p.m. Pitch Presentations
8:00 p.m. Winners Announced and Reception
Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend, cheer on their favorite entrepreneur, listen to an inspiring panel discussion on what it takes to be a women entrepreneur and female founder, and make new connections with business and community leaders.
There is no cost to pitch or attend. Advance registration required.

Apply to pitch:
CLICK HERE for more details and an application. Applications due no later than March 9. Note: This link is for applications only.
Attend the event:
Click on the registration button. Remember, there is no cost to attend but advance registration is required.
About LionCage:
Now in its second year, LionCage is presented by Invent Penn State and the LaunchBoxes at Penn State Brandywine and Great Valley, and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) to support entrepreneurs and innovators across all of southeastern Pennsylvania.
Click here to visit the LionCage website for more details and a recap of the 2024 event.
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About i2n: The Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council. Our mission is to make southeastern Pennsylvania the best possible place for early-stage and technology-driven companies to start, grow, and thrive.

i2n Scaling For Growth - Funding Options
2025-03-28 08:00 - 10:30 | FLEX at Chesterbrook, The Circuit - 851 Durportail Rd., Chesterbrook, PA, 19087
i2n’s Scaling For Growth is an education series that helps prepare emerging companies, small business and entrepreneurs by offering timely topics and tools from expert presenters. This series intended for businesses, startups, entrepreneurs and those thinking about launching their idea into action – and growth.

Friday, March 28: Funding Options: Grants, Tax Credits & More

For entrepreneurs and small businesses, access to capital is key to fueling growth. This session will help us understand various funding options — tax credits and grants – and how to navigate the qualification and application processes. From Keystone Innovation Zones, R&D, Film, Video Game Development, Neighborhood Assistance, and more, to explaining “sellable” tax credits, and grant programs at the state and federal level – you’ll learn if your organization may qualify, and a roadmap to apply.
Led by experts from MVM Associates, a national leader in securing and managing a variety of grants and tax credits for companies throughout the United States and headquartered in Pennsylvania, this team has more than 25 years of experience, and has processed over $250 million in transfer applications for hundreds of companies across industries.

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About i2n: The Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council. Our mission is to make southeastern Pennsylvania the best possible place for early-stage and technology-driven companies to start, grow, and thrive.

2025 "What's So Cool About Manufacturing?" Video Contest Awards Ceremony
2025-04-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Penn State Great Valley, 30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern, 19355, United States
Join us as we celebrate the amazing videos created by the brilliant students, devoted teachers, and talented manufacturers who participated in this year’s exciting competition.
Who is invited? Manufacturers, school administrators, teachers, students, and their families!
How will we celebrate? An engaging Manufacturer Expo, a delicious treat, the presentation of awards, and exciting raffle prizes!
What is the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Video Contest? This contest seeks to educate and excite students, parents, and teachers about careers in manufacturing and to change the perception of what those careers look like for today’s tech-savvy youth.
Registration is required. Reserve your FREE ticket today! We cannot wait to celebrate!
The Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties (MACC/DC)is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), in partnership with Delaware County Community College. MACC/DC is funded in part by the private sector with grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through the Chester County Workforce Development Board (WDB).

Coatesville Community Health & Wellness Fair
2025-04-13 12:00 - 16:00 | Coatesville Area Senior High School, 1445 Lincoln Hwy E, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 19320, United States
Join Us for a Healthier Tomorrow!
This April, we’re coming together to build a stronger, healthier community. Whether you’re looking to improve your wellness, meet new people, or learn about local resources – this community event is the perfect place for you!
What to Expect:

Health screenings & tips
Fun fitness activities
Local wellness vendors & experts
Free giveaways & more!

Mark your calendar and bring your friends and family for a day dedicated to health, connection, and well-being. Let’s grow stronger together!
