news & events

The aroma of hot coffee, toasted bagels and fresh desserts once again greeted early morning customers at the former Donut Connection along Cedar Street in Hazleton on Monday thanks to a months-long collaboration between Immanuel Christian School, the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq., and longtime city staple Frankie’s Pizzeria. The soft opening of Leo’s Little Kitchen, named for Immanuel Christian School mascot Leo the Lion, was the culmination of a dedicated effort by a group of the high school’s juniors and seniors that began in September. Under the guidance of Hazleton LaunchBox Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator William Andahazy, students...

Charlee Murdock, a veteran, Hazleton area community member, and single mother of three, has taken her experience in the beauty field and added a philanthropic twist to create her startup: Project Headway LLC. Project Headway is a salon located in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, that offers low-cost haircuts to people in need. Murdock’s life experiences inspired her to lend a helping hand. “During COVID, I realized that there were going to be a lot of people who were going to be looking for jobs, a lot of people in need,” Murdock said. “I’ve struggled a lot in my life, and I thought...

A conference designed to arm small businesses with the knowledge to defend themselves against potential cyberattacks will be held at Penn State Hazleton on Wednesday, Nov. 15. It is free and open to the public. All attendees must register online. The Cybersecurity for Small Business Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Slusser/Bayzick Building. Participants can choose whether to attend in person at Penn State Hazleton, watch from the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq. in downtown Hazleton, or view the conference remotely via Zoom. Those who register to view via Zoom will receive...

HAZLETON, Pa. - A group from the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq. and Penn State Hazleton visited businesses in McAdoo, Schuylkill County, during a recent "Walk the Block." Penn State Hazleton Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Elizabeth J. Wright, Penn State Hazleton Director of Enrollment Management Aaron Mattern, Hazleton LaunchBox Entrepreneurship Facilitator Fermin Diaz and Hazleton LaunchBox Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator William Andahazy visited Maria's Restaurant, Golden Unicorn Comics, Kennedy Multiservice, Bresky's Candy and Cake Supply, iMoJ Pool and Spa Supply and Fashion's Hair Studio to get to know the needs and concerns of the business owners. Another...

  High school students can learn how to develop a business or product idea while earning a chance at a $1,000 top prize this summer through the Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge hosted by the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq. Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, the Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge will run from July 19 to Aug. 9 with a pitch competition on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Classes will meet on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon via Zoom. (Zoom information will be provided to participants following registration.) The program is designed to teach students key strategies for launching...