Sykesville-based Symmco Foundation, which supports a wide range of organizations, activities and events, recently pledged $50,000 to create the Symmco Foundation LaunchBox Endowment at Penn State DuBois.
Penn State matched the pledge through a matching gifts program, providing $100,000 to support the North Central Pennsylvania (NCPA) LaunchBox and its Idea Lab.
“The Symmco Foundation, through its sponsoring organization Symmco Inc., recognizes the importance of the DuBois campus of Penn State, a major research institution, in our community and has provided support through the years, including the Symmco House, the Symmco Open Doors Scholarship and support with engineering technology, just to name a few examples,” John Bean, Symmco Foundation co-trustee and Symmco Group chairman, said. “The LaunchBox is the next logical extension of this support. In essence, it’s a launching platform for ideas that will grow to provide jobs and economic benefit to the community, as does the presence of the Penn State DuBois campus.”
The LaunchBox supports manufacturing competitiveness and workforce needs.
The Idea Lab offers students, faculty, staff and members of the community the opportunity to use 3D printers and a commercial vinyl printer.
The endowment will assist NCPA LaunchBox to educate local entrepreneurs, provide seed grant opportunities and help purchase equipment.