The Harrisburg Market Keystone Innovation Zone is an initiative of the Capital Region Economic Development Corp. to encourage the commercialization of R & D currently occurring at colleges and universities in the Harrisburg region, as well as enhance entrepreneurial activity and create career opportunities for young professionals.

Eligible technology startup companies that locate in a KIZ designated building can receive up to $100,000 in PA tax credits annually in addition to a host of other services from KIZ partner organizations. $10,000 seed assistance grants are available to faculty of member academic institutions for summer research projects, more information on www.InnovationTransferNetwork.org.

The Harrisburg Market KIZ annually hosts an innovative job and internship fair called Experience Harrisburg in a number of downtown restaurants as well as College Venture Challenge, a collegiate business plan competition. This past year the KIZ facilitated over $500,000 in PA tax credits to startup companies located in the zone.

For more details about the KIZ go to www.KIZtoolbox.com

Harrisburg Market KIZ Education Partners:

Central Pennsylvania College
Dickinson College
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Messiah College
Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State Milton S. Hershey College of Medicine
Shippensburg University

Incubation & Entrepreneurial Assistance Partners:

Ben Franklin Technology Partners
HACC's Entrepreneurial Development Center
Kutztown Small Business Development Center
Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA
Murata Business Center
Penn Venture Partners
Pennsylvania Angel Network
PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development
Technology Council of Central PA
Venture Investment Forum

If you would like to receive the Harrisburg Market Keystone Innovation Zone monthly newsletter you can register your email here: http://www.vqcdesigns.net/ezmail/box.php?nl=26&mlt=no

In Country Home's Top 25 of the Best Green Places in 2007
Harrisburg named among Relocate-America's "100 Top Places to Live" for 2007
Harrisburg ranked in the Top 5 Best Cities for Retirees by Kiplinger's Magazine (2007)
Harrisburg-Carlisle was ranked 200 in the list of Top Overall Cities by "Boomtowns 2007," Inc. Magazine up from 237th in 2006
The Greater Harrisburg area has been recognized as one of "The 100 Best Communities for Young People" by America's Promise Alliance for mentoring and educational programs created by the Camp Curtain YMCA Black Achievers Program ( USA Today, 2007)
ESPN.com ranked an American Hockey League game in Hershey, PA as one of the Top 10 "Ultimate Hockey Experiences in North America" (October 2006)
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine rated Harrisburg 12th on the Top 50 Smart Places to Live (June 2006)
Salary.com placed Harrisburg in the number 6 spot of the Top 10 Salary Value Index, which accounted for building personal net worth, local salaries, cost of living and unemployment
Entrepreneur.com rated Harrisburg the 15th Best Midsize City in the East for Entrepreneurs (2006)
Boomtown's '06 Hottest Midsize Cities ranked Harrisburg at #15 for Most Balanced Economy and Growth (2006, Inc.com)
Forbes.com reported Harrisburg as #21 in large cities with the lowest Crime Rate (2006)
Harrisburg received the rank of being the 4th most "Profitable City for employees", out of 180 cities across the nation by Salary.com (April 2005)
The 2004 Mayor's Challenge%u2122 placed the Harrisburg MSA at #10 for Best Cities
ApartmentRatings.com rated Harrisburg region at #18 for affordability in the Renter's Livability and Satisfaction Survey (2005)
Inc. Magazine rated the Harrisburg MSA in the top 100 Best Places to do Business overall (2005)
KPMG's 2005 Study designated Harrisburg as the 10th Most Competitive Mid-Sized City for Locating Your Business (2005)
Harrisburg is the 47th Most Unwired City in America- Intel Corporations's Top 100 Unwired Cities in the USA (June 2005)
Harrisburg was ranked 4th in Salary Value Index published by Salary.com for the largest metro area category (2005)
Employee Relocation Council and Primary Relocation rated Harrisburg as the 29th Best City for relocating families (2005 CareerJournal.com)
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/ College of Medicine conducted $100.8 million in research & development in 2005, nearly double the total from just five years ago
Harrisburg placed 1st (tied) as Least Stressful Place to Live in the Nation- Sperling's BestPlaces.net (2004) Harrisburg was also rated as having the 7th least crime for a large city
ThomasNet Inc. magazine ranked harrisburg 18th out of Top 35 medium cities for business (2004)
Harrisburg is the 68th best city to hook up in, according to Unilever's "Best City for the Dating Game" (2004)
Harrisburg is the 27th Funniest metro region in America- Hallmark shoebox Division (July 2004
ExpansionManagement.com placed Harrisburg at #8 on the Top Logistics Metros in the Northeast (2003)
Harrisburg placed in the Top Climbers: Fastest Growing Cities for Wiring- Yahoo Internet Life (May 2002)
Ranked 7th "Top Ten Midsize Cities Creativity Ranking" from The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida (2002)