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Hazleton for the Holidays

The City of Hazleton, Hazleton Chamber, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress (DHAP), and CAN DO, Inc. are coming together to host ‘Hazleton for the Holidays’ – a series of festive events meant to kick-off the holiday season!

City of Hazleton's Christmas Village
Sunday, December 3, 10 and 17 from 4-7 p.m. at Memorial Park (corner of Diamond & Church)

We will have lighted huts with vendors, food & drinks, reindeer games, and photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Please find more details of this event: https://fb.me/e/a6zZgWz4Z.

30th Annual CAN DO Community Christmas
Wednesday, December 6 from 6-8 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church (210 W. Green St.)

The event features performances by music and choral students from our area's local schools, including the Hazleton Area High School Jazz Ensemble, McAdoo/Kelayres Elementary/Middle School Mustang Choir, Hazleton Area High School Crooners, Cellar Dwellarzz, and Heights-Terrace Third Grade Choir. A "surprise visitor" will join everyone at the end of the evening and refreshments will be available at the end of the performances.

The City of Hazleton’s Holiday Celebration
Wednesday, December 6 from 5-9 p.m. at City Hall Block (40 N. Church St.)

The Office of Mayor Jeff Cusat will host its annual tree lighting ceremony. The evening will feature a variety of entertainment for the whole family. The Hazleton Area Public Library (located directly across the street from City Hall) will have the Grinch on hand for photos and will offer grinchy snacks and punch from 5-8 p.m. in the library's Community Room (use the Green Street Entrance to access the Community Room).

Downtown Holiday Mixer
Thursday, December 7 from 5-7 p.m. at Hazleton Active Adult Center (24 E. Broad St.)

Chamber members, your employees, co-workers and guests are invited to attend our Annual Downtown Holiday Mixer! Share in the holiday spirit with the local business community! Spread cheer among old acquaintences and make some new ones! Click here to register: https://web.hazletonchamber.org/events/Downtown-Holiday-Mixer-8920/details

Chamber Women's Holiday Social
Thursday, December 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Hazleton Art League (31 West Broad Street, Hazleton)

All women throughout Greater Hazleton are invited to attend our Annual Women's Holiday Social!

Winners from our Annual Tree Decorating Contest will be announced! Click Here for an official registration form for the decorating contest

Ladies will enjoy an array of refreshments! The Art League will be offering an interactive scavenger hunt and a create your own Christmas ornament station! 50/50 and raffle prizes will benefit the Women's Empowerment Grant. Free to attend, but reservations are required!

Superior Night with Santa
Monday, December 11 from 5-8 p.m. at Superior Plaza (457 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazle Township)

Superior Recruiting warmly welcomes the community to an exclusive event, featuring a special guest. Join them and have a great time with your family. Treat your little elves to the ultimate holiday experience with Santa and his reindeer! Sip on hot cocoa, nibble on mini donuts and enjoy face painting and crafts with your kids. It's the perfect gift for the holidays. Are you seeking staffing services? You may be interested in visiting www.superior-ra.com.

UNICO's Buon Natale/Living Nativity
Sunday, December 17 from 3-6:30 p.m. at Memorial Park (corner of Church St. and Diamond Ave., Hazleton)

UNICO will host its Buon Natale/Living Nativity celebration. The event features the Christmas Village and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and includes a variety of activities, vendors and food and beverage offerings.

City of Hazleton's New Year's Eve Fireworks
Sunday, December 31 starting at 7 p.m. at City View Park (700 S. Poplar St.)

All are welcome to attend. It is the perfect time to reflect on the passing year and set intentions for the new year to come. Fireworks sponsored by DeAngelo Pest Control, DERMDOX and Partner Rentals.

Sign up for The Innov8 48 Challenge

Dates

Friday, November 5, 2021 through Sunday, November 7, 2021

Overview

The Innov8 48 Challenge is a weekend collegiate competition focused on innovation, entrepreneurship education and the task of creating a sustainable business idea over the course of 48 hours or less. Teams will attend an Idea Generation, Customer Discovery, and Lean Business Canvas session on Friday evening. The teams will then compete and collaborate on a business idea of their choice, and build out the framework for a sustainable idea through the course of the weekend. The culminating event on Sunday will have two parts: First, the teams will enter an elevator on the ground floor of the Markle Building and must pitch to judges on their ride up to Suite 1100. After the elevator pitch piece of the competition, the teams will then compete in a pitch deck competition to another set of judges. Winners of the Elevator Pitch and the Pitch Deck Presentation will be announced and cash prizes will be awarded.

Teams

Teams must consist of 1-4 college students who are currently registered at one of the following NEPA colleges/universities: Penn State University (Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, Schuylkill, or Scranton campuses), Luzerne County Community College, Lackawanna College, Johnson College, Wilkes University, University of Scranton, Kings College, Bloomsburg University, East Stroudsburg University, Misericordia University or Marywood University.

Business Stage Eligibility

Teams must not be a registered business entity, and must be pre-revenue earning. Teams do not have to have an idea to participate since part of the weekend will focus on idea generation. However, teams may enter the challenge with an early state “idea” if they have one they would like to work on.

Brief weekend overview

The HQ for the competition will be the Hazleton LaunchBox on 13 W. Broad St. Hazleton. Teams will register and participate in a competition overview meeting and an Idea Generation/Customer Discovery/Business Model Canvas workshop. The teams are then excused to work on their projects. On Saturday, a team of advisors will be on hand both in-person and virtually to work with the teams on their projects and pitch deck preparation, if needed. On Sunday, the teams will finish up their projects and begin the first of two competitions for the day.

Advisors

These will be both academic and corporate advisors on hand on Saturday, November 6, at the LaunchBox and virtually, to assist student teams with parts of their projects, such as (but not limited to) Marketing, Legal Structure, Finance, Technical Aspects, Customer Discovery, Sales Forecasting, and Distribution.

Judges

The judges may consist of lawyers, bankers, accountants, entrepreneurs and other successful and knowledgeable business leaders. Judges will not be affiliated with, or involved in the preparation or funding of, any participating team. The overall selection of winners is based on the viability and likely success of the business.

Judging Criteria

Teams will be judged based upon their overall ability to present their business model. Criteria will include team presentation skills, company overview, description of product/service, identified target customer, target market, sales strategy and revenue models. The decision of the judging panel will be final and will not be subject to appeal.

Prizes

There will be two prizes awarded:

1. Elevator Pitch Contest: The team judged to have the best elevator pitch will receive $1,000

2. Pitch Deck Competition: The team judged to have the best pitch deck presentation will be awarded $2500

Any team is eligible for one or both of the awards. Prize monies will be available through our sponsoring organizations.

Food & Beverage

Meals will be served at the Friday event, a continental breakfast available on Saturday, and refreshments will be served at the awards ceremony on Sunday. Food stations/snacks, served by local food establishments and food startups will be available throughout the weekend (see attached schedule of events - all times are still in draft form). Food and beverages for the participants and volunteers will be served at the Hub Welcome Center in the front of the LaunchBox at 15 W. Broad St., Hazleton.

Note to College/University Academic Administrators & Faculty

This is a voluntary event for student participants. To encourage weekend participation, please consider incorporating this event into an extra credit or reflection piece of your curriculum, although that is not required. We do encourage you to promote this event as an opportunity to develop business skills to be used in any career path.

Learning Outcomes for this program

By participating in this challenge, the student will:

• Begin to develop an entrepreneurial mindset

• Learn the basics of developing an idea pivoting that idea into a sustainable business

• Be able to effectively communicate an idea to their professional network

• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Administrators of Innov8 48

Dr. Bill Andahazy, Penn State Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator, Hazleton LaunchBox,

Jocelyn Sterenchock, Director of Economic Development, Hazleton CAN DO, CAN BE Innovation Center,

 

Entrepreneurship in Greater Hazleton

The mission of the Hazleton Innovation Collaborative is to leverage the academic and research resources of Penn State and its community partners to nurture the growth of entrepreneurship in the Greater Hazleton Area, and foster an entrepreneurial culture that will result in economic development, job creation, income growth, improved quality of life and student career success.

CAN BE, Inc. partners with several organizations to promote entrepreneurship and technological growth. These partners play a vital role in the daily operations of CAN BE, financially and through other support channels.

Wilkes University, through its Small Business Development Center, provides no-cost, confidential business consulting, training and education supported by strategic relationships and specialized programs through a team of experienced professional consultants dedicated and motivated to strengthen, enhance and empower the small business community.

The Hazleton LaunchBox, located at 13 W. Broad St. in Hazleton, is a no-cost startup accelerator and co-working space designed to provide early-stage startup companies with the support and resources needed to build a sustainable business and a viable plan for growth. It is open to community members and those affiliated with Penn State. 

The primary mission of the CAN BE (Community Association for New Business Entrepreneurship) Innovation Center is to foster entrepreneurship and new venture development in the Hazleton area, leading to business expansion and diversity. If you are launching a new business, expanding a small home-based business or creating a spin-off venture from an existing business, CAN BE can help.