Morning Call reporter Sam Kennedy's Monday story on reduced state funding to the Ben Franklin Technology Partners was spot-on in describing the devastating effects of these huge cuts on promising local companies. With more than 40 years' experience in venture capital, and as a founding board member and current board chairman of Ben Franklin, I am deeply concerned about the effects of these cuts on our region's economy.
Funding and supporting entrepreneurs and established manufacturers is not a business that is easily mastered. Over the past 28 years, the staff of Ben Franklin has developed its knowledge base and experience, along with its relationships and network, to be one of the world's best at developing companies that build a regional economy. Reducing the budget of Ben Franklin is squandering one of Pennsylvania's most valuable assets, crippling a well-oiled economic development machine that is the envy of the world.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Morning Call - Investing in Ben Franklin programs now pays off in future
