Carbondale Technology Transfer Center

What Carbondale Technology Transfer Center does

The Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business incubator founded in June 1996 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, operating as the only standalone nonprofit incubator in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The organization provides affordable workspace, shared specialized equipment, technical assistance, and guided access to financing for early-stage businesses across three primary verticals: food production (Kitchen Incubator, established 2008 with USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant funding), light manufacturing (Light Industry Center), and electronics prototyping (SMT Prototyping Lab, established December 2015). The facility spans over 30,000 square feet at 10 Enterprise Drive within the Carbondale Industrial Yard and includes separate zones for office users, industrial bays with 18'9" ceilings and 5,000-lb scissors lift capacity, a 3,200-square-foot licensed commercial kitchen, and a 500-square-foot electronics makerspace equipped with DDM Novastar surface-mount technology (LS60V Pick and Place, SPR-45VA Stencil Printer, GF-B-HT Reflow Oven) and a Stratasys F170 3D printer.

CTTC monetizes its facilities through a mix of recurring rental subscriptions and usage-based equipment fees. Light industry space is priced at $6.85 per square foot annually with flexible terms and no long-term lease requirement; small offices start at $125 per month including shared amenities (conference rooms, copier, fax, Wi-Fi); kitchen incubator access requires a $25 application fee plus Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture registration ($35/year) and ServSafe certification ($155 + $20); and electronics makerspace equipment is rented on a time/usage basis. The Kitchen Incubator alone houses 15 approved tenants plus one graduate company. CTTC also operates the Entrepreneurship Academy, an educational program for high school students across three school districts (Carbondale Area, Forest City Regional, Western Wayne), funded through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and corporate sponsors including PPL Corporation and NEP Telephone.

The go-to-market model is community-led and partnership-driven, with no direct sales force or resellers. Customer acquisition flows through referrals from the University of Scranton SBDC, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, NEPA Alliance, NEPIRC, and MetroAction, supplemented by participation in community events such as the Carbondale Farmers Market. Since 1996, CTTC reports supporting over 50 companies and creating well over 100 jobs, with notable graduate-tenant outcomes including Iron Hart Brewing Company's expansion to a physical restaurant and Fit AF Nutrition's receipt of the SBA Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year award in 2022. Executive Director Paul Browne leads the organization, which is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors drawn from public and private sectors, with operating revenues not publicly disclosed.

Name

Carbondale Technology Transfer Center

Legal name

Carbondale Technology Transfer Center

Website

https://4cttc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CTTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business incubator in Carbondale, PA, providing shared commercial kitchen, light industrial, and electronics prototyping facilities to startups and food entrepreneurs across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Business incubation services
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Electronics prototyping lab
• Light industrial workspace
• Entrepreneurship education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carbondale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Facility Rental - Light Industry Space: Rental of light industrial workspace at $6.85 per square foot per year, providing flexible terms without long-term lease requirements. Includes access to overhead door with scissors lift, conference rooms, and shared equipment.
2. Equipment Time Rental: Lease-a-facility model where tenants pay for time on specialized equipment including the electronics makerspace equipment (pick-and-place, stencil printer, reflow oven) and 3D printer. Suitable for entrepreneurs and businesses needing prototyping and small quantity production.
3. Kitchen Incubator Rental: Rental of commercial kitchen space for food entrepreneurs. Includes shared-use licensed kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment. Clients must complete application process, obtain required certifications (ServSafe), and pay rental fees.
4. Office Space Rental: Small office space rental starting at $125 per month including desk and phone service (phone service paid by tenant). Also includes access to conference rooms, computer with printer/scanner, color copier, fax, and internet with Wi-Fi.
5. Entrepreneurship Academy Fees: Educational program for high school students operated in partnership with school districts. Funded through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and corporate sponsors (PPL Corporation, NEP Telephone).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CTTC is a nonprofit business incubator that provides affordable rental workspace, specialized equipment, and business planning assistance to startup and early-stage companies. Its core offerings include a licensed commercial Kitchen Incubator, a Light Industry Center with overhead door access, an SMT Prototyping Lab with surface mount electronics equipment, and small office space, supplemented by guided access to financing and an Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students.

Product overview

The Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC) operates a multi-faceted business incubator offering five distinct facilities and programs. The core offerings include: a Kitchen Incubator (established 2008) for food entrepreneurs requiring licensed commercial kitchen space; a Light Industry Center (established 1996) providing adaptable industrial workspace for startups; an SMT Prototyping Lab (established 2015) offering electronics manufacturing equipment for circuit board prototyping; Office Assistance providing business services and workspace; and an Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students. The center spans over 30,000 square feet and serves technology-oriented, light industry, food production, and electronics companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kitchen Incubator A shared-use, licensed commercial kitchen established in 2008 for food entrepreneurs to produce and test specialty food products including candy, jams, sauces, baked goods, and more. Provides business planning assistance, marketing support, and access to licensed facilities with state-of-the-art equipment including 6-burner gas range, convection ovens, industrial mixers, freezers, and commercial dishwashing.
• Light Industry Center Adaptable industrial space with overhead and loading bay doors for startups and small manufacturers, featuring 18'9" ceiling height, concrete floors, and access to a scissors lift holding up to 5,000 pounds. Priced at $6.85 per square foot per year with no long-term lease requirement.
• SMT Prototyping Lab A 500-square-foot electronics makerspace featuring DDM Novastar equipment including an LS60V Pick and Place Machine, SPR-45VA Stencil Printer, and GF-B-HT Reflow Oven for surface mount technology prototyping and small-scale electronic circuit board manufacturing. Also includes a Stratasys F170 3D Printer and a workspace with microscope and soldering station.
• Office Assistance Business and marketing planning assistance, access to office and conference space, computer with printer and scanner, color copier, fax machine, internet with Wi-Fi, and small offices starting at $125 per month. Includes access to conference rooms and shared office equipment for tenant companies.
• Entrepreneurship Academy An educational program for high school students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) in Carbondale Area, Forest City Regional, and Western Wayne School Districts that teaches entrepreneurship concepts including leadership, marketing, business practices, and independent thinking through classroom instruction and hands-on projects with local businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 companies supported since 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExisting agreement with SBDC supports provision of business assistance services including business plans, market studies, and loan proposals. SBDC holds general business-related classes and specialty classes at CTTC facility. SBDC nominated CTTC tenant for SBA award.
• Ben Franklin Technology PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology development organization providing support for high-tech businesses. CTTC maintains linkages to Ben Franklin Program and participates in Ben Franklin Incubator Network. Presenters in Entrepreneurship Academy program.
• NEPA Alliance (NorthEast Pennsylvania Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization. Representatives present in Entrepreneurship Academy sessions. Partner resource for connecting entrepreneurs with CTTC services.
• NEPIRC (Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance provider for companies working with various technology applications. CTTC maintains linkages to NEPIRC for manufacturing and technology support.
• tecBRIDGEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional organization supporting entrepreneurship. Featured CTTC Entrepreneurship Academy student on tecBRIDGE Radio for winning High School Business Plan Competition.
• Golden Owl ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business consulting firm. Partner in Entrepreneurship Academy program with presenters sharing expertise with students.
• Lackawanna College (Venture Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Lackawanna College's Venture Lab and Hospitality program for Summer Pop-Up Restaurant Challenge. Assists food entrepreneurs in testing restaurant startup ideas using professional kitchen facilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania: PA-based economic development organization operating technology business incubation and investment programs. Directly comparable to CTTC as a regional PA incubator serving startups with shared resources, mentorship, and funding linkages — and currently one of CTTC's core referral partners.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based seed-stage investor and operator of AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear accelerators. Comparable to CTTC as a Pennsylvania-based tech/light-industry incubator providing workspace, mentorship, and capital pathways for early-stage companies.
• Lehigh Valley LaunchBox: Pennsylvania-based startup incubator and coworking program associated with Lehigh University and the Bethlehem entrepreneurial ecosystem. Operates a similar model of shared workspace, mentorship, and partner referrals for early-stage founders, making it a direct regional peer.
• NEPIRC: Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center providing technical assistance, lean manufacturing consulting, and growth support to regional manufacturers. Comparable to CTTC's light industry tenant services as a regional economic development partner, and a current CTTC referral partner.
• University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC): University-affiliated SBDC providing business planning, market research, and capital access support to small businesses in NEPA. Closely comparable to CTTC's business assistance mission and a current co-delivery partner with overlapping target customers.

Emerging players

• The Food Corridor: Software-enabled marketplace and booking platform for shared commercial kitchens. Overlaps directly with CTTC's Kitchen Incubator offering and represents an emerging virtual alternative to physical food-business incubation.
• MakeHaven: New Haven, CT-based community makerspace providing shared equipment, workshop space, and training. Comparable to CTTC's Electronics Makerspace / SMT Prototyping Lab and Light Industry Center as a shared-equipment, community-driven facility model.

Broad incumbents

• Kitchen United: Multi-location shared commercial kitchen and food business incubator operating across major US metros. Comparable to CTTC's Kitchen Incubator program but at significantly larger scale and with a for-profit, multi-site operating model.
• 1871: Chicago-based technology incubator and coworking hub serving hundreds of early-stage digital companies. A larger, broader incumbent operating an incubator model comparable to CTTC but in a major metro and with a tech-only focus.
• TechStars: Global startup accelerator operating mentorship-driven cohorts worldwide. Comparable to CTTC as a structured startup support program but operating at vastly greater scale, virtually, and without a physical light-industry / kitchen facility focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CdaleTTC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/72035997

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carbondale Technology Transfer Center