Wilkes-Barre Connect

What Wilkes-Barre Connect does

Wilkes-Barre Connect is a free entrepreneurial and economic development program operated by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry, the economic development arm of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce). The program serves entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses across Northeastern Pennsylvania, particularly the Greater Wyoming Valley region, by connecting them with resources, service providers, facilities, and programming needed to start and grow. Core offerings include the Connect program itself, the THINK Center innovation facility, a Chamber internship program with a dedicated Entrepreneurial & Economic Development track, and over 50 annual signature events including the Change Maker Conference, ATHENA Panel, STARS of the Valley Awards, and LEAD. The program also partners on workforce development through Luzerne Learns to Work and the National Civics Bee.

The underlying infrastructure is the Chamber itself: a member-driven nonprofit organization tracing institutional continuity to 1884, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by President & CEO Lindsay Griffin-Boylan. Wilkes-Barre Connect does not operate a proprietary technology platform; it is a coordination and convening function that leverages the Chamber's network, brand, physical facilities, and event calendar. Strategic partnerships anchor the program, including Luzerne County Community College, Wilkes University, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership (Chamber Foundation), and the ABC (academic, business, community) coalition.

The business model is a nonprofit membership and contribution model. All Connect services are provided free of charge to users. Revenue flows into the Chamber through member dues, event sponsorships, and charitable contributions, with a dedicated philanthropic arm in the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership. Distribution is direct via Chamber staff at the Wilkes-Barre headquarters, the THINK Center facility, and 50+ annual events serving the regional business community. Headcount is lean at 1-10 dedicated staff, operating as part of the broader Chamber professional team.

Name

Wilkes-Barre Connect

Legal name

Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://wyomingvalleychamber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilkes-Barre Connect is a free entrepreneurial and economic development program operated by the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, serving entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses in Northeastern Pennsylvania by connecting them with resources, facilities, and a regional partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Economic development
• Business assistance
• Entrepreneurship support
• Chamber services
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilkes Barre

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Free Entrepreneurial Services: Wilkes-Barre Connect provides free services to entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses. The program is funded through Chamber membership dues, sponsorships, and the Chamber Foundation's fundraising efforts including the annual Pledge Campaign. Revenue comes from membership fees, event sponsorships, and charitable contributions rather than direct service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wilkes-Barre Connect is a free entrepreneurial and economic development program of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. It helps businesses start and grow by providing guidance, resources, and support services to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The program was launched in 2015 under the umbrella of the Chamber, which has operated since 1884.

Product overview

Wilkes-Barre Connect is a free entrepreneurial and economic development program operated by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry as part of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. The core Wilkes-Barre Connect Program serves entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses across Northeastern Pennsylvania, connecting them with resources and facilities needed to grow. The portfolio includes the THINK Center facility, the Chamber Internship Program (with a dedicated Entrepreneurial & Economic Development track working directly with Wilkes-Barre Connect), and over fifty annual signature events and programs including the Change Maker Conference, STARS of the Valley Awards, ATHENA Panel, and LEAD. The organization also partners on community initiatives like the National Civics Bee. All services are provided free of charge to support the regional business community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wilkes-Barre Connect Entrepreneurial Program Free program that helps businesses start and grow in Northeastern Pennsylvania, providing entrepreneurial and economic development support under the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 50+ annual educational, networking, and professional development events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership (Chamber Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Chamber Foundation, known as the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership, works in conjunction with the Chamber to connect the community, build economic innovation, and elevate quality of life in the Greater Wyoming Valley through funded projects.
• Luzerne County Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuzerne County Community College is represented on the Chamber's Board of Directors and is a key academic partner in the Chamber's coalition of ABC (academic, business, and community) leaders working to incubate innovation and economic development in the region.
• Wilkes UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilkes University is represented on multiple Chamber boards and serves as an academic partner providing educational resources, student talent, and research capabilities to support regional economic development initiatives.
• Academic, Business, and Community Leaders (ABC Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilkes-Barre Connect leverages a coalition of academic, business, and community leaders to incubate innovation around entrepreneurial, economic, and community development in the Greater Wyoming Valley region.
• Luzerne Learns to WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuzerne Learns to Work is a workforce development initiative that assists businesses in offering work-based learning experiences to Luzerne County high school students. The Chamber partners with this program to support workforce readiness.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: SCORE is a national nonprofit that provides free mentoring, resources, and education to small business owners and entrepreneurs, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is the closest direct peer to Wilkes-Barre Connect in terms of free service model, target customer (early-stage entrepreneurs), and resource-matching offering.
• Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): The Pennsylvania SBDC network provides free, confidential business advising and education to entrepreneurs across the state. It competes directly with Connect for the same regional entrepreneur audience with overlapping free services including business planning, resource connection, and workshop programming.
• Main Street America: Main Street America is a national movement supporting economic development in traditional downtowns and neighborhoods through community-based revitalization programs. It is comparable to Connect in its focus on small business and community-based economic development support, though with a more place-based framework.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is the national chamber ecosystem that the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber affiliates with, including through partnerships like the National Civics Bee. It is a broad incumbent operating at the national level with overlapping programs in workforce development, education, and small business support.
• Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce: A large regional chamber serving the Philadelphia market with extensive economic development, workforce, and entrepreneurship programming. It is a broad incumbent operating at much larger scale than Connect but offering comparable member services, advocacy, and business support functions.

Regional players

• Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania: A regional economic development organization serving Northeastern Pennsylvania that supports business attraction, expansion, and entrepreneurship. It is a regional peer in the same geographic catchment as Connect with overlapping economic development and business support functions.
• Lancaster Chamber of Commerce: A regional chamber of commerce in Pennsylvania providing member services, advocacy, and economic development programming. It is comparable as a similarly-sized Pennsylvania chamber serving entrepreneurs and small businesses, though serving a different geographic region.

Others

• Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Ben Franklin Technology Partners is a state-funded economic development organization that has provided capital and incubation support to tech and manufacturing startups in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including a documented $5,000 investment in Wilkes-Barre Connect. It is a key funding and ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wbchamber
• Facebookfacebook.com/wbconnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gwvchamber
• Instagraminstagram.com/gwvchamber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Wilkes-Barre Connect