Clarion County Economic Development Corporation

What Clarion County Economic Development Corporation does

Clarion County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is a non-profit economic development corporation headquartered at 162 S. 2nd Ave. Suite B in Clarion, Pennsylvania, serving Clarion County and the broader Northwest Pennsylvania region. The organization operates with a lean staff of approximately 6-7 employees, including an Executive Director, Tourism Director, Executive Assistant, Brand & Marketing Manager, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, and Community Development Manager. It is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from local healthcare, banking, education, utility, and small business leadership, with a County Commissioner among its members.

CCEDC's core service portfolio centers on six programs: Business Retention and Attraction, an Entrepreneur Hub, Grant Services and Business Financing, Advocacy, Tourism (via the "Discover Clarion County" sub-brand), and Workforce Development. Operationally, it does not deliver a technology product; instead, it provides consultative services, convenes stakeholders, administers grant programs, and curates regional data for site selectors and entrepreneurs. Notable recently launched programs include the $100,000 Regional Façade Improvement Program covering four to five Clarion County communities (with dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 funded in part by the McElhattan Foundation) and the tourism development function built out since November 2023.

The organization's revenue model is membership- and grant-based rather than commercial. It sustains operations through an investor member program with 23+ member organizations, foundation grants (e.g., McElhattan Foundation), and likely pass-through public funding for grant administration. GTM is community-led: direct engagement with local businesses, site selectors, and municipalities; member-based visibility; participation in regional economic development conferences (PEDA, Outdoor Summit, Main Street Matters Advocacy Day); and a multi-channel digital presence (website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and quarterly newsletter). CCEDC serves three primary customer segments: entrepreneurs and small businesses, existing businesses seeking expansion or workforce support, and site selectors/developers evaluating the county — with tourism promotion as a secondary function.

Name

Clarion County Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Clarion County (PA) Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://clarioncountyedc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clarion County Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit EDC serving Clarion County, PA, providing business attraction and retention, entrepreneur support, grant administration, tourism promotion, workforce development, and advocacy to local businesses, site selectors, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction programs
• Workforce development support
• Tourism promotion services
• Community development grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarion

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership/Investor Program: The EDC generates revenue through a membership/investor program where local businesses, organizations, and municipalities pay to become members, supporting the organization's economic development initiatives in exchange for visibility, networking, and advocacy services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clarion County Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit economic development organization that delivers business attraction, retention, and expansion services; entrepreneur support; grant services and business financing; tourism promotion; workforce development; and advocacy to businesses and communities in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Revenue is generated through a member investor program and foundation/government grants, including the Regional Façade Improvement Program that provides matching grants up to $10,000 for commercial building exterior improvements.

Product overview

Clarion County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) offers a portfolio of economic development service programs rather than a unified tech product. The core services include Business Retention and Attraction, Entrepreneur Hub support, Grant Services and Business Financing, Workforce Development, Tourism promotion, and Advocacy. Key programs include the Regional Facade Improvement Program offering matching grants up to $10,000 for commercial building exterior improvements across five Clarion County communities (Clarion, East Brady, Foxburg, Knox, and New Bethlehem), and Site Selection Services helping businesses identify properties and infrastructure advantages. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but rather provides consultation, grant programs, and resource connection services for regional economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Discover Clarion County: Tourism brand promoting Clarion County as a destination

Products and services

• Entrepreneur Hub Provides support and resources for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in Clarion County, including guidance, networking, and access to tools for new business development.
• Business Retention + Attraction Supports existing businesses in Clarion County while attracting new companies and industries to the region through business development efforts and site selection assistance.
• Grant Services + Business Financing Connects businesses with grant opportunities and financing options to support business growth, expansion, and development projects in Clarion County.
• Advocacy Serves as a voice for economic growth in the region, engaging with state, civic, and business leaders to elevate the community and shape sustainable development.
• Tourism (Discover Clarion County) Promotes Clarion County as a destination through the Discover Clarion County tourism brand, supporting local attractions, events, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Workforce Development Connects businesses with workforce resources, labor force data, and training programs to support hiring and skill development in Clarion County.
• Regional Façade Improvement Program Countywide initiative providing dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 to eligible commercial property and business owners for exterior improvements such as painting, window/door replacements, masonry repairs, signage, awnings, and lighting.
• Site Selection Services Helps businesses find suitable locations in Clarion County by providing information on available properties, infrastructure, and location advantages.
• Member Investor Program Membership-based program where local businesses, organizations, and municipalities pay to support the EDC's economic development initiatives in exchange for visibility, networking, and advocacy services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% of residents employed in Healthcare and Education sector
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Allegheny Riverstone Center for the ArtsminorOthersMember investor organization representing the arts and cultural sector in Clarion County. John Soroka serves as Executive Director on the EDC Board.
• Clarion Area Chamber of Business & IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary chamber partner for business community engagement, networking, and advocacy in Clarion County.
• Central Electric CooperativeminorOthersMember investor providing utility infrastructure perspective. Laura Prosser serves as Supervisor of Member Services on the EDC Board.
• Clarion University Foundation, Inc.minorOthersHigher education partner supporting workforce development and talent pipeline initiatives.
• Clarion HospitalminorOthersHealthcare provider member investor; Leslie Walters serves as Chief Nursing Officer on the EDC Board.
• Clarion County Career CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner providing vocational training and career education programs for Clarion County residents.
• Northwest Industrial Resource CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting manufacturing and industrial businesses through consulting and resource services.
• PennWest University - ClarioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution partner. Juanice Vega, Assistant Dean, serves on the EDC Board representing the university.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA): Statewide trade association for Pennsylvania's economic development practitioners. CCEDC staff actively participate in PEDA conferences; the organization sets professional standards and advocacy agendas for the EDC industry CCEDC belongs to.
• Main Street America: National nonprofit that underwrites the 'Main Street Approach' methodology used by downtown revitalization programs. CCEDC's 'Main Street Matters' branding and facade improvement grant design closely mirror Main Street America's program framework.
• PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED): Pennsylvania's state-level economic development agency. Provides grant funding, tax credit programs, and policy frameworks that CCEDC accesses and helps local businesses navigate; an upstream enabler rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation: Significantly larger Pennsylvania EDC serving Lehigh and Northampton counties. Runs the same business attraction, retention, and workforce programs as CCEDC but at materially greater scale and budget.
• Allegheny Conference / Pittsburgh Regional Alliance: The dominant Pittsburgh-region economic development umbrella organization. Overlaps with CCEDC's site-selection and business-attraction pitch around the I-80-to-Pittsburgh corridor, but operates at a metropolitan scale.

Direct peers

• SEDA-COG (Susquehanna Economic Development Association – Council of Governments): Multi-county economic development and planning organization serving central Pennsylvania. Operates the same combination of business assistance, infrastructure, and community development programs as CCEDC but at a regional rather than single-county scale.
• Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry: Listed as CCEDC's primary chamber partner. Provides overlapping business community engagement, advocacy, and networking services in the same Clarion County geography.
• Northwest Industrial Resource Center: Northwest Pennsylvania industrial/manufacturing support partner named in CCEDC's own partnership list. Provides consulting and resources to industrial clients in the same geography, overlapping directly with CCEDC's Business Retention + Attraction and workforce development mandates.

Emerging players

• Ben Franklin Technology Partners: Pennsylvania's statewide technology-based economic development network. Provides entrepreneur and startup support that intersects with CCEDC's Entrepreneur Hub service, but specializes in technology and innovation sectors.

Regional players

• Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation: Regional EDC serving northwestern Pennsylvania including Erie County. Comparable service portfolio (business attraction, workforce, site selection) but in a larger, more industrial regional economy adjacent to CCEDC's territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ClarionPaEDC
• Facebookfacebook.com/CCEDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarion-county-economic-development-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarioncountyedc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Clarion County Economic Development Corporation