The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development recently established an area of Delaware County as a “Keystone Innovation Zone” (KIZ). Crozer-Keystone is one of several local organizations who will work together to foster technology development opportunities in this area.

Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Rebecca Bagley made this announcement at a press conference on July 20 at the Wharf at Rivertown in Chester. Bagley presented a $250,000 check representing the first year of grant funding for the KIZ,

A KIZ is a designated zone that can be established in communities that host institutions of higher education, including colleges, universities, and associate degree technical schools. A KIZ designation provides the opportunity to gather and align the combined resources of educational institutions, private businesses, business support organizations, commercial lending institutions, venture capital networks (including angel investors), and foundations all with the goal to foster unique clusters where innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities can thrive.

While the Delaware County KIZ is comprised of the municipal boundaries of Chester, Marcus Hook, Trainer and Upland, it is site-specific and includes buildings at UTP1, UTP2, the Wharf at Rivertown, the Silk Mills, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Widener University and Villanova University.

The Delaware County KIZ will be operated under a Board of Operating Partners the includes University Technology Park, Villanova University, Widener University, Crozer-Keystone Health System, Chester Economic Development Authority (CEDA), Delaware County Commerce Center (DCCC), Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC), Ben Franklin Technology Partners – Southeast Pennsylvania (BFTP-SEP).

Gerald Miller, chief executive officer of Crozer-Keystone, says, “We expect this grant will enable emerging companies to move forward with developing and commercializing their products and processes. Equally as important, we will use the KIZ as a catalyst to partner emerging tech-based companies with Widener and Villanova Universities and ultimately the other Universities within the statewide KIZ program.”

Miller adds, “We owe a special gratitude to Dr. H. Keith Moo-Young, associate dean of Research at Villanova University who brought the partners together and authored the grant application.”