A nascent entrepreneurial group pitched a vision Thursday to convert a former Verizon building, 224 S. Allen St. in State College, into an incubator for business, civic and social ventures.
Innoblue, a group of about 10 Penn State students, formed this spring to encourage student entrepreneurship, foster civic engagement and provide technical assistance to other student groups, organizers said Thursday.
Presenting their vision to the borough Redevelopment Authority, they said they’ve already undertaken Web-development projects for the University Park Undergraduate Association and the Penn State Interfraternity Council. They’ve also helped two emerging, student-led entrepreneurial ventures to get off the ground, they said.
Their listed advisors include Christian Brady, dean of the Penn State Schreyer Honors College, and Damon Sims, the vice president for student affairs at the university.
Now, Innoblue organizers said, they’re looking for a formal space where the various arms of their organization can collaborate and grow.
The group, led largely by undergraduates David Adewumi, Zach Johnston and Jon Tornetta, has talked preliminarily about the possibility of renting space in the borough municipal building, 243 S. Allen St. But they’re strongly interested in the former Verizon building, they said, because the 7,800 square feet there could offer substantial flexibility.
‘We think this could really benefit the community as a whole,’ Adewumi said.
Borough Planning Director Carl Hess said the idea of a community business incubator in town has been discussed on and off for perhaps 20 years. At one point, he said, it was considered an option for the borough’s West End neighborhood, west of Atherton Street along College Avenue.
Innoblue approached the Redevelopment Authority with its incubator pitch because the RDA, at the request of the Borough Council, is considering future uses for the old Verizon building. The council voted in 2007 to acquire the property for $750,000.
Council members’ vision then was that the building would house — eventually — the planned Discovery Space children’s museum.
But earlier this year, the museum group announced it has relocated its plans to East Foster Avenue near Memorial Field — a less-expensive initial venue for the nonprofit venture.
Redevelopment Authority members appeared receptive Thursday to the Innoblue pitch, but member Stephen Yohannan told the students they need to answer several pivotal questions.
‘Why this building’ as opposed to others? Yohannan said. In addition, he wondered aloud, would the Verizon property offer just a short-term home for the incubator? And exactly ‘what’s in it for the community?’
‘There’s competition for this asset,’ Yohannan said, referring to the building. He said plenty of people would like to see it be converted for student housing or another use that would replenish ‘the borough coffers.’
He said Innoblue members would be well-served if they would develop and publicly share a plan ‘showing specifically what they want to achieve.’
Hess said the group would need to share a detailed business plan before the borough could consider the concept further. He aired a question similar to Yohannan’s: ‘What can the community expect in return?’
Hess suggested that perhaps successful businesses launched through the incubator could be compelled to stay in the region. Adewumi appeared to balk — politely — at that idea.
For now, space in the Verizon building is leased through November to the Centre County Democratic party, the Joe Sestak campaign for U.S. Senate and the Michael Pipe campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Two of the five Redevelopment Authority members — Eliza Pennypacker and Karen Burgos — were absent Thursday. Authority Chairwoman Vicki Fong said discussions about the former Verizon property will be ongoing.
In other business Thursday, Fong, Yohannan and Dr. Charles Maxin, another authority member, gave staff the go-ahead to look into possible business recruitment and retention programs for the borough. Hess said he sensed there may be a gap between the business-assistance services offered through the Penn State Small Business Development Center and those delivered through the Downtown State College Improvement District.
The well-publicized troubles at Webster’s Bookstore Cafe, 128 S. Allen St., provided an impetus for that conversation. More discussions are expected at the Redevelopment Authority in the coming months.
Earlier coverage: Webster’s Reaches For Temporary Downtown Location, Owner SaysMuseum Plans Move To Foster AvenueEditorial: Borough Should Sell Verizon Building
