E-Magnify announces the expansion of the ATHENAPowerLink® (APL) program into Centre and Clearfield counties. APL is now available in a 27-county service area in Western Pennsylvania.
Women business owners in Centre and Clearfield counties are invited to apply to the ATHENAPowerLink® (APL) program. Through the APL program, women-owned businesses are paired with a customized board of advisors who provide financial advice, business best practices, networking and the services and technical assistance necessary to help them reach their business goals.
Application Criteria:
- Businesses must be at least 51% owned and actively managed by a woman,
- Minimum of two years in operation
- Minimum of two full-time employees (including the owner)
- Annual revenues of at least
- $250,000 for retail or manufacturing businesses
- $100,000 for service businesses
- Clearly defined company objectives and goals with explicit reasons for seeking assistance from ATHENAPowerLink® in meeting those objectives and goals
Click here for applications and additional information.
If you would like to speak to someone about the program, please contact Chad Feather, 814-231-6942, local sponsor, or Jayne Huston, E-Magnify Director, 724-830-4625.
About ATHENAPowerLink®:
The program has been successfully implemented in more than 30 cities across the United States resulting in significant economic impact for participating woman business owners. APL is a trademarked program of ATHENA International and is locally administered by Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify. The Women’s Business Center, home to the original PowerLink Advisory Board program founded more than 20 years ago in Pittsburgh, provides business counseling, training and mentoring programs to start up and growing women entrepreneurs throughout Western Pennsylvania. PNC Bank and the law firm of Babst Calland sponsored the local program license.
According to ATHENA International, participants achieve an average 88 percent increase in sales, a 37 percent increase in business income and 56 percent increase in personal income after one year with the program.
For the program’s first year, one woman-owned business will be selected based on its need and potential for growth. E-Magnify, working together with the local Governing Body, will then convene a team of experts in such fields as banking, human resources, entrepreneurship, sales,
public accounting, law and others to advise the woman business owner on how she can access capital, implement best practices and reach her operational and strategic goals.
“Twenty-six percent (26%) of businesses in Centre and Clearfield Counties are majority women-owned companies,” said Chad Feather, PNC Wealth Management Banking Advisor. “We recognize the influence and potential of women-owned businesses and are pleased to now offer APL as an opportunity for women to further excel – strengthening the economic viability of their businesses and our community.”
PNC has a longstanding tradition of offering financial resources to women-owned businesses. Currently, more than 1,100 PNC-Certified Women’s Business Advocates in 19 states and the District of Columbia are actively engaged in supporting the achievement of female financial decision-makers.
Locally, individuals serving on the ATHENAPowerLink Governing Body include: Chad Feather, PNC Wealth Management; Amy Marshall, the law firm of Babst Calland; Heather Fennessey, Penn State Small Business Development Center; Sue Greene, Penn State Corporate Learning; Tere Rill, The Women’s Journal; John Vidmar, Ben Franklin; Mary Kay Williams, Mind Shift Consulting and Georgia Abby, Leadership Centre County.
Read media coverage about APL in Centre and Clearfield Counties from StateCollege.com and Chamber of Business and Industry Centre County.
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