Third expansion on the horizon for Bethlehem’s TechVentures

TechVentures is having growing pains.

At 97 percent capacity with 38 businesses, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is running out of room at the incubator facility, which already previously expanded.

So, the economic development agency is in the early planning stages of a second expansion, said Laura Eppler, director of marketing for Ben Franklin partners.

Ben Franklin completed TechVentures Two in 2011, two years after the original TechVentures was completed. It added 47,000 square feet to the original 62,000-square-foot facility, which is on Lehigh’s University’s Mountaintop Campus in Bethlehem.

Ben Franklin is seeking an approximately 15,000-square-foot addition, which would include business incubation, office and conference meeting space for the early stage technology businesses with which the agency works.

These spaces will complement the existing labs and address the expanding office needs of resident clients.

“Ben Franklin TechVentures’ current rentable space is 97 percent full and we project even more needs in the future,” Eppler said. “In anticipation of these growing requirements, we’re exploring funding sources to expand TechVentures.”

The proposed addition, which Eppler said is being called “TechVentures West Wing,” will be a four-story structure adjoined to the west end of the existing Ben Franklin TechVentures facility.

Eppler said needing more space for technology upstarts is a good problem to have.

“These companies will accelerate economic growth and job creation in northeastern Pennsylvania,” she said.

Eppler said there is not an estimated cost for the project.

Source: LVB