The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $315,700 in support of regional economic development.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.

BFTP-NEP owns and manages Ben Franklin TechVentures, an award-winning business incubator, post-incubator facility on Lehigh University's campus in Bethlehem at which it is headquartered.

Ben Franklin announces the following early-stage company investments that are provided to clients in the form of loans to the following firms in the Lehigh Valley Press circulation area:

Cerora Inc., Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County. Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000. Re-engineer software and hardware, and commercialize the Cerora brainwave sensor. This is a medical-grade, portable and affordable electroencephalogram (EEG) that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain. Rapid diagnosis of brain disease and injuries can lead to early and effective intervention with improved clinical outcomes and cost savings for patients with concussions, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions. There are no affordable, portable and accurate neuro-diagnostics available to physicians, first responders and certified athletic trainers.

EggZack, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County. Ben Franklin Investment: $48,000. Improve inbound sales process, which promotes EggZack through informative social media content marketing. Inbound marketing earns the attention of customers and draws customers to the website by providing interesting and useful content. EggZack markets a patent-pending software as a service (SaaS) solution that requires only a single entry to update a client's website and other marketing functions, broadcasting the information immediately to 19 types of media, including social media such as the company website and blog, email, local media and publications. Such tools are needed by small- to medium-sized retailers, restaurants and other companies to promote themselves more effectively and profitably.

Ben Franklin announces the following established manufacturer company investments to the following firms in the Lehigh Valley Press circulation area.

Ben Franklin provides 1:1 matching funding for work with a college or university partner on technology-based manufacturing innovation in established manufacturers.

Consolidated Storage Companies, Inc., Tatamy, Northampton County. University Partner: Lehigh University Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000. Complete a plant-wide production analysis at the manufacturer of storage systems and tool chests in order to optimize manufacturing processes. Consolidated Storage's Equipto division will work with Lehigh's ESC to optimize facilities and productivity, identify costs and benefits of various improvements, and develop a plan for growth.

EcoTech Marine LLC ,Allentown, Lehigh County. University Partner: Lehigh University Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $22,700.

Implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning system to accommodate expansion and maintain quality. EcoTech's patented VorTech propeller pump is located outside of hobby reef aquariums, providing better heat control and flow. EcoTech has enjoyed outstanding sales with the pump. Its new Radion LED lighting unit improves aquarium growth, coverage and energy efficiency, and provides a customizable spectral output.