The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $621,804 in support of regional economic development.

Followng is a list of Ben Franklin investments in companies in the circulation areas of Lehigh Valley Press.

Ben Franklin announces early-stage company investments provided to clients in the form of loans.

Colymer Industries, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County. Ben Franklin Investment: $35,000. Complete a new financial model, strategic business plan, corporate operating agreement, and assignment of intellectual property for this manufacturer of proprietary non-asphalt roofing materials.

Pivitec, LLC, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County. Ben Franklin Investment: $75,000. Continue commercialization and enhancement of hardware and software products for this developer of audio streaming and distribution products.

TSG Software, Ben Franklin TechVentures, Bethlehem, Northampton County. Ben Franklin Investment: $100,000. Support a focused sales and marketing effort in commercializing software for business cleaning services, property and facility managers, and building management contractors.

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

Applied Separations, Inc., Allentown. University Partner: Philadelphia University. Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000. Develop and implement a new process and deploy equipment for the waterless dyeing of textiles for business-to-business sales to clothing manufacturers and textile companies. Applied Separations and its technical partner, Halide Group of Allentown, is employing its supercritical fluids expertise.

EcoTech Marine LLC, Allentown. University Partner: Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $25,000. Implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning system with features to accommodate facility expansion and maintain quality.

Georg Fischer Harvel , Easton. University Partner: Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center. Ben Franklin Investment: $50,000. Complete a sustainability analysis to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent or more. GFH is an international leader in thermoplastic extrusions, primarily manufacturing PVC and CPVC piping for diverse target markets in high-end applications such as microelectronics and pharmaceuticals.

Since beginning operation, BFTP-NEP has helped to create 15,820 new jobs for Pennsylvania workers and to retain 21,645 existing jobs, to start 442 new companies, and to develop 1,189 new products and processes.

The Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Partners network has returned $3.60 to the state treasury for every $1 invested in the program. 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 at 116 Research Drive, Bethlehem. BFTP-NEP also manages the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center, Bloomsburg, Columbia County.