In recognition of Pennsylvania Manufacturing Week, Oct. 1-7, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-NEP) has announced that its work with clients resulted in the creation or retention of 10,762 manufacturing jobs from 1994 to 2015. Clients attributed these jobs to their work with BFTP-NEP.

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

The DCED, in conjunction with the national Manufacturing Day initiative, is helping to promote Pennsylvania’ manufacturers and to stress the importance of manufacturing and associated jobs.

BFTP-NEP’s mission is to promote, sustain and invest in the development of our regional economy through innovation and partnering. Ben Franklin helps established manufacturers apply new technology to achieve industry leadership and compete effectively in global markets.

From 1994 to 2015, BFTP-NEP made 350 investments totaling $20,485,690 in established manufacturers, which was matched with $79,301,954 in company investments. The focus of BFTP-NEP’s work with established manufacturers is on enterprise-wide solutions, including product redesign, production line efficiency and information systems optimization. The result of these investments was 4,949 new jobs and 5,813 jobs retained.

In addition, Ben Franklin supports the development of new manufacturers through its investments in early-stage technology firms. More than 75 percent of BFTP-NEP’s start-up and early-stage clients from 1994 through 2015 have or are expected to become the technology-based manufacturing firms of tomorrow. BFTP-NEP’s investment focus for its early-stage clients is on new product development and commercialization.