Ben Franklin to Invest $542,400 in Regional Economic Development

BETHLEHEM, PA--(Marketwired - July 09, 2015) - The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) board approved the investment of $542,400 in regional companies. BFTP/NEP is an award-winning, state-funded economic development organization that links early-stage technology firms and established manufacturers with experts, universities, funding, and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. BFTP is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.

Since beginning operation, BFTP/NEP has helped to create 16,600 new jobs for Pennsylvania workers and to retain 22,958 existing jobs, to start 470 new companies, and to develop 1,356 new products and processes. Ben Franklin Technology Partners has returned $3.60 to Pennsylvania for every $1.00 invested in the program.

BFTP/NEP will invest in early-stage technology firms through loans:

CDC Software, LLC, Bloomsburg - $100,000
Expand commercialization of CDC Software's DTK product that greatly reduces the time and cost of integrating telephony systems with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and business systems. Highly configurable and supporting all major telephony providers, the DTK software provides complete customer data immediately to a representative answering a customer's call.

Gilson Boards, New Berlin - $50,000
Expand marketing efforts, leading to a full-scale launch of Gilson's innovative snowboards. Applying aeronautical engineering concepts, Gilson Boards have a three-dimensional base that is faster, stronger, and more flexible than traditional products, storing more energy for the "pop" that is sought by snowboarders.

Map Decisions, LLC, Bethlehem - $100,000
Provide sales, marketing, and technical development support. Map Decisions produces infrastructure asset and work management software and provides field mapping and data management services. The company's secure, cloud-based mobile platform is designed for state and local governments, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, and construction industries. Map Decisions helps organizations increase operational efficiency, improve customer service, reduce compliance risks, and decrease operational costs.

Medicine in Practice, Inc., Bloomsburg - $25,000
Add learning content and build out the WEBFlex training platform. Medicine in Practice provides clinical researchers in biopharma and academia with on-demand compliance training in transparency initiatives. The company's unique WEBFlex training method combines the ease and affordability of webinars with the sophistication of eLearning.

Medtrics Lab, LLC, Lewisburg - $50,000
Continue development of Medtrics' modern, enterprise-level clinical education platform that helps hospitals and universities maintain accreditation and manage the training of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. Funding will be used to further scale the technology and to present at various national and international medical conferences.

MindMe, Inc., Bethlehem - $50,000
Complete beta development and testing of MindMe's suite of software solutions designed for small and independent businesses to better enable them to capture, convert, organize, and engage their leads and customers. The new mobile app will combine powerful multi-channel voice, text, email and social communication with voice calling, contact management, lead capture, drip, and responsive outbound marketing. It will expand to include dynamic scheduling, payment processing, service management, and more.

TSG Software, Bethlehem - $50,000
Support a focused sales and marketing effort in commercializing software for the building maintenance industry, property and facility managers, and building management contractors. TSG's reliable and affordable Accelerator CC® brings traditionally manual processes into cloud software with mobile solutions to automate mission-critical processes, eliminating workflow disruption.

WellSeal Corporation, Selinsgrove - $20,000
Accelerate the commercial launch of WellSeal, a new, patent-pending, tamper-evident device for well heads that helps maintain well integrity. WellSeal allows users to print information on the seal and also provides an identifier to help owners avoid hitting the well head with lawn equipment. Customers include well drillers and well servicers, the EPA, and consumers.

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

Benton Foundry, Inc., Benton - $22,400
With Northampton Community College's Emerging Technology Applications Center, implement energy saving processes as this producer of gray and ductile iron castings expands operations. Enhancements will continue to improve energy and operational efficiency, increase throughput, and heighten product quality to make the foundry more competitive.

East Penn Manufacturing Company, Lyon Station - $25,000
With Northampton Community College's Emerging Technology Applications Center, develop a complete analysis of recycling considerations at East Penn, especially as it relates to the growing need for new battery technology due to the growth in the hybrid electric vehicle market and other alternative energy uses. East Penn is a leading manufacturer and recycler of advanced lead-acid battery products, and the largest manufacturing employer in Berks County.

Giorgio Foods, Inc., Blandon - $25,000
With Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center, develop a facility planning scenario to help Giorgio optimize current and future facility utilization. Giorgio is a manufacturer of retail food products including appetizers and mushrooms, and various food service products such as pizza, mini- and full-size crescents, pierogies, quiche, frozen mushrooms, and Artisan bakery products.

Orbel Corporation, Bethlehem - $25,000
With Lehigh University's Enterprise Systems Center, implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning system at this manufacturer of customized electronic components such as precision metal parts and stampings for the medical, electronics, and aerospace markets. The system will improve operations, data governance, and operational effectiveness.