Steve Melnick

  • smelnick

  • Wed, February 23, 2011

  • Steve Melnick is the Coordinator of the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone. He works with its partners to retain young talent and help them turn ideas into companies. Steve also coordinates the Keystone Opportunity Zone. “I’ve been working in community and economic development since 1969. I get a tremendous sense of satisfaction out of conceptualizing something and then turning it into reality. Walking down the street and looking at businesses I have helped, or structures that I have help fund or build, gives me a thrill to this day.” Favorite Lehigh Valley Restaurant: Apollo Grill, Bethlehem


  • Don’t leave money on the table

    You may be missing an opportunity to enhance your business. The Keystone Innovation Zone will be hosting a free tax credit seminar presented by MVM Associates of Fort Washington, Pa. TIME:      10 a.m. WHEN:    Wednesday, March 14 WHERE:   Northampton Community College                         Third floor, room 305                         511 E 3rd St, Bethlehem, Pa. 18015                         Credits to be discussed at this seminar include:                                 KIZ Tax Credits                                 Research & Development Tax Credits                                 Job Creation Tax Credits                                 Enterprise Zone Tax Credits and the new                                 Keystone Special Development Zone Plan on attending this seminar and learn how to use these credits to better define your bottom line. RSVP to Steve Melnick smelnick@lehighvalley.org

     

  • Attention small business ventures and startups

    The Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone recognizes the goal of entrepreneurs or small business owners is to make money. But how many do? We want to make you one of them. You can have your path to profitability reviewed and evaluated by experts as part of the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone Commercial Competition. The winners of the competition will have the opportunity to become Keystone Innovation Zone clients and receive many KIZ benefits. Here are the eligibility guidelines: The competition is for small independent business ventures and startups that operate within the Lehigh Valley and are engaged in business within the broad guidelines of one of the KIZ approved business clusters listed below.  - Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology - Life Sciences - Information Technologies & web based businesses - Opto-Micro Electronics -  Alternative/Renewable Energy -  Financial Services Early Stage Companies – Existing companies eight years old or younger that are engaged in business within one of the above business clusters. Companies have not yet achieved full sustainability. Startup Businesses - Any company with a limited operating history. Companies are generally in their first stage of operations and initially bankrolled by their entrepreneurial founders, as they attempt to capitalize on developing a product or service with a burgeoning demand. Ineligible - Any existing company or idea that has received venture capital financing is ineligible for this competition. Buyouts, expansions of existing companies, real estate syndications, tax shelters, franchises, licensing agreements for distribution in a different geographical area, are also ineligible. AWARDS Cash:   First place: $7,500 Second place: $5,000 Third place: $2,500  In-Kind Awards - One year’s free rent in the PI Commercialization Center or other space in the KIZ. This is a $3,000 value - A free consultation with an accountant or bookkeeper for up to two hours. - Free consultation with an attorney for up to two hours. - Office furnishings allowance to$1,000                                                                         For a complete rules packet please contact Steve Melnick at (610) 266-7535 or at smelnick@lehighvalley.org  Competition entries will be accepted until February 28th.

     

  • KIZ’s DynAccess set to launch monoski equipment for disabled skiers

    The Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (SBKIZ) is a critical component of our region’s economic development future. The program specifically builds knowledge-based companies and cultivates entrepreneurship in the designated KIZ zone in Southside Bethlehem. We’re able to do this by bringing together the combined resources of educational, private business, commercial lending institutions and public-sector entities. One of the most recent success stories is DynAccess Limited. Having received a KIZ grant for innovative research projects, DynAccess is planning to launch high-end monoski equipment for disabled individuals. “We studied existing products, used advanced engineering, superior materials and hardware, and developed our own version,” says Chiharu Tokura, president of DynAccess. The protoype is made of TIG-welded chromolly steel with a thermoformed bucket seat. All parts for the chromolly frame are CNC machined and welded locally. The bucket seat in which the skier is firmly seated can be purchased, but DynAccess opted to develop their own. DynAccess is already working with Lehigh University to develop a carbon fiber model. Thanks to the KIZ internship grant program, DynAccess was able to fund an intern student working on a carbon fiber model this summer. “Eventually we want to make extremely lightweight carbon fiber equipment,” Tokura says. Carbon fiber has many advantages, including lightness and strength, although it requires extensive engineering knowledge and experience. With temperatures sizzling thoughts about skiing aren’t tops on most people’s minds. But DynAccess is thinking snow in June. For testing on the slopes the company is working with Brian Kaplun, a former mechanical engineering student at Lehigh University, who is now with Lockheed-Martin. An accident left Mr. Kaplun parapelgic. “Brian is an amazing skier who easily slides down any slope I would ever attempt,” Tokura notes. “It is truly fascinating to see him ski in a monoski.”

     

  • KIZ breakfast event showcases success

    Many of us presume to have the mind of an entrepreneur. And some of us, in fact, do. During Thursday’s 2011 Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) Breakfast at Lehigh University’s Mountaintop Campus in Iacocca Hall, we were fortunate to have several successful entrepreneurs on hand to talk about their businesses and how the Southside Bethlehem KIZ played a part in that success. Read More…

     

  • 2011 SBKIZ Community Breakfast is April 28th

    You know what they say – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Well in that case, maybe you’re free about 8 a.m. on April 28th?  The Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone is having their annual community breakfast at Lehigh University’s Mountaintop Campus at Iacocca Hall. The KIZ Breakfast will showcase the latest technology entrepreneurs and how the KIZ assisted them with workforce development, technology transfer grants, real estate site assistance, business networking and financing assistance. They’ll also be an address from two of the burgeoning entrepreneurs. I can tell you from experience, these people are doing incredible work, right here in the Lehigh Valley. You’d be amazed. Not to mention, we have eggs and bacon to boot! See you there.