PART ONE – Summer is make-or-break time for many of the small businesses in our towns, along the trails, and in the city’s most festive neighborhoods. This summer, many entrepreneurs are thinking big. For the next six weeks, The Progress Fund – which has helped 311 businesses over 21 years – is going to take you into the heat of an entrepreneurial summer.
The Progress Fund Stories
Years in the making
Gavin Archer and Dee Stephen, both trained archeologists and avid cyclists, wanted to create a business in Pennsylvania that incorporated the sport that they love.
Worn out by popular demand
Tommy Medley and Amber Kunselman never predicted that customers would beat a path to their pastry cases. “I thought: We’re a little coffee shop in Greensburg, we won’t be that busy,” Tommy recounts.
Pittsburgh’s first hostel opens Easter Sunday, April 1st
Pittsburgh natives, Paul Kletter and Mary Beth Karabinos, are opening South Side Traveler’s Rest, with help from The Progress Fund.
Some former coal towns turn to nature tourism as a new economic driver
Last night, our regional story went national on Marketplace Business News! Last year, our work along the GAP aired on the local environmental show, the Allegheny Front. It was re-broadcast last night as part of NPR Marketplace’s national show.
Nonprofit funders are growing craft beverage producers in Appalachia
Our Craft Beverage Fund supports budding local brewers, distillers and winemakers. Because we’re a nonprofit, we can give tastemakers extra help with uniquely designed terms to grow their boozy business. We can accept offbeat collateral like grapevines […] Continue Reading
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