Central PA incubator helps foreign firms make soft landing

How does a foreign-owned business that wants to take root in Pennsylvania get a transplant? In central Pennsylvania, it can turn to the Murata Business Center, which has become the first business incubator in the state to be designated as a Soft Landings International Incubation Center from the National Business Incubation Association.

Incubators chosen for the program must demonstrate they have resources that international firms need to expand. Murata director Karen Gunnison says that the designation will help attract new firms to central Pennsylvania.

“There are a couple of keys to qualifying,” Gunnison explains. “We had to identify the resources we can draw on, and the experience we bring.”

Murata’s experience includes work with TexVisions, a German-founded textile firm that has grown from six to 30 employees through the incubator, and Autumn Wave, a Korean technology distribution company.

Examples of other local resources that Murata can arrange include an expert local firm that specializes in visa and immigration permit processing and a board member who conducts training seminars in American business culture for new firms.

Murata is operated by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development Corp.

Source: Karen Gunnison
Writer: Chris O’Toole