

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm – Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 01:30 pm
- **Event Description**: From shipbuilding and steel to plastics, industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, insurance technology, education, and AI, innovation is woven into the fibers of Northwest Pennsylvania. From early industrial breakthroughs to today's tech-driven entrepreneurship, this opening session, led by Ben Franklin Technology Partner Regional Director and Portfolio Manager Brian Slawin, explores the history of innovation in our region, why Pennsylvania has long been a national pioneer and how organizations such as Ben Franklin Technology Partners helps turn ideas into companies, jobs and opportunity. 

With a focus on what it truly takes to build a resilient innovation ecosystem in 2026 and beyond, we'll also discuss the realities of changing economies, manufacturing transitions, workforce shifts and spotlight the milestones in manufacturing, energy, education and collaboration that continue to redefine what's possible. Blending historical reflection with forward perspective, this opening session will highlight the birth and growth of innovation in Northwest Pennsylvania. 

This is the first installment in the Keystone Sparks: Inventing the Next Pennsylvania three-part seminar series hosted by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Jefferson Educational Society. From founding sparks to future breakthroughs, Keystone Sparks reviews the history of innovation in the nation, the commonwealth, and the region, and explores how northwest Pennsylvania is building America's Next 250, connecting Northwest Pennsylvania's story of innovation from legacy to possibility.  

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we stand at a powerful crossroad where ideas become engines for industry-shaping manufacturing to today's startups, artists, technologists, and community builders redefining what's next. This three-part series explores how innovation has shaped our region's past, fuels our present economy, and can inspire our collective future — and looks at how everyone can take part in building the next era of growth, resilience, and opportunity. Through dialogue, storytelling, and collaboration, the series connects local entrepreneurs, community builders, and curious residents to the ideas and tools that continue to transform Erie and beyond. Keystone Sparks invites everyone to consider how our region continues to invent the next Pennsylvania and everyone's part in that. 

This event is part of the JES's USA 250 Event Series. 

Location: Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St, Erie, PA 16508
Date/Time: Friday, March 13, 12-1:30PM
Admission: FREE, $5/person for Lunch

*If purchasing a lunch, please register 48 hours in advance. Vegetarian option available. Thank you!
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/erie/from-founders-to-frontiers-250-years-of-northwest-pennsylvania-innovation/200029682382215
- **Event Categories**: business, workshops, art, storytelling
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 3

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://www.jeserie.org/events/details/from-founders-to-frontiers-250-years-of-northwest-pennsylvania-innovation?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=erie-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Erie
- **state**: PA
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 3207 State St, Erie, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 16508
- **lat**: 42.10672
- **long**: -80.06958
- **full address**: 3207 State St, Erie, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 16508

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Jefferson Educational Society (https://allevents.in/org/jefferson-educational-society/13579018)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/b61446e6d21b6ad7f7a2b62102a32bb8a143f6411b4dbcccac0dd1f3125ecb4b-rimg-w1200-h675-dcdadee6-gmir?v=1772721072
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/b42a5de139ac8b295f03687fc5786f3c7605019c1f10f2031287c41a59c8d5a9-rimg-w300-h300-dc042a5f-gmir?v=1772721072

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fri, 13 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** 3207 State St, Erie, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 16508
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Jefferson Educational Society
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** business, workshops, art, storytelling
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

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