The Chester County Retirement Board has voted to enter into a partnership with Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, to invest $4 million in emerging and growing companies located in – or willing to locate to – Chester County.

The partnership, entitled Venture Chesco, will see $2 million in county funds matched by $2 million in BFTP funds that will be used to invest in new technology companies and existing companies looking to apply new technologies to their business operations.

“Chester County has a long and positive history of supporting young companies that become major employers and significant contributors to the tax base of our county,” said Michelle Kichline, Chair of the Chester County Commissioners. “But the competition to attract these young companies has become intense, so we must find innovative ways to support the companies that are here, and those who are looking to be here.

“We are pleased and excited that we have reached an agreement with BFTP, which will double the impact of our county funds and allow us to invest even more in growing Chester County companies.”

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The Retirement Board’s decision to enter into this partnership with Ben Franklin is led by the goals of the county’s 10-year economic development strategy, VISTA 2025, specifically to “improve access to capital for start-ups and early-stage business ventures.”

The funds allocated by Chester County represent a small percentage of the overall pension fund, valued at $420 million in October 2017 – an investment deemed worthwhile to all members of the Retirement Board.

“An entrepreneurial ecosystem is typically considered to have three elements: a physical place for young companies to locate; access to mentorship and technical assistance; and access to capital,” said Chester County Commissioner and Retirement Board member Kathi Cozzone. “Chester County has a number of locations within incubator/accelerator settings and we have many options for technical assistance, but access to capital for young, start-up companies continues to be a real challenge.

“Venture Chesco will help respond to this challenge.”

Terence Farrell, Chester County Commissioner and Retirement Board member, said that “the use of a small percentage of the county’s pension fund for investment in Chester County companies that have a chance for significant growth gives us an ‘alternative investment’ asset class for our pension fund. Venture Chesco combines potential return on investment with helping to grow the next generation of strong local companies.”

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Under the terms of the partnership, Ben Franklin will use its proven experience to help identify companies and technologies suitable and appropriate for funding, and will manage the process of assessing the companies and the technologies for possible investment from the Venture Chesco fund.

“Ben Franklin is all about building partnerships, and we are very pleased to join with Chester County on this new fund,” said RoseAnn Rosenthal, Ben Franklin’s President and CEO. “Venture Chesco will fill a critical, early-stage funding gap in the growth cycle of Chester County’s young companies and companies looking to apply technology to improve business performance, which will help add to the growing innovation culture in the county.”

The Chester County Economic Development Council is thrilled with the agreement.

“Venture capital and angel funding have been the critical missing resources for emerging tech companies in Chester County,” said Michael Grigalonis, Chief Operating Officer of the CCEDC. “Since 2007, more than 100 start-up companies have received support through our i2n (Ideas x Innovation Network), but we have not had sufficient capital from local sources to fuel their growth.

“This new fund will enhance the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneur resources available to our startup companies and strengthen our ability and commitment to help Chester County grow companies, create jobs, and ignite innovation.”

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