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Ribbon-cutting set for Friday at Curry Innovation Center

celebrating Saint Francis University's new presence in downtown Altoona

Altoona, PA (04/28/2022) — Saint Francis University's new presence in downtown Altoona inside the Curry Innovation Center will be officially recognized with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m.

The Saint Francis University Curry Innovation Center is located on the first floor of the former Vipond Appliance Store building, a facility beautifully rejuvenated by CurrySupply Holdings.

Located in Altoona's historic district on the 1400 block of 11th Avenue, the building is designated as part of the City of Altoona/Logan Township Enterprise Zone. The building was constructed as the first Sears Roebuck & Company and JC Penney's stores in the city's commercial corridor. This section of Altoona is experiencing an economic renaissance.

This collaborative space is intentionally designed to bring together entrepreneurial, progressive leaders who thrive on the ability to think limitlessly and identify solutions that ultimately deliver real-world, real-time outcomes.

The first floor of the new center is home to:

  • SFU's Curry Innovation Lab
  • Youth STEM education such as the STEM Powered Summer Camp
  • Adult degree programs through Francis Worldwide: School of Continuing Studies
  • The residency portion of SFU's newest program: Executive Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Innovation.

Inside the space, strategic business and educational collaborations are at work to produce solutions that will impact everything from workforce readiness and STEM literacy to improving advanced manufacturing processes for regional businesses.

Ribbon-Cutting Program

The program will include a ribbon-cutting with official remarks followed by a reception, tours, and a showcase of research projects currently underway.

Scheduled speakers include Father Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Saint Francis University President; Mark Ritchey, Curry President; Steve McKnight, ABCD Corporation; U.S. Representative John Joyce, State Senator Judy Ward and State Representative Lou Schmitt.

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To learn more about the Saint Francis University at the Curry Innovation Center visit francis.edu/curry-innovation-center

Saint Francis University (www.francis.edu) in Loretto, PA is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States. Its mission is to help students grow into compassionate, successful professionals through a culture of generosity, respect, discovery and joy.

Media Attachments

Saint Francis University's new presence in downtown Altoona inside the Curry Innovation Center. Inside the space, strategic business and educational collaborations are at work to produce solutions that will impact everything from workforce readiness and STEM literacy to improving advanced manufacturing processes for regional businesses.

Saint Francis University

Erin McCloskey (814) 472-3938 emcccloskey@francis.edu

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