Success Stories

Solar Innovations Expands with Help From LVEDC

Solar Innovations, Inc. has been manufacturing and installing beautiful custom glass walls, windows, doors, rooms and more in Lebanon County since 2000.

In 2004, Greg Header, Solar's President and CEO, was working on plans to expand the facility when he was called by the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation for a Business Retention and Expansion Program (BREP) visit. BREP calls allow the LVEDC to discuss current business trends with local business leaders and identify areas where we can better help companies to grow. During this particular call, Jessica Eberly, LVEDC representative, provided Mr. Header with information about the Small Business First (SBF) Program, designed especially to meet the needs of expanding companies with fewer than 100 employees. SBF loans have a fixed low interest rate and include a job creation requirement.

Solar Innovations received $200,000 in SBF funding for their $500,000 expansion project, and as part of the expansion plan to hire an additional 15 employees. The addition to their building includes an indoor loading facility (previously, their loading had been done outside), a crane for easier loading and unloading and new machinery to help their manufacturing process move more quickly.

The expansion will also help them to grow their sales of product lines like their folding glass walls and custom-designed greenhouses. Solar Innovations continues to grow, and the LVEDC is glad to have been a part of helping their growth.  (Go to www.solarinnovations.com for more information about Solar's products.) If your company is looking to expand or renovate, call the LVEDC at 717-274-3180 to find out if we have a program that is right for you.

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