Ben Franklin technology Partners is an economic development program focused on technology and innovation.

The program's offices around the state including Erie, have helped create tens of thousands of jobs since it began in 1983.

Ben Franklin gets about $3.5 million from the state every year to invest in new companies. And as an investor, when companies are sold, the profits that Ben Franklin gets are placed right back into investments in new companies.

Regional director Brian Slawin says the investments help create jobs.

He said, "When we invest in a company, our goal is to get them to scale and grow so they can hire people at well better than family sustaining wages and salaries."

And entrepreneurs come to the program with ideas big and small.

Slawin said, "We've got companies who are now fully funded and employed, who came to us with an idea on a napkin, literally an idea on a napkin."