Suffolk Sparks Innovation with New Inventors

July 13, 2007

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has announced the formation of the "Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club of Suffolk County" to help inventors and entrepreneurs network with one another and to gain knowledge of county resources available to them.

Novice and seasoned inventors alike will be afforded brainstorming opportunities through this new association that can help with all aspects of the inventing process and enable individuals to tap into key resources for entrepreneurs and established businesses through various county programs.

The first meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Media Room of the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veteran's Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Admission is free and all are welcome. 

County Executive Levy credited Melville resident and inventor Brian Fried for bringing the idea to his attention. Fried took the model from the State of Wisconsin's Economic Development program, which has Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs successfully running in eight counties.

"Suffolk County has a long and proud tradition of innovation and invention going back to the days of wireless telegraphy," said County Executive Levy. "Our local ingenuity has left lasting marks on the aviation and aerospace industries and has also played a vital role in the discovery of DNA and innovations in medical technology like the MRI. With this new club, we hope to encourage our local inventors to learn from one another and from guest speakers, and then, when they are ready to bring those ideas to fruition, to launch their new ventures right here at home."

"Entrepreneurism is naturally contagious," said Fried, "so the word will spread. We expect this to be a very active club."

Services available to businesses include technical assistance for start-ups and growing companies and a workforce housing program to help companies retain and attract employees. Suffolk County has a Foreign Trade Zone for companies who import and export as well as a New York State Empire Zone and an Industrial Development Agency, both of which offer significant financial incentives for new and established businesses.