Built on Love: A Blueprint for Growing Your Business Without Losing Its Heart
In a world where fear often pays off—and efficiency is rewarded—it takes a different kind of entrepreneur to build with love.
But that’s exactly what’s happening in Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania.
Not through national franchises or outside capital. But through wild-eyed local founders who, at first glance, might seem like dreamers—but who are quietly transforming their town through vision, grit, and deep devotion to people and place.
From Laughter to Leadership: How XL Fest Became a Blueprint for Belonging
What does it look like to grow something real—without losing the reason you started?
For James Tierney, co-founder of Happy Valley Improv, the answer came to life during XL Fest 2024. Eighty-one improvisers from across the country came to Central Pennsylvania expecting laughs. What they found instead was something deeper: hospitality that felt intentional, experiences that felt personal, and a weekend that felt more like a family reunion than a performance schedule.
Penn State Alumni Developers Lead Downtown State College’s Most Ambitious Real Estate Project
Downtown State College is transforming—and at the forefront is a visionary project shaped by those who know Happy Valley best: Penn State alumni.
Introducing The Nittany Residence Club, a luxurious nine-story condominium-hotel now rising at 321 West Beaver Avenue. Designed by Penn Staters, for Penn Staters, this development blends high-end living with deep community roots—and offers a glimpse of the next chapter for one of the most iconic college towns in America.
Think You Know State College? Think Again.
Walk through the doors of Discovery Space, and you’re instantly met with a scene that stops you in your tracks: kids laughing, learning, building, and experimenting — fully immersed in the joy of discovery.
The Heart of the Community: The Nonprofit Sector’s Role in Connection and Resilience
Graduation is here, summer is near, and the Oregon game may be months away, September 27—but this is the White Out moment for the heart of our community.
Next week is Centre Gives, and if you are wondering what really holds a place like Happy Valley together—it’s not just football or fall foliage. It’s the nonprofit sector.
Celebrate Small Business Week in Downtown State College
There’s something special about being known. Maybe it’s the barista who starts your drink as soon as you walk in, the bookseller who always nails your next read, or the shop owner who asks about your family. These aren’t just transactions—they’re connections. They’re the heartbeat of a strong, local community.
The Quiet Real Estate Gold Rush: Why Penn Staters Are Snapping Up These Hidden Gems
If you’ve been watching the real estate market in and around State College, you might’ve noticed a quiet trend. Certain properties —— are getting snapped up quickly. And the buyers? More often than not, they’re Penn State alumni and parents who know exactly what they’re looking for—quality of life! Is this not the greatest place to live, work and PLAY!
Stronger Communities Build Stronger Businesses: Why We’re Spotlighting the State College Food Bank This Week
Five years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down, the State College Food Bank didn’t close for a single day.
From Saloon to Soul: How Manny’s Became Happy Valley’s Most Surprising New Cultural Force
In a town known for football Saturdays and late-night bar crawls, something quietly revolutionary is happening on Hiester Street.
