M&T Bank opens Fifth Harrisburg Small Business Program

M&T Bank is launching the Fifth Harrisburg Small Business Accelerator Program.

Registration is open for the eight-week program, which begins April 29 and is free for local business owners. The registration deadline has been extended to April 19.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Harrisburg,” Mayor Wanda Williams said in a statement. “They reflect the determination, creativity, and resilience of our residents. This accelerator program is more than a learning opportunity—it is an investment in people, in families, and in the future of our city. When we equip entrepreneurs with the tools to succeed, we are not only strengthening individual businesses, we are building stronger neighborhoods and a more vibrant, inclusive economy for all.”

According to a release, M&T Bank is seeking 40 entrepreneurs to participate in its fifth Harrisburg Small Business Accelerator Program. The program is designed to provide small business owners with the guidance and skills needed to build strong businesses, spur economic growth in Harrisburg’s Capital Region, and build generational wealth for their families.

The program is held in partnership with the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (CIE). The program’s sessions will focus on business planning, establishing credit, accessing capital, marketing, branding, and networking.

“Now in its fifth year, the Small Business Accelerator Program continues to create opportunities for entrepreneurs across the Capital Region,” M&T Bank’s Regional President for Central and Western Pennsylvania Nora Habig said. “It’s a privilege to partner with the CIE and see firsthand how this program helps small business owners strengthen their businesses and drive economic growth in Harrisburg.”

Said CIE Executive Director Jay Jayamohan, “Entrepreneurship has never been more important than it is today. In a world changing at unprecedented speed, programs like this ensure that bold ideas—especially from early-stage founders—have the support, mentorship, and ecosystem they need to become real businesses. At CIE, we are privileged to be a strong partner to M&T’s leadership in the community as they stand beside these entrepreneurs and help turn their ambition into lasting impact.”

The M&T Bank Small Business Accelerator Program courses are held Wednesday evenings at the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The program concludes June 17 with a pitch competition and opportunity to win grants funded by M&T and totaling $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place.

Entrepreneurs must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• In business between two – five years;
• Annual business revenue of $50,000 – $500,000;
• Principal owner must be 18 years or older; and,
• Small business owners must reside in Harrisburg and surrounding towns.

Qualified applicants will be enrolled in the free program on a first-come, first-served basis. To compete in the pitch competition, participants must attend all course sessions, with one absence permitted.

The Capital Region Small Business Accelerator Program launched in 2022, providing 40 small-business owners with free access to resources and education to grow their business. The 2022 program received the Catalyst Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation for its impact on businesses in the area.

“Small businesses are a keystone of Pennsylvania’s economy, yet too often entrepreneurs are unable to access the guidance and connections necessary for sustained success,” said Sen. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin). This program helps change that by giving small business owners in the Capital Region a real opportunity to strengthen their businesses and expand their impact in the communities they serve.”