An opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect and be inspired by the talent around them, while also learning more about the resources offered in town to help them flourish.

The Valley Fab Lab held its annual Fab Fest Tuesday, benefitting entrepreneurs, makers, innovators, small businesses and the local community. The Fab Festival's goal is to ensure makers, innovators, and small business owners know how much they can benefit from the Valley Fab Lab.

"We want anybody that wants to be creative to be able to come and utilize the space," said Maggie Horne, Administrative Director with Valley Fab Lab. "We also want our small business owners and our entrepreneurs to be able to use the products that we can produce for them to help them promote or create a new product for their product line."

The Fab Fest featured project showcases, interactive demos, and networking opportunities. The Valley Fab Lab is a collaboration between Gannon University Small Business Development Center and Whole Life Services, Inc.

It's space in Hermitage is the "perfect haven for creators, businesses, and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality," according to the program. 

The Valley Fab Lab now works out of Kennedy Catholic Schools, also offering assistance to students. The program aims to be an affordable resource for Valley startups and individuals looking to develop new skills. It also offers consulting and classes on running your own business.

"It's all about the cost for us and with the material that we can buy for ourselves," explained Drew Nicastro, Owner of Gato Negro Cigar Co. "We can come in and learn all these machines ourselves."

Nicastro is one of the dozens of business owners already benefitting from the Fab Lab, learning new tools while using its cost-effective offerings.

"You're going to be able to save so much money and resources," he added. "And you'll be a lot more proud after the fact."

"Your imagination is the only barrier," Horne concluded. "Whatever you think you have an idea about, we can help you bring that to life."

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