Small businesses, they say, are the backbone of the economy, many of them quietly, almost secretly manufacturing products and employing people.
Take Bassler Pattern Works. Tucked away in a back street of Montoursville, the company is a manufacturer of patterns for foundries, according to owner Lou Bassler.
During a tour of his plant at 430 South Alley, Bassler talked about some of the designs he's done over the years.
The company's clients read like a local Who's Who list of businesses: Textron, Construction Specialties, Shop Vac, Williamsport Foundry, NuWeld of Trout Run and the Ralph J. Roberts Co.
"We do a lot of stuff for the amusement industry," he said.
Among the company's designs have been safety bars for amusement park rides, wood sculptures, even products for a defense contractor.
At one point, Bassler stepped outside his plant to show some of his work for the James V. Brown Library. There, a shark and an octopus perched atop the library's colorful Get Hooked on Books van, a mobile unit for the children's summer reading program.
Both creatures were made possible courtesy of Bassler's company.
Katie Bell, Williamsport/Lycoming Keystone Innovation Zone coordinator for the IMC, noted that Bassler's business is a good local resource.
"If we have clients who need to design products, we can come to Lou," said Bell, whose job is to help clients develop products, technologies and new business start-ups.
KIZs are designated zones that may be established in communities that host institutions of higher education, colleges, universities and associate-degree technical schools. Designed to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportunities, KIZ program work involves gathering and aligning the combined resources of educational institutions, private businesses, business support organizations, commercial lending institutions, venture capital networks and foundations.
Bell noted that much of the state grant money, which includes KIZ funding, is drying up. That means more networking is needed to connect people who have ideas with those who can help make them happen.
Toward that end, Bassler was among the co-founders of the Inventor's Club, which receives support from the local KIZ.
Bassler conceded that many inventors can be consumed by big ideas that may never come to fruition.
"You'd be surprised. Some think they are going to invent the next best mousetrap," he said with a smile.
He added that while the percentage is low, his company has been in on the initial process of helping some bring products to market.
"Product development tends to take a long time," Bell said.
Bassler, for his part, has had no shortage of ideas of his own. Throughout the floors of his three-story plant can be found some of his design work over the years.
Later, he demonstrated the sophisticated technology that has allowed him and his employees, which include sons Aaron and Argus, to turn out some of the patterns for products.
"None of this is possible without computers," he said.
At 67, Bassler is at an age when many people have long since stopped working.
But with his obvious energy and enthusiasm for his work, he shows no signs of slowing down.
He said he was still a kid growing up in Montoursville when he decided he wanted to own a business.
"I just didn't know what," he said.
His wife, Emily, who helps with the family business, has no complaints that her husband has worked so long and hard at keeping it running for some 40 years.
Through the years he's tried to keep up with the changing technology by reading, watching television, going to trade shows.
State Sen. E. Eugene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, said Bassler's company is evidence that the area has its share of good businesses.
"A lot of people think to get any kind of expertise you need to go 100 miles away," he said.
