The Southside Bethlehem KIZ has launched its first stand-alone website.

Over the last 12 years, the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) has led to the creation of nearly 400 new jobs, over 100 new products developed, and about $6 million invested in 80 companies.

But it’s never had it’s own website. Until now.

The newly-launched southsidebethlehemkiz.com has everything you need to know about the KIZ, including an interactive map, available financing programs, mentorship and assistance opportunities, news and stories, and more.

“This has been a long time coming: since 2004, to be exact,” said Asher Schiavone, Bethlehem economic development coordinator. The KIZ is managed by the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO).

“The KIZ has always invested in local start-up companies and entrepreneurs, but with this website and other recent efforts we are essentially doubling-down on that investment by promoting the resources, companies, partnerships, and people that make Bethlehem the place to be if you’re an entrepreneur,” Schiavone said.

KIZs are designated areas within Pennsylvania that foster entrepreneurial growth in coordination with the efforts of institutions of higher education. In Bethlehem’s case, the KIZ provides an incentive for graduating Lehigh University and Northampton Community College students with an idea for a startup company to locate in the city, rather than leaving the state for Silicon Valley or another technology hub.

The Southside Bethlehem KIZ has been featured on the LVEDC and the city of Bethlehem websites in the past, but this marks the first time it has had its own site. It was designed to be user-friendly for mobile devices as well as traditional Internet browsers, Schiavone said.