Bizzarro: Gannon receives $200K+ in grants for student manufacturing innovation research projects

Students will partner with local manufacturers to develop new technology

Rep. Ryan Bizzarro April 4, 2025 | 3:31 PM

ERIE, April 4 – Gannon University in Erie County is receiving more than $200,000 in state grant funding to help support student research projects that will promote manufacturing innovation in Pennsylvania, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) announced Friday.

The funding was designated through the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program, which partners college students with local manufacturing companies to develop new technology. Three Gannon University students and manufacturers have been awarded grants totaling $207,269:

$67,513- Longyan Chen and Glacier Scalp Cooling, LLC for the development of a Smart Scalp Cooling Cap for preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia
$69,878- Matthew Gacura and Eco-Erie for safe growing chambers for portable and sterile mushroom farming
$69,878- Davide Piovesan and Consol Energy for the development of a growth chamber for mushroom culture

“We’re focused on keeping Pennsylvania a manufacturing leader. This is a creative program that connects our brightest young minds with established companies to collaborate on new ways that will advance technology and manufacturing across various sectors in Pennsylvania,” said Bizzarro, who received his master’s degree from Gannon University. “I commend both the students and companies for dedicating time and research to these vital projects and look forward to seeing what they come up with.”

Through this round of funding, the Dept. of Community and Economic Development awarded more than $2.8 million to 42 student research projects across the state. A full list can be found here.

In just the first three months of the 2025-2026 legislative session, Bizzarro has helped secure more than $2.9 million in grant funding for Erie County.

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