The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced it has received an $11,000 grant from the PPL Foundation.

The funds will help support IGNITE Schuylkill, an entrepreneurial development program for aspiring business owners designated to support and nurture the growth of early-stage businesses.

With significant startup funding on the line, aspiring entrepreneurs who have a business idea that would generate a positive impact on the community at large, and the local economy, create new and sustained jobs, and have a positive impact on tax revenue, are encouraged to enter the IGNITE Schuylkill business plan competition.

The application submission deadline has been extended to Oct. 16, or until 10 eligible applications have been received.

The new business must be in Schuylkill County and have a brick-and-mortar location.

The IGNITE Schuylkill application; rules, eligibility and criteria information; and hold harmless and confidentiality agreement can be found on the Chamber’s website.

An IGNITE Schuylkill question-and-answer session will be held during BoostMyBiz Happy Hour hosted by Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute at 5 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Pottsville CollegeTowne campus.

Anyone interested in submitting a new business idea to the IGNITE Schuylkill program is encouraged to attend this Q&A session.