More than 200 businesses will fill the Bryce Jordan Center today as part of the region's first business and industry expo.

The expo, hosted by the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC), will include businesses from 13 chambers of commerce throughout central Pennsylvania, said Jean Gerber, vice president of chamber operations.

"It's an opportunity for businesses to showcase products and services to each other and to the general public," Gerber said.

The CBICC has held expos at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center over the past 10 years, but as the program grew, organizers decided to make it more regional and move it to the Bryce Jordan Center.

The day will feature a luncheon in the south annex of the Bryce Jordan Center for attendees who have pre-registered, Gerber said. Penn State men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis will present opening remarks and Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley will be the keynote speaker.

The expo will consist of nine workshops, which are open to businesses and community members at no cost, Gerber said.

Following the expo, attendees are invited to an "AfterHours TweetUp" on the Bryce Jordan Center concourse for $5.

"The TweetUp is an opportunity for people who use social networking sites to meet in real life," Gerber said. "It gives a personal touch to the social networking experience."

Though the expo is not being marketed as a venue to explore job opportunities, Gerber said it would be beneficial for students to attend.

"[Students] could make contacts within the business community, and it would be a good opportunity for them to become a little bit more knowledgeable about the business community," Gerber said.

While the expo will feature regional industries, many local businesses will also attend, including Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA).

"We're big supporters of the chamber here in town, but more than anything, we're going to be there to promote our CATA commute program," CATA marketing manager Jacqueline Sheader said. "It's a good opportunity for us to get this information out there."

Planning the expo has required "an unbelievable amount of effort," Gerber said.

"This is a very large event, and we started planning a little later than we would have liked," she said. "It's been a really big commitment on everyone's part to pull this together."