Higher Ed
On Feb 27, 2023
New Jersey City University (NJCU), in partnership with the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC), officially held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for its new location at the NJCU School of Business on Feb. 14.
The event was attended by local and statewide political leaders, community partners, and university officials, and also served to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the NJSBDC’s partnership with the university that served to educate and empower businesses and entrepreneurs in Hudson County and throughout the state since its inception.
The new location at the NJCU School of Business at 200 Hudson Street (Harborside 2) in Jersey City, will provide a modern space and convenient access to those wishing to utilize the NJSBDC at NJCU, which was previously housed at 285 West Side Avenue in the city.
Speakers at the event included NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo, NJSBDC State Director Kelly Brozyna, Sheila Harris-Adams, regional director NJSBDC at the NJCU School of Business, Sean Ramsaywak, Northeast Division area manager Minority Entrepreneurs at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and John Blackstone, SBA district director, NJ District Office. They were joined by other key stakeholders including local and state dignitaries, NJSBDC and NJCU leadership for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
During the ceremony, New Jersey State Assemblyman (D) of District 33 in Jersey City — the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Parliamentarian of the Legislature — presented an Assembly Commendation on behalf of the state, honoring the NJSBDC at the NJCU School of Business.
Acebo praised the impact of the event, saying, “This particular partnership between the state’s small business development center and NJCU is significant because of its direct alignment with the mission of our university. This partnership builds upon the work we have done over the last month of my brief tenure, including the historic PLA we signed with the Hudson County Building and Construction Trades Council. The university is committed to aligning with organizations that align with our mission to bring together our community with urgency and unrelenting resolve in the spirit of championing economic and upward social mobility, workforce development, business creation, and empowering a socioeconomically diverse population and historically underserved and marginalized community. I especially want to thank Kelly Brozyna and Sheila Harris-Adams for their leadership which will have a real impact on the lives of our students and our communities.”
Brozyna added: “We are excited for the new location for the NJSBDC at NJCU School of Business. This new location will open new doors for our clients and provide the much-needed resources to assist the business community. This new opportunity and location wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership and the direction of Interim President Andres Acebo. I have worked with Andres for the past three years and his ability to make “things happen” has been remarkable. Andres offers a fresh perspective and truly understands the needs of distressed communities. As the State Director and CEO of the NJSBDC, I am excited about the new possibilities with NJCU and how we will grow the resources in Hudson County together!”
During the event, Harris-Adams gave an overview of the programs, initiatives, training opportunities, and workshops the new leadership of the NJSBDC has designed to serve the small, minority, veteran, and LGBTQ businesses throughout the state.
Among the programs highlighted, Harris-Adams reviewed the NJSBDC at NJCU School of Business and the partnership it created with JPMorgan Chase to present “First Fridays: — a series focused on all things small business, including how to finance and gain access to capital. Harris-Adams also shared the New Jersey Restaurant Owners Roundtable initiative — an internal program established to provide customized workshops, training, resources and support to restaurants in the area.
Additionally, the NJSBDC at the NJCU School of Business has established a Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC), which will serve as a resource hub for active-duty personnel and veteran entrepreneurs. The NJSBDC’s Business Accelerator program is partnering with TG Capital and the businesses of Hudson County and beyond.
Harris-Adams said: “I consider it an honor to be able to work with the amazing small businesses of Hudson County and beyond and be able to do so with our absolutely amazing NJSBDC at the NJCU School of Business team. To do so alongside incredible leaders like Kelly Brozyna and Andrés Acebo is truly a blessing. As I looked out from the podium at the event, I was encouraged to see so many local and state government officials, representatives from other community organizations, industry partners, and leaders from NJCU. It served as a reminder that we are not alone in our commitment to empower, educate and equip our communities, businesses and our students! We are excited to be able to present a number of programs specifically designed to not just help business survive but thrive.”
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