Federal grant of $500,000 supports new economic center
Released: June 5, 2003
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will receive a Congressional grant of $496,750 to support critical economic development activities.
The federal funds will go toward a new Technology, Workforce and Economic Development Center to be closely aligned with the university’s nationally recognized College of Business and Economics. According to Chris Clements, dean of the college, the center will be a national model for several economic development efforts, including:
• teaching technology;
• helping small- and medium-sized businesses with technology-related needs;
• promoting entrepreneurship and creating new small businesses;
• and fostering industry and academic partnerships to stimulate economic and workforce development.
“This center plays a crucial role in our vision of the future, where the university and business are partners in technology, education and job creation,” said UW-Whitewater Chancellor Jack Miller.
Several significant outcomes are expected from the center, according to Clements.
“It will help to increase the number of workers who are skilled users of the latest technology and will also create new information-based businesses,” Clements said. Working with the latest technology will also enhance the competitiveness of existing businesses, Clements said.
“On many different levels, the center will bring about a closer, more productive relationship between the university and the business community,” she added.
Also under the proposed center, existing programs will be combined to form a single, coordinated unit to promote economic development. The current offices of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) and the Global Business Resource Center (GBRC) will all work together to offer business support, such as feasibility studies, patent protection and global marketing.
“This will really be a more coordinated approach to serving business needs,” Clements said. “We will have all of our experts who provide critical services to businesses working together.”
Clements said the business service centers will further benefit from completion of the new business building slated for construction in 2005. “The new building will put all of our business service centers under one roof,” Clements said.
A detailed project plan, timelines and an evaluation plan must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education before the grant is awarded. The project must begin before October 1, 2003 and be completed by September 30, 2004.
- Karen Kachel,llkach@hotmail.com
