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Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute Opening August 20th
The Stardust Institute is located in the First Niagara Center building at 2 State Street. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for Aug. 20th at 3:00 PM.
Special guests include SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and Senator Michael F. Nozzolio. Approximately 170 invited guests including City, County and State Officials will be in attendance.
Light refreshments will follow the dedication of the Smart Classroom and the five business incubators. Building tours to follow the Ceremony
The Stardust Entrepreneurial Board of Directors includes: Mr. Jack Bisgrove, President, Dr. Daniel Larson, Vice-President, Ms. Nancy Thomas, Treasurer, Mr. Robert Bergan, Secretary, Mr. Peter Emerson, Board Member, Mr. Guy Cosentino, Executive Director, Thomas J. Paczkowski, CFP and the Fred L. Emerson Endowed Chair in Innovation and Enterprise.
The Mission Statement
The Institute offers a broad range of programs, services and activities whose purpose is to help people achieve their goals in personal and professional enrichment while promoting social and economic development. The Institute is committed to working in a collaborative manner with community agencies while maintaining high levels of quality, accessibility and responsiveness to community interests and needs, thereby stimulating business organization and development in the community.
Cayuga Community College in conjunction with the Stardust Foundation of CNY, the Fred L. Emerson Foundation, the First Niagara Foundation and State Senator Michael Nozzolio has combined forces to create the Stardust Institute for Entrepreneurship.
In keeping with the college’s Mission Statement, the Stardust Institute will serve as a stimulus for economic and social development, complementing existing public and private agencies and services as they prepare the next generation of leaders.
The work of the Institute will revolve around three Centers that, together, will serve as a collaboratory– a laboratory of collaboration, sharing intellectual, financial and physical resources, resulting in unparalleled intellectual productivity and economic development, following are descriptions of the three Centers:
- The Center for Community and Workforce Development will work with employers, community service agencies, non-profits, government agencies and other organizations needing employee and client training.
The training may be organization specific or of general interest and applicability. Traditional and innovative training programs, workshops and seminars will be designed to increase worker motivation and productivity.
- The Center for Entrepreneurial Initiatives will feature an incubator system staffed by seasoned professionals ready and willing to offer support and advice to budding businesspeople as they take their first steps into the marketplace.
This Center will also include a clearinghouse for information, support services and expertise designed to complement existing agencies. The Center will foster and support neighborhood ventures that promote development in underserved and economically challenged areas.
An Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame will honor those pioneers in business, industry, politics and social reform.
- The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies will provide educational programming and opportunities in traditional and innovative ways.
College students desiring transfer and those seeking more immediate pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities will find programming to their benefit. Public school students will be challenged to explore their dreams as they capitalize on their skills, talent and training. Community Service and Service Learning will become the norm as faculty across the curriculum will infuse the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship into their coursework.
Internships and work study opportunities will provide the experiential learning so vital to engagement in the educational process.
A student enterprise competition conducted at both the community college and public school levels will serve the dual purpose as a learning tool for the students and as a presentation document to loan officers and venture capitalists.
Additionally, a student incubator system will promote new ventures as the youth of Cayuga County explore their interests and capitalize on their talent and ideas.
To quote Project Coordinator Thomas Packowski, “The project has evolved considerably since I presented the initial concept in the fall of 2006. The Stardust Institute Board consisting of Jack Bisgrove, Nancy Thomas, Robert Bergan, Peter Emerson and Dr. Daniel Larson has provided the guidance necessary to have the Institute to fulfill its promise and potential. The development of the site, under the direction of Guy Cosentino, has the Institute emerging as a prominent leader in the renewed revitalization of downtown Auburn community and will serve as a focal point of economic development within the community. The National recognition that Cayuga Community College and the Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute are receiving for this project suggests it will become a model for other communities to emulate as they seek to replicate our success.”
For further information Thomas Paczkowski, Project Coordinator, may be reached at (315) 255-1743, ext. 2212 or by e-mail at Paczkowski@cayuga-cc.edu.
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