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Economic Development at the Barney School Devon Johnson Assistant Professor of Marketing . AACSB Northeast Business School Deans’ Conference. The Upper Albany Area of Hartford . Source: City data.com. Upper Albany Demographics. Source: Citydata.com. The City of Hartford .
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Economic Development at the Barney School Devon Johnson Assistant Professor of Marketing AACSB Northeast Business School Deans’ Conference
The Upper Albany Area of Hartford Source: City data.com
Upper Albany Demographics Source: Citydata.com
Upper Albany Demographics Source: Citydata.com
Civic Engagement: Upper Albany Main Street Started by: Margery Steinberg Associate Professor • Mission: “To preserve, revitalize and support the • commercial district.” • Designated in May 2000 • August 2002 – granted 501c (3) designation • Under the leadership of Executive Director Ms. Marilyn • Risi • UAMS works in partnership with University of Hartford • 1st urban Main Street Program in Connecticut
Sharing Intellectual Capital: with the Upper Albany Community • In 2002 Marketing Professor Margery Steinberg developed a business practicum course: • Micro Business Incubator or Marketing & Management • Practicum • A full semester 3 credit course that pairs U. Hart students with a micro-business in the Upper Albany Area
The Business Practicum or Micro Business Incubator • A Service Learning Course Model: • Service Learning Course Design Workbook, Michigan Journal of Community Service • Learning(Summer 2001). • Objective(s): To provide experience working directly • alongside professionals involved in economic development • in a disadvantaged urban area • Class Room Strategies: Lecture, student presentations • Assignment: Spend 4 hours per week in business • Assessment of learning: Includes feedback from the • business
Spring 2011 Course Sessions: Instructed by a Business School Faculty – Professor Emerita Margery Steinberg 1. Program vision – University President Walter Harrison 2. Payroll management in micro-businesses 3. Locating and managing a franchise store - CEO of firm family owned 50 unit restaurant franchise business 4. Funding opportunities in Connecticut – Executive Director HEADCO Inc. - Not for profit, Community Development Financial Institution
Spring 2011 Course Sessions: 5. Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce 6. Tax management and tax challenges of micro-businesses 7. Micro-business owner –Challenges and Success 8. Community stakeholder involvement - St. Francis Hospital At each class students get a chance to describe their project and get feedback from the speaker
Micro-Businesses Selection Criteria • Annually UAMS conducts a needs assessment of businesses within the Upper Albany area. Potential to accomplish the academic and civic learning objectives of the course. • Graduate assistant manages the relationship with participating micro-businesses. Contacts participating business before the start of the course to assess suitability and discuss participation in the program. • Assesses the stability and suitability of the micro-business work environment for the students. • Maintains contact with the business to facilitate student feedback and maintain business commitment throughout the course.
Projects: What is your most pressing challenge at the moment? Logo Design Ecommerce - transactions Web Design Market Research Merchandising Retail Floor Layout Loan Applications Marketing Plans Human Resource Issues Design Promotional Materials Civil Engineering Redesign of Restaurant Menus Point-of-Sale Upgrades
Results to Date: • More than 73 local businesses involved • Over 8,800 hours spent by 200 students. • Modernization: Keep pace with technology • Remain relevant to customer needs
Funding Sources • The University of Hartford • The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving • The Travelers Foundation • City of Hartford Initiatives