Five students from New Haven-area colleges and universities are on a mission: to find out what city businesses need and help them.
The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce is working with the graduate students, all economic-development fellows, in the effort, according to Chamber President Garrett Sheehan.
“We have had them doing economic outreach visits, focused on New Haven,” Sheehan said. “The next step is to have them work on economic development projects – topics that we see as barriers to growth.”
According to Sheehan, the program aims to help existing businesses expand and stay in Connecticut.
The students include Sydney Santos from the University of New Haven, Haroon Chaudhry of Southern Connecticut State University, Nicholas Miller from Albertus Magnus, Gus Roman from Yale University and Amanda Murad from Quinnipiac University.
The paid fellowships started in January, and the students will be working with the chamber until May. The students are contacting companies to learn more about any issues and challenges they are facing.
While the program initially included in-person visits, this is changing because of the coronavirus crisis.
“We are going to have to adjust our activities,” Sheehan said. “Face-to-face meetings with businesses are out. It’s also not a great time to get a full picture of the business. We will shift to business support and longer-term economic development projects.”
The program has been made possible through financial support from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority and the Elm City Innovation Collaborative (ECIC), according to Sheehan. The chamber received $40,000 for the program.
Michael Harris, ECIC director, said the goal of the CTNext Innovation Places Program is to engage businesses throughout the New Haven region, especially the innovation community.
Going forward, they hope to help businesses find interns, hire locally, build connections with area colleges, and assist with any plans for expansion, whether it is for additional employees or more space, according to Harris.
“The chamber’s use of fellows gives a pathway to the next generation of people who will be involved in economic development,” Harris said. “It also exposes them to companies in their back yard.”
Before the health crisis, the students said they heard a range of concerns from business owners, such as the cost of doing business in the state, and the need for workforce development and interns.
The students are trying to match companies’ needs with any programs or services which are available, such as through the chamber.
One of the students, Yale student Gus Roman, has met with businesses, including leadership at online pharmacy company Valisure.
“I am hearing some trends — most people in New Haven want to stay here,” Roman said. “I am hearing a lot from people who need buildings and space.”
“I’ve been working to connect people with talent and resources, and letting them know we are here for them,” Roman said.
Sydney Santos, a student at the University of New Haven, said she has already had a lot of conversations with the business community and learned a lot, while also having the opportunity to connect people with the chamber’s resources.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
