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September 8, 2023

Entrepreneurial & Women’s Business Center seeks new host

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED The University of Hartford campus.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The longtime Entrepreneurial & Women’s Business Center will no longer operate under the University of Hartford as of later this month, though the center is searching for a new host institution.

On Thursday, the university indicated the center is in the process of aligning with a new host, which will be announced this fall. 

Susan Wollschlager, a spokeswoman for the University of Hartford, said the center will no longer be under the university’s umbrella as of the end of September.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the primary funder of the center, which also runs with help from public and private support. 

Officials declined to comment on who the new center host will be, as the process, which includes pursuing federal grant money, is still ongoing. 

“The SBA is conducting that process now, so we expect that in several weeks, a new host will be chosen and then announced,” Wollschlager said.

The SBA is working with the University of Hartford and the center’s current clients to help facilitate the transition, according to the announcement.

Catherine Marx, SBA Connecticut district director, said SBA’s partnership with the center has helped entrepreneurs at every stage and in every industry for decades.

"Together our teams will ensure that there is continuity of service, and we are grateful for the longevity of collaboration with the University of Hartford,” Marx said.

Lacey Banks McGill, program manager for the Women’s Business Center, said it is proud of what it has accomplished, and the resources it has provided to small business owners throughout the region. 

“We are personally connecting with past and present clients to ensure there is limited disruption to services,” Banks McGill said. “Many are sharing in our optimism about what a larger and more experienced small business organization can do for the community.”

The center is reaching out to clients to assess their short-term needs and make sure they have access to needed resources during the transition to a new host. In the interim, the center will transfer its cases to other partners.

“All groups involved are confident services will continue through the transition to a new host through these plans,” the announcement said.

Programs to help small businesses, including marketing and communications, finance and tax assistance, and a micro business incubator, will continue. The center, which launched in 1985, offers an array of assistance, such as individual coaching, and help with marketing, finance, technology and networking.

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