Quinnipiac to get $406K toward business accelerator program

PHOTO | CJ Yopp of Quinnipiac University U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Erik Clemons, president of ConnCORP and a trustee at Quinnipiac University.

Write a Comment

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Quinnipiac University is getting a $406,000 federal grant, money it plans to use toward a new business accelerator program.

The program, called the Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic, or CEAC, will serve underrepresented entrepreneurs and small-business owners throughout Greater New Haven, according to an announcement.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, was at the Hamden-based university’s School of Business Wednesday afternoon to announce the grant, which was awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

According to Blumenthal, the grant will allow the university to “support the entrepreneurial dreams” of more than 100 minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in the region.

The funding will be used toward entrepreneurial skill building, guidance and ongoing mentoring. Participants can expect to benefit from workshops, virtual business clinics, and networking. They can get training related to topics ranging from accounting to supply chain to marketing to business law.

CEAC will help equip them with “the knowledge and tools they need to thrive,” Blumenthal added.

CEAC will serve as the educational partner to the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program, or ConnCORP, which works to advance economic development in underserved communities.

Erik Clemons, president of ConnCORP, said, “The opportunity we have before us through CEAC will allow us to take that next step towards continuing the growth of sustainable wealth generation for Black entrepreneurs” throughout the New Haven area.

CEAC will provide business accelerator resources to minority, women and veteran-owned small businesses working with ConnCORP.

Quinnipiac Provost Debra Liebowitz said the funding will enable Quinnipiac to leverage its academic resources and business knowledge “to help fuel the success of local business owners and entrepreneurs.”

For more information, email QUEntrepreneurshipAcademy@qu.edu.