CMU holds ‘listening event’ to aid business climate
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Carnegie Mellon University is taking an interest in current and potential business owners and developers in the state’s 45th Senatorial District and the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship Executive Director Dave Mawhinney and other members of the center partnered with 45th District state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, Thursday for a “community listening event” at the Palisades in McKeesport.
They were seeking input from community leaders in the Mon Valley about what resources and education area developers, business owners and those interested in entrepreneurial ventures need to succeed.
The Swartz Center is a system of programs and activities “that offers a unique path of entrepreneurship education, engagement, collaboration and opportunity — for a truly transformative learning experience,” according to CMU’s website.
The center is on a listening tour of the Greater Pittsburgh area, Mawhinney said.
Elected and city officials from McKeesport and Clairton participated in person Thursday. East McKeesport officials participated via Zoom.
“We understand that Carnegie Mellon, in many ways, to communities looks like an ivory tower, right?” Mawhinney said. “It’s, in some ways, not approachable in the way and the manner that you would like it to be approachable to our communities.
“Our effort today is to come out and meet with you and listen to the needs of the small businesses.”
“At the end of the day, will we maybe get some recommendations on potential fundings, grants, partnerships that maybe some of the folks don’t currently have that might help them down the road?” Brewster asked Mawhinney.
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