Minority- and women-owned, small and local businesses must grow to
survive, but few can afford the financial, planning and marketing
consultants that large companies regularly hire. That is where the
Jamaica Business Resource Center comes in. Designated a national
pilot by President Clinton, the Resource Center’s programs for
these businesses have been replicated in 16 cities around the
country.
With the University as a cosponsor, the Resource Center holds an
annual Minority Business Marketing Summit. The summit draws more
than 1000 business leaders from the private and public sector. The
University and the Resource Center have also co-sponsored a 10-week
long Marketing Institute, a Construction Management Institute and
workshops on business planning, financing and legal issues.
The Resource Center helps potential University vendors in other
ways, including providing assistance in reading blueprints,
estimating project costs and submitting bid proposals.
As a founding member of the St. John’s University Community
Advisory Board, the Jamaica Business Resource Center also
encourages the University to expand its efforts to reach out to
minority- and womenowned, small and local businesses.