Southwestern Receives $200,000 Grant

Gary Temple

Southwestern Adventist University has been awarded a $200,000 grant to be used to create an Entrepreneurship and Small Business Resource Center. The University received official notice of the award on October 1 from the United States Small Business Administration, the organization making the grant.

Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Tex) was instrumental in working with Southwestern to obtain the grant in conjunction with the 2010 Congressional Earmark Program. According to Gary Temple, vice president for university advancement, the University has completed the two lengthy stages of obtaining the grant; first, in being included in the earmark program, and second, in actually applying for the grant. Funds from the grant are part of a five-year program.

“This is a great example of government doing something that will make a big difference in higher education,” says Temple. “The Center will be instrumental in joining higher education and small business in Johnson County.”

The Entrepreneur and Small Business Resource Center has three objectives: (1) to enhance library research materials to support courses for small businesses; (2) to refurbish existing space to accommodate the new Center; (3) to strengthen the University’s academic and outreach programs that support local small businesses.

The Center will be located in Pechero Hall on the University campus. It will include multiple databases, including ABI Inform, Factiva, Financial Datastream, Foundation Directory, Hoover’s Online, IMF Statistics. In addition it will include an interactive white board and computers for instruction, as well as videoconferencing capabilities for public performance and group work with remote partners. Additional printed material will be available for small businesses through the Chan Shun Centennial Library at the University.

“I’m excited to see how this Center will reach out to the community,” says Temple. “I hope that Johnson County will continue to see the University as a resource in business.”

The Center is anticipated to be ready for use by early March, 2011.

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