January 26. 2012 12:22PM
An agreement signed Wednesday by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Bergen Community College will transfer the commission's four-year-old business accelerator to the school this fall.
The incubator will move into facilities on the Lyndhurst campus of Bergen Community in September, around the same time the school finishes renovations on a conference center. Interim President José A. Adames said the school is fulfilling part of its mission to "reach out to the business community and to fledgling companies."
"The Meadowlands area and the Meadowlands campus — we see it as a growth area, not only for businesses, but also for students in that area of the county," Adames said, adding that more courses are being added to the Lyndhurst campus for the fall semester.
Adames said the incubator would be under the continuing education umbrella at the school, but would be more a partnership than integrated into the school. Business owners will have access to additional professional training through the school, and students will have shadowing and possibly internship opportunities with the incubator's clients.
Adames said he does not expect any cost from moving the incubator to BCC, as participants pay a nominal fee to rent the space and receive services. Currently, the NJMC leases space for the companies, but the fee does not cover the lease expense.
He also said the accelerator's focus on alternative energy and green business dovetails with the school's increasing attention to environmental issues, and that additional business focuses will be added as the incubator grows.
The NJMC will remain on the advisory board for the accelerator and continue to work closely with BCC.
"The Meadowlands Commission is confident that the accelerator will continue to thrive in Bergen Community's very capable hands," said Marcia Karrow, NJMC executive director, in the announcement. "The commission is also extremely proud of the accelerator's clients and their remarkable achievements."
The accelerator provides mentoring, planning and marketing assistance, and grant-writing support services to startup companies approved for the program.
