YSU Cushwa business center will end

Fellowships will be in engineering, math, science or technology.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- While Youngstown State University officials are touting a restructuring of the Cushwa Center for Business Development as a way to attract bright thinkers to the Mahoning Valley, the plans announced Wednesday are not good news to some.
The center, established in 1978 through an endowment from the Cushwa family and Commercial Shearing Inc., will be discontinued. The center's resources will be redirected to create the Charles B. Cushwa Jr./Commercial Shearing Inc. Graduate Student Scholarship/Fellowship Fund at YSU.
Dr. Tony Atwater, YSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, said it is the first program carrying this type of prestige at YSU.
"I think it will be a big advantage to us in terms of recruiting highly talented students to this region and to YSU," he said. "These students will be working with industry and taking innovative and exciting approaches to improving our economic situation here in the Valley."
No more advice
But Brenda Mack, CEO of the Krystal Klean stone restoration and janitorial business in Youngstown, said she is sorry to hear the center will be gone.
"Many times I went to the center for advice and moral support. It was just always there in case I needed it," said Mack.
"It disappoints me because I don't feel there's a great deal of support for small business [in this area], especially for minority and female businesses."
City Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, worked at the center for 10 years, leaving in July, and said employees there held seminars and offered counseling, referrals and hands-on assistance with business plans, marketing plans and spread sheets. He said he is saddened by the news.
"The university has to keep its hand on the pulse of start-ups and expansions, and I don't know if students have the capability to do that, or if they want to do that," he said. "We helped a lot of businesses get started or move to the next level. ... I feel a little personal loss."
The center's annual report for fiscal year 2002 shows that it received about $186,000 in annual tax money and expected businesses served in fiscal year 2002 to generate $371,000 in sales tax and $233,000 in payroll income tax.
It was about 30 customers shy of its 1,300 customer consultations goal but met most others, surpassing a goal to create and retain 120 jobs by 35.
The center had been operated by an interim director as the university searched for a replacement.
Cushwa family
Atwater said discussion to make the change was initiated by Cushwa family members, who thought that the fellowship program might be a more effective use of the funds in terms of their goals.
As many as five two-year fellowships in engineering, math, science or technology will be awarded annually, each including full tuition and a stipend. Students will complete the fellowship, which also will be supported by funds from YSU and the YSU Foundation, as part of their academic work to receive a master of science or other graduate degree.
Its purpose
The Cushwa Center for Business Development, located in the Youngstown Business Incubator in downtown Youngstown and supported by a $1.5 million endowment, was established to assist inventors, innovators and businesses in developing new products and processes for commercialization.
William Cushwa Sr. said two years were spent reviewing the center's progress and impact. It was concluded that the fellowship program would provide the greatest impact to the most individuals and businesses in the region.
Charles B. Cushwa III, a member of the YSU board of trustees, said he believes the resources of the university in terms of economic development will be more effective with this restructuring.
"The addition of these students will allow the faculty the extra manpower needed to further develop business opportunities, including new patents and other technological development," he said.