Los estudiantes de Alvernia obtienen acceso a capacitación sobre micropréstamos para apoyar a los empresarios locales a través de una asociación ampliada entre la universidad y Visions Federal Credit Union. The partnership will award the university's O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship a multiyear sponsorship grant to fund training for students and clients in the institute's student-powered business incubator.
"We are grateful for Visions' partnership and its support of experiential learning for our business students and our O'Pake fellows while helping us to support new business creation in Reading," said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. "Their belief in the Reading CollegeTowne initiative as a catalyst for change for Reading provides a wonderful opportunity to ensure we can support the creation of new business in our community."
Visions will train students in the O'Pake Fellows Program on what financial institutions look for in startup businesses seeking micro loans. Esta valiosa información es fundamental para los empresarios que buscan financiamiento y les proporciona a los becarios conocimientos del mundo real. Además, la cooperativa de crédito también trabajará con clientes generadores de oportunidades de préstamos empresariales y buscará implementar capacitación en educación financiera en toda la comunidad del campus.
"Securing funding is a critical component of the entrepreneurial process," said Vice President, Associate Provost and Chief Operating Officer of the O'Pake Institute, Dr. Rodney Ridley. "By guiding the student fellows and local entrepreneurs in the business incubator, Visions will have a major impact on the economic development activity in downtown Reading."
The O'Pake business incubator has already served over 50 clients since its launch last year and continues to help new businesses navigate the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are proud to support and educate the student fellows and entrepreneurs through our partnership with Alvernia University," said Visions Federal Credit Union Director of Impact & Engagement, Lizette Epps. "Financial literacy really is more than just providing education, it is about building confidence. Our goal at Visions is to enable entrepreneurs to be in control of their financial future and take responsibility for every dollar, whether it be for sourcing funds or maintaining the books, all while avoiding some of the pitfalls new businesses may fall into."
O'Pake serves as the catalyst for educational and business expansion in center city Reading. In addition to the partnership with Visions, O'Pake has secured partnerships with SCORE Berks Schuylkill Chapter, Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, Kutztown University's Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as the institute's initial group of sponsors, Pepsi®, Customers Bank, the Wyomissing Foundation, RKL, LLP and the Berks Alliance.
En enero, Alvernia inició un proyecto de renovación por un valor de $20 millones en su edificio recientemente adquirido en 401 Penn Street, que servirá como el centro de Reading CollegeTowne, un modelo estratégico para el desarrollo económico en el centro de la ciudad.
Acerca de Visions Federal Credit Union
Visions es una institución financiera sin fines de lucro que es propiedad absoluta de sus miembros. Visions, establecida en 1966, se enorgullece de prestar servicio a más de 210,000 miembros en comunidades en todo New Jersey, New York y Pennsylvania. Sus servicios incluyen operaciones bancarias, así como también préstamos para automóviles, para viviendas, personales y empresariales.
