Jul 26, 2018
The Staten Island SBDC hosted three SBDC team members from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO) in Guadalajara, Mexico on Wednesday, July 24th as past of the NYSBDC/ITESO Best Practices Exchange Tour. The ITESO team is currently traveling through New York State to meet with various NY SBDC centers as part of the Small Business Network of Americas (SBNA) program, which is sponsored by the US Department of State to develop partnerships and expand the SBDC model in the Western Hemisphere.
Starting with a visit to the College of Staten Island Campus, the Staten Island SBDC staff hosted the meeting to share best practices in providing small business assistance to Staten Island and South Brooklyn. Covering everything from the latest industrial developments, disaster assistance during Superstorm Sandy, CSI partnerships, and outreach into South Brooklyn, there was a well-rounded view of the center’s efforts. In comparison, the ITESO team shared descriptions and stories of the various programs held to educate and support the business community in not only Guadalajara but throughout Mexico.
The day ended with a driving tour of Staten Island and a visit to the NY SBDC’s 2018 Community Revilatization Business of the Year Award Winner – the St. George Theatre! Vincent Innocente, Manager, Audience Services and Marketing, provided a tour for the ITESO team, detailing the history and iconic moments of the Theatre in the Staten Island community.