Rutgers Business School receives international award

The award was bestowed upon the school for the program’s role in helping small businesses in New Jersey to grow, create jobs and have economic impact.

Since its launch in 2009, over 180 entrepreneurs have participated in the EPI program. The aggregate impact of these companies exceeds $35 million in annual revenue, according to Rutgers.

Lyneir Richardson, executive director of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at Rutgers Business School, accepted the award at the 2015 IEDC Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

She said the honor was a benchmark, but also an indicator of more things to come.

“This is a prestigious honor and we are proud to be acknowledged for having social and business impact,” Richardson said in a prepared statement. “Now we are working on delivering more small business capacity building programs and partnering with other universities to create more entrepreneurs in urban areas.” 

CUEED’s entrepreneurs vary from professional services, apparel, food, even manufacturing and distribution. All the participants are first-generation entrepreneurs.