SUNY Chancellor Visits MVCC And thINCubator

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson paid a visit to Mohawk Valley Community College and the college's thINCubator on Tuesday.

With Johnson looking on, MVCC President Randy VanWagoner signed the National Association for Community College Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge.

Community college presidents who sign the pledge commit to five steps to increase the college's focus on entrepreneurship and its impact on the economy.

1.  Develop transparency of community college and community assets
2.  Create internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship
3.  Increase entrepreneurs’ engagement in community colleges
4.  Engage in industry cluster development
5.  Create broad exposure to their college’s commitment to entrepreneurship

Johnson says she's impressed with the work being done at the thINCubator.  She says entrepreneurs are critical to the New York State economy.

“Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart,” said Johnson. “You have to be strong. You have to be resilient. You have to be all of the things that Mohawk Valley gives its graduates.”

MVCC's thINCubator has assisted 22 new businesses in the area over the last two years.