Willimantic businesses rally behind new Small Business Resource Center

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a community networking event on Sept. 22 at the J. Eugene Smith Library for its recently formalized Small Business Resource Center (SBRC). Launched in partnership with Liberty Bank and the Town of Windham, the SBRC will engage students and support local businesses by providing resources, educational programming, and networking/mentoring opportunities.  

Dean of Education and Professional Studies Niti Pandey spoke about the importance of Eastern students engaging with the local community. “One of the core principles of good business education is to have a positive societal impact,” Pandey said. Of the business program's experiential focus, she added, “We want our students to see how the concepts they learn in classes apply to real life.”  

Provost Cheryl Wilson described the partnership as a “win-win,” emphasizing how the SBRC will benefit emerging entrepreneurs and allow Eastern students to apply their skills in real life to support the community. 

“The infusion of liberal arts with high-quality applied business skills produces students who are well-prepared to serve their community and help local entrepreneurs with the technical aspects of growing their businesses,” Wilson said. 

Liberty Bank Vice President of Community Development Glenn Davis commented on Liberty Bank’s mission to “enrich the lives of our teammates, our customers, and our community for generations to come.”  

Davis, who also serves as Liberty Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act officer, noted that partnering with institutions such as Eastern is essential to advancing entrepreneurship, which leads to community development. “The partnership is a catalyst for stimulating economic development and benefiting the lives of generations to come,” Davis said.  

Business academy and programming

Liberty Bank’s support for the initiative includes offering a “small business academy,” which will provide a series of educational workshops designed to teach essential business skills. Curriculum topics include banking services/credit reporting, organizational types, time management, planning for a healthy business, financial management/record keeping, insurance, risk management, and tax planning.

The first academy takes place from Oct. 14-Nov. 13. Classes will be taught by local experts and university professors, and participants will have the chance to apply for a $5,000 line of credit at the end of the program to be used toward their business initiatives. 

In the coming months, the SBRC will also offer additional programs, including business plan writing workshops and marketing basics for small businesses. The goal is to create a comprehensive set of services that can help entrepreneurs from all backgrounds succeed. 

Community partners

Several community partners attended and spoke at the event. Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo explained that the “learning curve to start businesses is steep; that's why many new businesses fail.”  

DeVivo continued to praise the partnership: “This program is key to the success of people starting and maintaining their businesses.” 

Connecticut State Senator Mae Flexer shared DeVivo’s enthusiasm for the partnership. “We have amazing entrepreneurs in our community and it’s great to have these resources from Eastern and Liberty Bank in one place,” she said. 

Chris McNaboe, chair of the Willimantic Downtown Neighborhood Association and CEO of Horizons, a children’s camp in Windham, emphasized the importance of Eastern students sharing their skills in the local community.  

“At Horizons, we know the growing pains of starting a small business. ... We want to partner with Eastern students to help us in the areas we are not good at,” she said.  

Elle Sherman, executive director of the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce (NCCC), acknowledged the SBRC’s ability to “create real opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on experience. This aligns with the NCCC’s goal to “build a bridge for better business in our community through networking, education, advocacy, and growth. 

“Those connections are essential, not just for potential work opportunities, but for inspiring young people to live, work, and grow,” she continued. 

Eastern alumnus Ray LaPointe ’25 shared his journey from student to business owner. LaPointe, who won the College of Business’s Big Ideas Pitch Competition in spring 2025 and went on to found a social networking app called Social Spark, praised the new center for the resources it offers aspiring entrepreneurs.