How the Construction Business Initiatives Team Is Supporting Local and Small Businesses This Spring
The Construction Business Initiatives (CBI) team supports Columbia University by communicating with small and local businesses. The CBI team’s efforts introduce Columbia’s project management teams to new vendors that meet the University’s needs and help them thrive in our community. Below are a few highlights from their work this spring.
Small Business Week 2025
The CBI Team participated in a Small Business Week 2025 event hosted by the New York City Public School’s Office of Business Development. At an event at the Jackie Robinson Museum, CBI met with small business owners from across New York City. In addition to his storied baseball career, Robinson had an impressive record as an entrepreneur.
State of the New York Women in Business
Tanya Pope, AVP of Construction Business Initiatives, spoke on a panel at the State of the New York Women in Business, an event hosted by the New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce. This event at the Lee C. Bollinger Forum also showcased local and small businesses, including Beautiful Amore Skincare.
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Slide 1: Two individuals stand side by side in front of a wooden door, holding a book titled 'Cohort 9 - Track 1.' Their faces are obscured for privacy. The person on the left wears a black dress with striped sleeves and large hoop earrings. The person on the right wears a white shirt under a blue blazer. Both are wearing name tags.
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Slide 2: Two individuals stand in a room with a wooden door and an illuminated exit sign above it. Behind them, a large screen displays event information: 'Procurement Event #1, April 23, 2025, 4:00pm - 6:00pm' along with the Columbia CU Grow Vendor Development Program logo. The screen background features a cityscape image.
CU Grow: Vendor Development Program
The CU Grow: Vendor Development Program welcomed its ninth cohort and hosted a procurement event. CU Grow is a multi-dimensional coaching program developed to assist small and local firms by expanding their existing portfolio of business and contracts with large clients. The program year kicked off with a matching ceremony where firms first met their coaches that they will work with through the 11-month program. At the procurement event in April, current and past program participants heard about upcoming construction and maintenance projects in the Columbia portfolio.