BINGHAMTON, NY - The SUNY Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier (SUNY BEST) will offer the second program in its three-part series on College Towns titled, "Binghamton University and its impact on the community," at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, in room 220 at the Binghamton University Downtown Center, 67 Washington St., Binghamton. This presentation is free and open to the public.

According to experts, a College Town is more than current students and faculty. They are characterized (and measured) by post-graduate professional opportunities that keep young professionals in town after graduation. With the growth of higher education institutions in the Greater Binghamton region, many opportunities and challenges are emerging for local communities, businesses, and service providers.

Speakers for this meeting are Per Stromhaug, assistant vice president for Innovation and Economic Development and Brian Rose, vice president for Student Affairs. Stromhaug will provide an overview of research and entrepreneurship at Binghamton University and how growth is anticipated to impact the region. Rose will share his ideas for making Binghamton more attractive to students after graduation and how to better understand the lifestyle millennials value. He will suggest a direction and strategy for Greater Binghamton – to create a place that appeals to the lifestyle of millennials as a way of retaining them and stopping the brain drain. 

Stromhaug oversees the office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships including tech transfer activities, the start-up suite, entrepreneurial support and economic growth initiatives, the new Southern Tier High Technology Incubator in downtown Binghamton and the Start-up NY initiative at Binghamton University. Rose brings a unique perspective to the College Towns discussion. Prior to joining Binghamton, he spent more than 16 years at Rutgers University in a variety of roles and three plus years as a practicing attorney with a Philadelphia firm where he specialized in real estate development work.  He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in education law and urban planning at Binghamton and Rutgers.

Pre-registration for this discussion is required through the SUNY BEST website at http://ceo.binghamton.edu/sunybest. For additional information, e-mail sunybest@binghamton.edu. 

Directional signage to the meeting room will be visible for those entering the main entrance of the Downtown Center from Washington St. Parking is available in the Collier Street Ramp, the Water Street Ramp, (both within two blocks of the Downtown Center) or if available, any of the metered parking spots in front of the building on Washington St.