The New Jersey Small Business Development Center at William Paterson University has received a $15,000 grant for a student-led digital marketing project aimed at helping Northern New Jersey small businesses through AI.
The project will support local entrepreneurs who often face challenges in keeping up with today’s fast-moving digital world. They will work directly with the selected WP students, supported by faculty experts and NJSBDC consultants, to develop AI-powered strategies that streamline marketing tasks, expand customer engagement, and fuel long-term growth.
The initiative is led by Regional Director Melissa Rosario in collaboration with professors Angie Yoo and Jungyun Won of WP’s Department of Communication.
Six WPU students, under the guidance of Yoo and Won, will assist business owners in designing and implementing marketing plans. These students were additionally members of the PRSSA chapter on campus.
The grant from America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is funded by Google.
Rosario explained the benefits of students and businesses collaborating together.
“At the NJSBDC at William Paterson University, we believe innovation should be accessible to every small business owner,” she says. “This project gives entrepreneurs practical tools to compete in a digital economy while giving our students the chance to make an impact in their community.”
The participating students are also the founding members of the University’s soon-to-be-launched Powerhouse Student Agency, a new student-run firm providing hands-on experience in digital marketing and communications strategy. This initiative builds on the StudentConnect program, launched in spring 2024 through a collaboration of WP’s communication department and the NJSBDC, which connects students with local entrepreneurs in need of marketing support.
