USC Media and Public Relations

Fifty-eight new participants will sign-up for the next USC Bridges to Business for Success (B2BS) series this Fall because of this new Citibank funding. The USC Bridges Program is a public-private collaboration supported by USC's Minority Business Development Agency Business Center (MBDA), the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Economic and Business Policy, the Los Angeles Housing Department, the Southern California Minority Business Development Institute and the Small Business Administration's Service Corps of Retired Executives, as well as the Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles, the Black Business Association and the Asian Business Association.

Citi Community Development funded the first two cohorts of the USC Bridges Program with a gift of $60,000. B2BS participants learned to expedite the many details of the procurement process by navigating legal and regulation issues in an efficient manner. They also received business presentation analysis and project management training.  To date, the pilot program has graduated 42 contractors with a 100% success rate at bidding and acquiring government contracts. Cumulatively, B2BS graduates have provided over 100 jobs throughout Los Angeles since April 2012.

Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Community Development and Microfinance said, "Citi is proud to help business owners in Southern California receive the resources they need to succeed, grow, and create jobs. Part of Citi's mission is to empower individuals through financial independence, and through this innovative program we will reach hundreds of minority entrepreneurs and business owners, providing valuable training, networking opportunities and technical assistance."

Sergio Gascon, Executive Director of USC MBDA Business Center excited to have a new cohort of contractors who had been on the waiting list start this coveted program. Gascon says, "This is a win-win situation for all." For more information about USC's Bridges to Business Success program and USC's other Civic Engagement program, please visit us here.

ABOUT USC IN THE COMMUNITY: The University of Southern California has been a proud and active member of its community since 1880. USC believes its strength as a great university depends on its ability to be a good neighbor. USC is dedicated to supporting healthy, vibrant and engaged communities around its University Park and Health Sciences campuses. To this end, USC supports families and youth, promotes small business development and economic growth and instills in its students a profound commitment to participate in civic life.

• USC invests $32 million annually to support community initiatives, serving 40,000 community members.
• USC students, staff and faculty devote more than 650,000 hours in the community each year.
• The USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative, an intensive college prep program, sends 100 percent of its students to college, with nearly half getting full-tuition scholarships to USC.
• USC has adopted 15 neighborhood elementary, middle and high schools as part of its Family of Schools program, sharing with these schools its students and educational resources.
• USC's local hire program puts $5 million in annual salaries back into the neighborhood.
• USC taught 60 small business owners the skills to obtain $61 million dollars in capital, contracts and loans.
• USC has more than 3,000 children in college access programs and more than 500 children in pre-school programs.
• The USC Good Neighbors Campaign raises more than a $1 million in donations every year for community programs through staff and faculty donations.
  

These efforts have been recognized on a national level by the Carnegie Foundation, the president of the American Council on Education, the World Health Organization and the "Saviors of Our Cities" survey of best university civic partnerships. Community outreach was a key factor in TIME magazine naming USC College of the Year in 2000.

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Contact: Teresa Lara, larat@usc.edu