The City of New Rochelle and Iona University Announce Partnership to Advance Entrepreneurship and Power Local Business Growth
Collaboration with Iona’s Hynes Institute will expand local business’ access to small business resources and expertise, anchoring the downtown with a forthcoming innovation hub
NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK (June 29, 2026) – The City of New Rochelle today announced a new partnership with Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation to strengthen the city’s small business ecosystem, expand access to entrepreneurship resources for local residents and businesses, and support companies seeking to establish or grow their presence in New Rochelle. The partnership will also provide Iona students with hands-on business development experience, strengthening community connections and bringing new innovation and enterprising energy into downtown.
The City and Iona will work together to establish and operate a new Economic and Small Business Development Hub at 10 Church Street in downtown New Rochelle. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners, fostering innovation, and ensuring that New Rochelle’s continued growth is inclusive and community-driven.
Under the partnership, Iona University’s Hynes Institute will serve as the Hub’s day-to-day operator, bringing dedicated professional support and organizational expertise directly to New Rochelle’s business community. Aided by Iona faculty and staff with experiential learning opportunities for students, the Hub is designed to provide accessible, high-quality, and responsive services tailored to businesses’ evolving needs.
The City is advancing the initiative as part of its broader economic development strategy, the Vanguard Initiative, which remains focused on delivering public realm and accessibility improvements, retail enhancements, fast-track zoning, and creative tenant incentives throughout the City. To realize the full potential of the Vanguard Initiative, the City selected Iona University as its implementation partner due to the institution’s highly-regarded and dynamic program proven to support emerging entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are central to New Rochelle’s identity, and the City is steadfast in our commitment to providing the tools needed for long-term success,” said Adam Salgado, New Rochelle Commissioner of Development. “By partnering with Iona University’s Hynes Institute, we’re connecting that local energy with academic expertise and real-world support – creating a more coordinated, responsive system that helps businesses start, grow, and adapt over time. This is about building the infrastructure needed to create lasting economic vitality and guarantee that as New Rochelle continues to evolve, our local business community advances with it.”
“We are excited to partner with the City of New Rochelle to build a central resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses that strengthens the city’s economic future,” said Christoph Winkler, Ph.D., endowed professor and founding director of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Iona University. “The Hub will leverage Iona’s expertise to provide practical support that helps businesses launch, grow, and thrive. At the same time, it will create valuable opportunities for our students to engage in applied work that delivers real impact for the local business community.”
The Hub will take an adaptive, community-informed approach to programming. Once operational, dedicated staff will work directly with entrepreneurs, small business owners, and prospective businesses looking to establish themselves in New Rochelle to provide guidance, identify priorities, and connect them with free services and resources. Potential offerings range from business counseling and technical assistance, educational workshops, support for storefront improvements, business enhancement efforts, marketing and operational guidance.
The partnership also reflects Iona University’s broader mission to extend learning beyond the classroom and into surrounding communities. Serving as a convener platform for both entrepreneurship and workforce development opportunities, the Hub will support both aspiring entrepreneurs and established small businesses while complementing, rather than duplicating, existing resources.
Iona University is currently recruiting for a manager to lead the day‑to‑day operations of the Economic and Small Business Development Hub and a coordinator to support the Hub’s program delivery and operations.
Completion and official opening of the hub is slated for fall 2026, with initial community engagement efforts anticipated to launch in summer 2026.
ABOUT THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE
With its unparalleled location, superb quality of life, diverse and talented residents, and a focused business climate, New Rochelle is experiencing the transformation of a generation. The City’s current economic development plan will provide a spark for the entire Hudson Valley region, positioning the City as “open for business” and embracing smart, transit-oriented development growth patterns that promote open space, its close proximity to New York City and opportunities for businesses to rebound, recover and succeed in the current economic climate. Accelerated by a new, fast-track zoning process along with resources for small businesses and micro-enterprises, the ongoing Master Development initiative will continue to enhance the downtown area by supporting job creation, property values and private investment – while enhancing sustainability and livability through green and energy-efficient design. For more information on why New Rochelle is ideally yours, please visit www.ideallynewrochelle.com.
ABOUT THE HYNES INSTITUTE
The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation was established in 2017 through a record-setting $15 million gift from James P. Hynes ’69, ’01H and Anne Marie Hynes. It is an interdisciplinary program that fosters the development of creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship skills critical for success in a global economy. The Hynes Institute offers two undergraduate majors – a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurial Leadership and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship, as well as an advanced certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Located at the center of campus, the Hynes Institute is housed in a 3,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art coworking space offering a modern and sustainable home for creativity on campus and beyond. In addition, the Hynes Institute operates its GaelVentures Incubator at 748 North Avenue. Explore the Hynes Institute and get in touch to learn more today!
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2026, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.