CFE analyzes advantages of local business

Dr. Yuying Shi, assistant professor of marketing, and Frank M. Smith, director for the COB Center for Excellence, led a group of six students who identified potential manufacturing and agricultural businesses. They compiled three different business analysis reports highlighting the comparative advantages of doing business in Commerce and sent the reports to more than 300 companies and received positive feedback. The project enhances awareness for the City of Commerce and promotes efforts by city management to help new and existing businesses. Students are very enthusiastic about the project. Through this semester-long project, they gained extensive research working for a city government. The group funded their project with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a result of the project’s success, the USDA encouraged the group to apply for a follow-up grant.