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Coworking Community’s Owner Provides $25K and Dedicated Office Space to Support Entrepreneurship Programs at Four Hudson County Colleges
HOBOKEN, N.J., November 11, 2021 – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez joined the Mission 50 team and its membership, Hudson County higher-education leadership, dignitaries and other guests for the official launch of the Mission 50 Innovation and Commercialization Lab in Hoboken this week.
Located on the second floor of the newly renovated and rebranded boutique office building and coworking community at 50 Harrison Street, the lab will support the entrepreneurship programs at Stevens Institute of Technology, Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey City University and Hudson County Community College.
Guests in attendance at the November 8, 2021, ribbon cutting ceremony included Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., President, St. Peter’s University; Nariman Farvardin, Ph.D., President, Stevens Institute of Technology; Christopher M. Reber, Ph.D., President, Hudson County Community College; Carlos Lejnieks, Board of Trustees Member, at New Jersey City University (NJCU); Prof. David Weiss, Founder/Director of the Institute for Dispute Resolution’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation NJCU – Jersey City Connect Program; as well as students from the universities and Mission 50 members. Owned and operated by JDA Group LLC (JDA), Mission 50 has a long history of serving independent professionals, growing entrepreneurial companies, and mature enterprises in the Greater New York City marketplace. Its multi-million-dollar transformation, completed in 2021, responds to evolving workplace needs.
“As one of the first coworking spaces to open in the region, Mission 50 is celebrating 10 years of fostering entrepreneurship and business growth,” said Gregory Dell’Aquila, JDA’s founder and CEO. “It has also been our company’s mission to support the entrepreneurs of tomorrow by working hand-in-hand with Hudson County’s institutions of higher learning. In line with that mission, we are proud to be establishing the Mission 50 Innovation and Commercialization Lab.”
New Lab Designed as a Coworking Hub
The lab is comprised of four dedicated offices and a collaboration space in Mission 50’s vibrant coworking hub. Each school will have access to its own workspace, as well as conference and meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art video conferencing and a range of onsite amenities.
“This is a great example of what is possible when leaders in the private sector and institutions of higher learning think creatively about how they work together to promote innovation and greater opportunities for our citizens in this economy,” Sen. Menendez said at the ribbon cutting. “The task of taking an idea and bringing it to market is no easy feat. That’s why this lab holds so much promise.
“Here at Mission 50, students, professors, and researchers will have the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors and find ways to monetize their discoveries,” Menendez added. “How exciting would it be to see that the next hit product or revolutionary start-up was born right here in Hoboken and Hudson County?”
Student Pitch Competition Prizes Announced by Mission 50
Dell’Aquila also has committed $25,000 toward innovation on Hudson County’s college campuses. “Each of the four schools will receive $5,000 to fund university-led student business pitch competitions,” he said. “The winners from each school will be invited to compete in a countywide pitch competition hosted by Mission 50 in the spring, with an additional prize of $5,000.”
JDA and the Dell’Aquila family have been key players in Hoboken’s revitalization and growth for decades, continually investing in a long-term vision for the city’s future. Dell’Aquila’s personal dedication to supporting academic entrepreneurship includes serving as Entrepreneur in Residence for the Stevens Institute of Technology Venture Center, a member of the Saint Peter’s University Business School advisory board, and a steering committee member for the Institute for Dispute Resolution’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation NJCU – Jersey City Connect Program.
“I want to salute Greg and the Dell’Aquila family, whose names are synonymous with entrepreneurship here in Hoboken, for their foresight and for sticking (with) it in some difficult times, especially during the pandemic,” Menendez noted.
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About Mission 50
50 Harrison St., Hoboken, N.J. 07030
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Media Contacts
Ken Hunter / Christine Ziomek
Caryl Communications
201-796-7788
ken@caryl.com / chris@caryl.com