Fueled by the success of the reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Cheyney University is focusing on initiatives to revive the oldest historically black college in the United States, including a plan to maximize the assets on Cheyney’s campus in partnership with Mosaic Development Partners and the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

Mosaic, a Philadelphia based real estate development company whose expertise is in finding creative solutions for underutilized real estate assets, first helped Cheyney assess its assets, defined the overall strategy, and then subsequently contacted CCEDC to join in the effort to provide assistance in identifying local, county, and state resources.

Cheyney’s entire campus lies within a Commonwealth-approved Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) which is administered by CCEDC’s Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n).  Companies locating in a KIZ zone can access a network of resources coordinated by i2n.

The plan seems to be working, with the university having entered into a partnership with Navrogen, Inc. (www.navrogen.com) in early December.  The company will bring its biopharma research and development (R&D) operation to Cheyney’s Science Center.

“We are excited about bringing our research to Cheyney’s labs and working with the university’s students,” Navrogen co-founder, Dr. Nicholas Nicolaides said. “Cheyney has been reinvigorated by a dynamic leadership team and has dramatically increased its academic standards. We are eager to work in their state-of-the art Science Center and aid the university’s new strategic plan.”

“This arrangement will produce a major benefit to the university and our students who will have an opportunity to work on these cancer-fighting projects and get hands-on experience in biomolecular techniques as either interns or mentees,” said Cheyney University President Aaron Walton.

“This has been a group effort,” said Greg Reaves, Mosaic’s principal. “In addition to the great work by CCEDC and Cheyney itself, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been very supportive. With 275 acres and a first-class infrastructure, Cheyney has an incredible canvas to reimagine its possibilities and continue to build a sustainable future.”

With a look to the future, CCEDC President and CEO, Gary W. Smith stated, “We are focusing in on other lab opportunities with science-based companies that could use the biology and chemistry space. Cheyney University is part of our community and we want to see it thrive and grow.”

If your company would like to explore the benefits of participating in i2n or locating on Cheyney University’s campus, please contact MaryFrances McGarrity, CCEDC’s Senior Vice President for Business Development at 610.321.8223.