On Nov. 11, students had the opportunity to help the future of Ottawa.
The Ottawa Main Street Association hosted the ‘University in Downtown Forum’ in O’Dell Lounge to receive input on new and future businesses in Ottawa.
“I think the community members were appreciative to what we had to say,” Jill Francis, senior said. “I liked a lot of the ideas.”
Most attendees wanted a place to relax and get coffee. Others wanted outdoor music venues and a Chipotle.
Junior Nino Straub wants a put-put golf course.
“I think students would definitely take advantage of this golf course and other new business in Ottawa,” he said.
Francis, who grew up in Ottawa, has confidence that new businesses can flourish in a small town.
“Everyone talked about making a multi- facetted place,” Francis said. “Burlington, another small community, has a coffee house that also sells records and other things. Just because we’re a small community doesn’t mean that something like that can’t prosper. It’s proven it can.”
A student driven business incubator was also a topic at the forum. This would give students an opportunity to have a job that directly helped with their major while also contributing to the city of Ottawa.
But Francis feels that for students to take advantage of the businesses incubator, it must be marketed right.
“I think this is a great idea for internships,” she said. “If it’s a developing program though, it has to be marketed properly to students. Otherwise, they’ll go elsewhere for internships and job opportunities.”
Nori Hale, director of corporate relations, feels that students should take advantage of local businesses.
“For four years of their life, it’s their town,” Hale said of students. “There are some neat opportunities here.”
Hale also encourages students to get to know community members because it helps to network.
“People in Ottawa have other connections,” she said. “Just because a barber is a barber doesn’t mean he doesn’t know others in the community. Everyone is important.”
Straub agrees that being involved in a small community has networking opportunities if students are willing to take advantage of them.
“It helps in the future, especially when you graduate,” he said. “Because we’re a small community it’s easy to get your name out there.”
Hale feels that students can also grow from be coming a member of the Ottawa community.
“We always think home is better,” she said. “A new community adds to the (college) experience. I’d encourage students in the future to give back when the town reaches out.”