City, Businesses Will Benefit From WSU Student Study, CH2M HILL Contribution

TRI-CITIES, Wash. —  CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., continuing its support of programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities, will present a biannual contribution check Wednesday (Oct. 20)  towards fulfillment of its nearly $2 million pledge. A portion of the company’s contributions have provided funding for student internships in a case study of business development programs to implement in the Richland Uptown Business Improvement District.

The noon presentation is scheduled at Aunt Franny’s Toys, located on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown Richland Shopping Center. Dan Cartmell, vice president and chief financial officer of CH2M Hill Hanford Group Inc. and Fran Delozier, senior vice president integration for Nuclear Business Group, will join WSU Chancellor Larry James and WSU business student Joe Lettau.

Lettau, a senior completing his bachelor’s degree in business, is working on a “best practices” study for the Richland Uptown Business Improvement District.  He is searching for great ideas from around the country that could benefit the merchants in the Uptown.

His internship is sponsored in part by funds from the CH2M HILL gift to the university and its Business LINKS Program (www.tricity.wsu.edu/links/). Lettau’s study for the district includes methods for increasing communication and coordination among the Uptown businesses, and creative events and promotions to market their businesses.

Since 1998, nearly 200 WSU Tri-Cities’ Business LINKS students have completed projects for local businesses, not-for-profit organizations and agencies.  Projects range from business plans to scientific research. 

Frequent projects include performing market research and writing marketing plans and developing websites or databases. Students receive academic credit, pay, and valuable work experience.  A number of students have accepted permanent positions from their intern placements. 

CH2M HILL’s contribution to WSU reflects the company’s vision of the corporation working with education to provide opportunities for residents of the Tri-Cities. The contribution supports WSU programs, including internships, business programs, computer science, management information systems and the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program for middle and high school students.

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