New Connective Corridor director supports city engagement
Linda Hartsock is thinking big to make Syracuse the next ‘happening place.’
‘You see so many vibrant communities fused with art, music and technology, and we are trying to make that here in Syracuse,’ she said.
Although she is only in her first week on the job as the new director for the Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development and overseer of the Connective Corridor, Hartsock said she is excited to begin progress on investing in the atmosphere of downtown Syracuse.
Hartsock replaced Robbi Farschman on Monday as director of the Connective Corridor. Hartsock said Farschman left the position to pursue her passion of becoming a full-time jewelry design entrepreneur. When Hartsock saw a post for a job opening on the Syracuse University website to replace Farschman, she applied right away, she said.
Her long history working with downtown Syracuse and the university prompted Hartsock to feel capable of handling the directorial position, she said.
Hartsock, who was the vice president of CenterState Corp. for Economic Opportunity before her current job, said she worked with students through a company affiliate called the Tech Garden. Located downtown, the Tech Garden is a state-of-the-art incubator that fosters the development of emerging growth companies, supports technology commercialization and student venture development, according to its website.
Through the Tech Garden, Hartsock worked directly with SU students in a program called the Student Sandbox. In partnership with SU, the Student Sandbox helps develop student entrepreneurs. It provides students with a structured assistance program to help launch new business ideas, according to the website.
‘We have had about 50 student-developing businesses come through,’ Hartsock said.
Connective Corridor is not only involved with the public transportation system to help people get downtown to experience the city of Syracuse, but it also supports ventures like public art mural projects and building façade improvements to enhance the downtown experience. Hartsock said the Connective Corridor manages these projects by funding them.
‘We are finding ways to get students downtown to see and enjoy it,’ she said.
Other concepts Hartsock said she plans to work on are more streetscape improvements and performances on the buses themselves.
She said she is working with the state and local governments to make downtown Syracuse attractive to university students in the region. That way, students may stay after they graduate and work downtown as well.
Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s vision of engaging across disciplines to produce a more vibrant and attractive region is something Hartsock said she admires and plans on continuing to emulate through her own work as director.
Published on February 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm
