Northeastern State University works with area businesses to expose students to the “real world” of marketing and retail.

Connors State College offers an “incubator” to help small businesses get their start in Warner.

NSU and Connors were among 21 higher education and business partnerships recently awarded the Economic Development Grants by the State Regents for Higher Education. The program is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and area businesses. Institutions involved in the partnerships provide $500 tuition waivers to employees of the partner businesses, internships for students to work at the partner businesses or faculty “externships” with the businesses.

Northeastern was recognized for creating the Center for Retail Marketing, which promotes retail careers for students and conducts marketing research for retail firms. Reasor’s Supermarkets is part of that partnership, a Regents press release said.

For Josh Reasor, the company’s assistant director for marketing and advertising, such a relationship is natural. He has spoken to several business classes about his work.

“Obviously, growing up in Tahlequah, I went to college at NSU and being part of the local community, it was easy for me to take some time to explain to students what real life was like,” Reasor said. “I try to give them real life ideas and experiences.”

Reasor’s President, Jeff Reasor, provided financial support for the Center for Retail Marketing, part of NSU’s College of Business and Technology.

Kathleen Reese, chairman of the Department of Business Administration, said Reasor’s has provided guest speakers and hired several NSU interns.

The regents also recognized Connors and the town of Warner for 100 years of collaboration. School and city employees have worked with Warner Town Council members on economic development committees.

Connors also was recognized for its efforts to set up a business incubator to help businesses get their start.

Connors director of institutional advancement, Sue Floyd, said the Warner campus offers office space for people wanting to set up a small business.

“It could be an investment company or an attorney,” she said. “If a business locates in the incubator, it will be exempt from state taxes for 10 years.

Floyd said Connors has applied for certification and is working with the economic development agency Rural Economic Enterprises to provide the incubator space.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding @muskogeephoenix.com.