USC Price Students Reflect On The Sunstone Economic Development Challenge

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Feba George, a student at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy participating in the Sunstone Economic Development Challenge, said, “I know El Segundo actively considered an accelerator as a potential step towards continued economic development during our meetings with the city client so I'm a firm believer in our proposal as a feasible solution to the challenge of attracting start-ups to El Segundo. During our consultations with Cristina Reveles, Sr. Management Analyst and also our client contact, it became clear that El Segundo was a unique place. The existing businesses in the area are really a gateway to knowledge and have the potential to propel start-ups even in just their network. I think the most important thing will be finding strategic partnerships for all stakeholders in a way that promotes El Segundo's growth in equitable and sustainable ways for businesses and residents alike. With regards to my and my team's future involvement, we hadn't progressed to discussing this with our client but we're open to exploring further opportunities with El Segundo as we have truly enjoyed our time working alongside their magnificent team at city hall.

Clark Hong-Sheng Hsu, a student at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy participating in the Sunstone Economic Development Challenge, said, “Participating in the Sunstone program was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to collaborate with other enthusiastic students and a city official while studying the development strategies of Irvine, one of the most prosperous cities in the United States. Our group crafted a comprehensive slide deck, which we presented to a panel of experienced judges. This experience taught us how to effectively communicate and tell a compelling story, as well as being well-prepared to answer any questions. It was a fantastic learning opportunity that allowed us to improve our skills in various areas, including research, teamwork, and public speaking.

Moving forward, we are excited about the opportunity to maintain contact with the city officials and provide any necessary research support to advance our proposals.

Sachin Dubey, a student at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy participating in the Sunstone Economic Development Challenge, said, “To me, it was interesting to contrast the theoretical challenges that one would assume would come with attracting venture capital with the real challenges that Long Beach is facing. Implementing a policy plan or development strategy seems to have very ad hoc, specific problems for each location and even each administration, and it was really enlightening to hear about these issues from municipal economic development professionals in Long Beach.

The April 27th event is free and open to the public. It runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the USC Hotel Grand Ballroom (2nd floor). To register, go to www.bit.ly/usc-sunstone-demo-day.

Mariana Kramer de Luna, a student at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy participating in the Sunstone Economic Development Challenge, said, The Sunstone Economic Development Challenge was an amazing experience overall. From the beginning, our team was devoted, detail-oriented, and just excited to be working together. None of us knew each other before, but our passion for professional growth, interest in development, and enthusiasm for local government really united us. I would be lying if I said this challenge was easy to do, especially because all of us were managing full-time jobs, a full class schedule, and our own personal lives. However, we made sure everyone felt supported and valued as a member of the Garden Grove Team. I think this emphasis on support and constant collaboration is what led to our win. Despite the obstacles faced, our team was focused on providing feasible short-term and long-term goals, because we knew our work was going beyond an economic team; inevitably, our recommendations could have a lasting impact on the City of Garden Grove and members of the hospitality industry. Regardless if we won or not, I am proud of the work we produced together. Obviously winning felt amazing (IT WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED) and it felt great to have Sunstone/Price acknowledge how much hard work went into our plan. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity that we were given and happy to represent USC Price and Garden Grove in the way we did.