New site for student businesses

Feb. 9, 2007 -- StEP, the Student Entrepreneurial Program on the Danforth Campus, has a newly designed Web site organizers hope will attract more students to take advantage of the opportunity to operate and own a business while in school. Visit the site at step.wustl.edu.

"We're really thrilled about the new site," said Julie Thornton, director of the Office of Student Activities. "It spells out the purpose of the program and gives students detailed information on how they can get involved through the development of their own business idea or the purchase of an existing business."

StEP was created in fall 1999, and the first student-run businesses opened in spring 2000.

There are now 11 businesses serving the University community, including a bicycle rental shop, a video store and laundry service. A spray-on-tan salon is scheduled to open in late February.

StEP is open to all University undergraduate students. The primary objective is to provide students a first-hand entrepreneurial experience in a low-risk, educational environment.

The University subsidizes rent, pays utilities and offers access to voice and data services in each storefront, among other benefits.

Students must complete a business plan, which must be approved by an advisory board. For a storefront, owners must sign a lease agreement with the University for the school year.

For more information, e-mail Thornton at julie.thornton@wustl.edu.