PR - CIED LAUNCHES STUDIO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2026

UCSC’s CIED Launches Studio and Community Partnership with City of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA — The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED) at the University of California, Santa Cruz has launched the CIED Studio, a new initiative developed with GetVirtual, designed to connect students with community-based projects while supporting local economic resilience. The Studio’s inaugural project is a collaboration with the City of Santa Cruz to support small businesses impacted by the Murray Street Bridge construction in the Lower Seabright and Harbor area.

As part of this effort, CIED students, working with the City of Santa Cruz, developed Explore Seabright & Harbor (exploreseabrightharbor.com), a community-focused website serving as a central hub for local businesses, events, and construction-related updates. The platform will continue to evolve throughout the project, providing an ongoing resource for residents, visitors, and business owners navigating the impacts of the construction.

The CIED Studio, developed with GetVirtual, brings together interdisciplinary student teams to work directly with community partners, offering hands-on experience in design, digital strategy, marketing, research, and project management while delivering meaningful support to the local economy.

“This project exemplifies what the CIED Studio is all about—students learning by doing while contributing real value to the community,” said Nada Miljković, Project Manager for CIED and Co-founder of GetVirtual. “Through our partnership with the City of Santa Cruz, students are gaining professional experience while helping local businesses remain visible and connected during a period of disruption.”

In addition to developing the public-facing website, the initiative includes direct support for individual businesses in the Lower Seabright Harbor area, including digital presence development, storytelling, and tailored outreach strategies.

“Working on this website for the Seabright community has been especially meaningful during the Murray Street Bridge closure,” said Sebi Perry, Website Developer. “I’m grateful to contribute to a project that helps local businesses stay visible and supported during this time.”

“This project is about working alongside local business owners and supporting them with a dedicated team of students and professionals,” added Rikuu Mikami, Project Manager. “By combining civic engagement with real-world project experience, we’re creating value for the community while helping businesses feel seen and supported.”

To learn more about and explore the Seabright Harbor project, visit  exploreseabrightharbor.com, and/or getvirtual.org, 

About CIED The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED) at UC Santa Cruz empowers students to develop entrepreneurial skills through hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-based projects. Through programs such as the Studio, GetVirtual, and community-facing business pitch competitions, CIED connects students with real-world challenges while supporting innovation, economic development, and social impact.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact:

Marina Glagolev,  Operations Manager, CIED

mglagole@ucsc.edu                                              

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