New York Institute of Technology is partnering with National Supermarket Association to help provide access to education to NSA members, their employees and their families.

With this partnership, New York Tech aims to expand access to education to the trade association’s 200-plus members who own 400 supermarkets, representing nearly 20,000 employees in New York and other cities across the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic region and Florida.

“As we work to develop new channels and opportunities to provide access to education, New York Tech is committed to actively engaging with employers such as NSA to create pathways for traditional and nontraditional students seeking a college education,” Jerry Balentine, provost and executive vice president at New York Tech, said in a statement.

“This partnership model is one we hope to emulate with additional employers, and we applaud NSA for advocating for education among its members and their employees,” Balentine added.

The two organizations say they share similar missions. Founded in 1989 by Hispanic entrepreneurs, the NSA aims to support education for its members’ employees and their families. And for more than 60 years, New York Tech has looked to provide all qualified students access to opportunity to launch a career-oriented professional education.

Beginning with the spring 2023 semester, NSA will promote information about New York Tech undergraduate programs to its members, their employees and their families. New York Tech’s School of Management M.B.A. programs will also be promoted in this relationship. Accepted students are eligible for scholarships. NSA scholarships will cover at least 25% of related students’ full-time tuition, according to New York Tech.

“Our entrepreneurial drive led us to open supermarkets a few decades ago in what had been economically depressed, primarily minority neighborhoods,” Samuel Collado, NSA president, said in a statement. “Today, this same vision that strengthened and enhanced our communities extends in many ways, including our dedication to helping people earn a college degree. We believe that our community members interested in pursuing higher education will find a place for themselves at New York Tech.”

The two organizations plan to collaborate to provide internship, experiential learning and other career-related opportunities. For example, New York Tech will invite NSA to its career fairs and related events, and NSA members will consider qualified New York Tech candidates for internships and job opportunities.

The organizations will also team up in their fundraising efforts, supporting student scholarships. In addition, NSA said it would encourage its members to support New York Tech’s Grizzly Cupboard food pantries, part of the Bear Bytes initiative, which provides students with food as well as health and wellness resources and information.

The Bear Bytes initiative was spearheaded by Rajendra Tibrewala, professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management in New York Tech’s School of Management. In the process, the university developed a relationship with NSA.

“A deep relationship between an organization such as NSA and New York Tech in multiple areas, including access to academic programs for NSA employees, internships and career opportunities for New York Tech students, and professional development and employee training for the supermarket owners, provides tremendous benefits to both organizations,” Tibrewala said in a statement.