Study of entrepreneurship gets boost

Three local universities recently received gifts to enhance programs that benefit entrepreneurship and small business.

A California couple, Harold and Diana Frank, gave $3 million to Washington State University to help the school establish an engineering entrepreneurship institute within the College of Engineering and Architecture. Beginning this summer, the institute will train a dozen engineering and business students in various aspects of starting and running a business.

Harold Frank graduated from what was then Washington State College and went on to found Applied Magnetics, a manufacturer of magnetic recording heads used in computers.

Harold Frank said in a news release that he’d “like to see students go out on their own and start their own companies to benefit mankind.”

Separately, Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University have received grants from the Chicago-based Coleman Foundation.

Gonzaga received $150,000 that will be used mostly to enhance programs offered through its Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

EWU received $215,000 from the foundation that it will use to launch a free certificate program this fall for small-business owners.

Pizza Pipeline adds location

Pizza Pipeline, a Spokane-based take-out and delivery pizza business, opened its 18th location last week.

The newest Pizza Pipeline is a corporate-owned store on Spokane’s north side, at 10925 N. Newport Highway. It replaces a north side store that closed about eight months ago after Pizza Pipeline lost its lease, said Clay Flower, the company’s vice president of operations.

The company has six corporate-owned stores in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and a dozen franchised locations in seven states.

Pizza Pipeline was started in Spokane in 1988 by Mike Kight and Gene Boik. The company and its franchisees employ 350-400 people.