One backpack, a few pencils and crayons, two notebooks and some construction paper. That may not sound like much, but it’s all it takes to make many children happy on their first day of school, according to several University employees who volunteer through the Backpack Program.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won New York State’s Republican presidential primary with ease on Tuesday, garnering a majority of the vote in an election that saw low voter turnout in Tompkins County.

BR MicroCapital, a microfinance business started at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, announced on Jan. 20 that it would offer lending and business support services to help microbusiness development in Tompkins County.

In a press release, Mike Pezone, grad, director of operations for BRM, explained that BRM’s work is fulfilling a local need by providing specialized, targeted support for microbusinesses, which are small businesses typically operated from the owner’s home.

The stated goal of BRM is to encourage development and inclusive wealth creation while at the same time assisting efforts to further local economic development.