Incubator Spotlight

New Location Adds to UCF Incubation Network

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, UCF President John Hitt, and Orlando City Commissioner Betty Wyman celebrate after cutting the ribbon to officially open the Orlando Business Development Center Incubator, part of the UCF Business Incubation Network.

The new center, located at 3218 East Colonial Drive, across from the Orlando Fashion Square, is designed to provide affordable professional office space and support to qualified new and small businesses.  The section that opened Dec. 4 is already occupied by its first four clients with others on a waiting list.  The facility will be expanding into an additional square-footage.

“We started the UCF Incubator Network to provide fledgling businesses the support they need to be successful and contribute to the economic strength of the Central Florida Region, said Tom O’Neal, Associate Vice President for the Office of Research & Commercialization at UCF and Director of the UCF Incubation Network.

The City of Orlando, Orange County Government, Seminole County Government, Florida High Tech Corridor and the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) all partner with UCF to support the incubation network.

The Orlando Business Development Center is the fifth location for the network.  Other offices include the following:  the University Tech Center, the Bennett Complex in UCF’s Research Park, North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando and the Winter Springs facility in Seminole County, just off the intersection of just off the intersection of I-4 and 417.

For more information on the Incubation Network go to www.incubator.ucf.edu.

In the News

For Release: February 7, 2008

The FBIA Teams with National Business Incubator Association to Offer International Conference Scholarship Opportunity

Orlando, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2008) – The Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA) in conjunction with the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) is please to offer a conference scholarship opportunity to Florida incubation and economic development professionals.  The scholarship will provide the registration fee to attend the NBIA’s 22nd International Conference on Business Incubation – Innovation for a Strong Economy & Healthy Planet - in San Antonio, Texas.  The conference May 4-7, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel.

According to FBIA Chairman, Dr. Tom O’Neal, “The NBIA plays an important role in providing education, training, and networking opportunities for incubator associates around the world.  These resources are invaluable to new and seasoned professionals in the incubation industry.  This is an excellent opportunity to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the incubation industry in Florida.”

This scholarship is available to first-time NBIA conference attendees only and is limited to the cost of the early bird registration for the conference. 

To apply for this scholarship opportunity, please go to www.fbiaonline.org, complete the application form and send it to: srosen@mail.ucf.edu or fax it to 407-823-3299  Attn: NBIA/FBIA, no later than Feb 28, 2008.

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The Florida Business Incubation Association was established in October 1998. The FBIA shares information and develops programs that support the successful growth and operation of business incubators throughout Florida. Through the FBIA, all of the statewide incubators now have one, centralized leader and unified voice. For more information, please visit: http://www.fbiaonline.org

Contact: Dr. Tom O’Neal
Chairman, 407-882-1120

NBIA and FBIA Joint Scholarship Program Application Form (PDF)