ATHENS, Ohio -- Construction begins this month on a new 35,000-square-foot facility for the Innovation Center, Ohio University's small business incubator. The $5.7 million building, to be located on West State Street in Athens, will more than triple the program's current space on The Ridges and include new facilities for biotechnology and light manufacturing companies.
"Right now we're out of space," said Linda Clark, director of the Innovation Center, which currently houses 15 start-up clients in offices on The Ridges. "It's difficult for companies to grow, and we can only accept new companies into the program when current companies graduate."
The Innovation Center, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, is one of the oldest university-based incubators in the country. More than 650 jobs have been created since the opening of the center, which has helped launch such local companies as Electronic Vision, Diagnostic Hybrids Inc., Athens Technical Specialists Inc. and NetData Inc.
The new, larger facility on West State Street will allow the Innovation Center to continue its support of economic development and start-up businesses in southeastern Ohio, Clark said. Several federal agencies are helping to fund the effort: The Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce has committed more than $1.4 million; the Appalachian Regional Commission has given $1 million; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is contributing $400,000. The university is funding part of the remaining costs through construction bonds.
Robert Hickey, the Columbus economic development representative for the EDA, said the agency is supporting the project because it will create new jobs and wealth in the region and will provide critical resources to emerging businesses. "We're looking at this project not only as a successful local project, but as a model for national efforts in entrepreneurial development," he said.
The new facility will include a number of resources for its existing clients, many of which are local and university entrepreneurs in the information technology field, as well as resources to attract new types of businesses. Features will include a shared computer server room, high-speed Internet access, other key equipment and office space of varying sizes.
"The new building will be designed specifically to meet our needs, with offices of graduated sizes," Clark said. "As companies grow, they will be able to move into larger and larger offices."
The building also will include resources to attract new light manufacturing and biotechnology firms to the area: high-ceiling work bays, a loading dock, shared wet labs, scientific equipment, a dark room and a cell culture room. The university already has successfully developed seven biotechnology firms based on faculty technology, Clark said, and the Innovation Center would like to see a cluster of such businesses grow and remain in Athens.
The center also strives to help community entrepreneurs not affiliated with the university, she said. To help fulfill that goal, the new facility will include a 50- to 60-person seminar room that will be available for a fee to the local business community.
Work on the foundation for the new facility began this month. Construction of the building, designed by RVC Architects of Athens, will start in April, to be completed by spring 2003. The Innovation Center?s clients will move into the facility in summer 2003.
The Innovation Center is part of the Vice President for Research division at Ohio University. For more information on the program, go to: www.ictto.ohiou.edu/index.html.
