City of Melbourne and TRDA Strongly Encouraged to Proceed with Melbourne Incubator

Citing a wealth of advantageous elements in a recent feasibility study, LPA Associates, an independent consulting group, strongly encouraged implementation of plans to develop a small business incubator in Melbourne, Florida.  Calling the overall economic condition of the area “primarily positive,” the study recommended a mixed-use program serving many fields including manufacturing, assembly and service enterprises.

PULL QUOTE: “Based on surveys, interviews and discussions with business and civic leaders, there is a clear indication of interest and likely success of a small business incubator in the Melbourne/South Brevard County area.”

The City of Melbourne actively supports the development of a business incubator. This project represents the first Economic Development project ever funded by the City’s CDBG program.

“We are very excited about our partnership with the TRDA to bring a mixed-use, community-based business incubator to the City of Melbourne,” says Henry Hill, Melbourne city manager. “Melbourne is the commercial/industrial hub of South Brevard.  The business incubator will further promote growth of new and innovative businesses.

The development of the “Space Coast” has evolved into the eighth largest technology pole in the country.  Driving much of that technology development have been spin-offs from Harris Corporation, which is in close proximity to the proposed incubators site. Since coming to Melbourne in 1978, Harris Corp. and the thousands of engineers and scientists attracted here by the communications-equipment maker, have played a role in the formation of quite a few high-tech companies including Intersil, Tantivity, AirNet, and Authentec.

The proposed location for the facility is considered a Historical Underutilized Business Zone or HUBZone, which will stimulate economic development and create jobs in previously under-represented community.

“Finally, we’re bringing opportunity to an under-represented population, by building a bridge to the research facilities of Florida Tech, and the business spin-off potential Harris and Intersil,” says Dave Kershaw.

Florida Tech, another source of research and technology opportunities, is just down the street from the proposed facility. Florida Tech is making significant advances in building its facilities and research activities. Through the incubator facilities Florida Tech hopes to join Harris by creating successful entities spun-off from internal discoveries.

“I strongly believe in research and incubation parks. While at Florida Atlantic University, I saw first hand the contribution and value Florida Atlantic Research and Development Park provided to its community,” said Dr. Anthony Catanese, president of Florida Institute of Technology. “Having an incubation facility close to the Florida Tech campus will be extremely helpful as we spin-off technologies from our faculty research. We have a good number of discoveries in-house, which are primed for privatization in computer security and biomedical fields.”

The benefits and nurturing climate of a business incubator will offer infinite possibilities for entrepreneurs to leverage local technological innovations. With more than 1,000 business license applications in Melbourne and South Brevard in the last 12-months, it clear this area needs a resource for entrepreneurial enthusiasm.