Originally posted by the Orlando Business Journal, June 25, 2009
The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program has taken over management of a similar program in Leesburg.
UCF also announced plans to open locations in St. Cloud and Winter Park.
“Florida currently ranks 47th in the U.S. in its development of business incubation programs, and that is a major shortcoming,” said Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Incubation program, in a prepared statement. “We are the fourth most populous state, and of the more than 1,000 business incubators in the U.S., only 21 of them are located here in Florida.”
O’Neal expects the Leesburg program to increase its three members to 10 at its facility on 600 Market St.
Founded in 1999, the UCF program has helped more than 100 emerging companies create more than half a billion dollars in revenue and generate more than 900 jobs.