Georgia's Centers of Innovation program, launched by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2003, developed Centers of Excellence in the areas of aerospace, agriculture, information technology, life sciences, and maritime logistics. By leveraging Georgia's homegrown industries, the state is creating new jobs, increasing investment, and ensuring long-term economic opportunity.
The Regional Technology Incubator in Columbus is a non-profit entity created from a partnership between public, private, academic, and state agencies. Recognizing a business need, the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce through its foundation, the Columbus Alliance for Regional Investment (CARI), was a founding leader in the creation of the Incubator. CARI was involved at the outset with concept, construction, and early funding once completed in 2005.
The desire was to create a place where technology ideas could grow into technology companies using the resources of CSU and its many departments and colleges. In addition, the “landing parties” of existing companies could provide rental fees, which would help to support the space for ideas being incubated.
As the vision became a reality, the Incubator was included in a Chamber of Commerce Capital Fund Campaign of CSU, providing tremendous opportunity of retrofitting space for specific needs of the tenants. When State funding was discontinued, CSU provided staff support costs. In July 2008, CARI transferred all of its revenues, expenditures, obligations, and leases to Foundation Properties of CSU, resulting in the Incubator becoming a Columbus State University department and enterprise.
To...
Increase technology-related jobs in the Valley area.
©2009 Columbus State University
Last Updated: 5/11/11
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