Local entrepreneurs, app developers, programmers and small startups now have the ability to work in an innovative and collaborative work environment, similar to those that have been successful in such areas as Boston and San Francisco, with today’s unveiling of the Gulf Coast Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) new Coworking Lab.
Representatives from the Greater Pensacola Chamber and Pensacola State College announced today that their business incubator has expanded to include a dynamic, nearly 1,000-square-foot-lab, that will house graphic designers, programmers and just about anyone else in need of inexpensive office space.
The number of co-working spaces across the country is on a rise, and more and more young companies are looking to coworking facilities for their office space needs.
“Our mission is to serve as a catalyst to support innovative entrepreneurs who create jobs and can sustain long-term economic growth within our communities,” said Greater Pensacola Chamber President Jerry Maygarden. “This new lab will also offer top-tier services, including marketing, legal, accounting and human resources, as well as advisory services to support individuals with their growth needs.”
In addition to office space, tenants of the new Coworking Lab will receive a high-speed Internet connection, fax capabilities, access to the CIE’s conference rooms and the invaluable opportunity to rub elbows with like-minded professionals.
The facility was made possible by a long-time supporter of the CIE, software company Overgroup Consulting, which donated office furniture to the space and already has two employees signed on as tenants of the new Coworking Lab.
“We’re excited to be part of an initiative that helps promote growth and business in the Greater Pensacola Area,” said Overgroup Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder Ross Overstreet. “This space will allow entrepreneurial-minded people the chance to mix and share ideas. Also, we’re glad for the opportunity to give back. We started in Pensacola and are so grateful for it.”
Designed to take small, early-stage businesses that have what the industry calls “high-growth potential,” the CIE is a partnership between the Greater Pensacola Chamber and Pensacola State College that provides entrepreneurs with reduced-cost office space and professional guidance, all within an environment conducive to spawning rapid growth.
“This lab will foster team-based activities and deepen interactions among both aspiring and experienced innovators across the region,” said Pensacola State College President Dr. Ed Meadows. “With small businesses leading the growth of new job creation, we want to ensure that our local businesses have the tools, as well as the facilities they need to compete in the global economy.”
To learn more about innovative coworking facilities and how they are revolutionizing the concept of the traditional workplace, visit http://bit.ly/1eVk6kZ. For more information about the CIE or how to become a tenant, contact Kelly Reeser, Director of Entrepreneurial Development for the Greater Pensacola Chamber, at (850) 696-1314 or kreeser@pensacolachamber.com.
