Gainesville start-up companies will soon have more space to call home.
The expanded building, located at 747 SW Second Ave., will add an additional 100,000 square feet to the Innovation Hub, a space for companies to develop using on-site resources, said Jane Muir, the Innovation Hub’s director. The expansion, which is on schedule, is using $8 million in funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and $9 million from UF.
Construction began in November 2016 and is expected to be complete by November 2017, Muir said.
Since the building debuted in 2011, the Innovation Hub has consistently run out of space for companies to use, she said.
So far, the building has created 700 jobs, and private investors have given more than $50 million, Muir added.
“The whole idea is to build to serve more startups and ultimately create more jobs,” she said.
Muir said the hub brings together all the elements needed to nurture a startup — including in-house mentors and partnerships with law firms and accounting firms.
With the expansion, the Innovation Hub’s directors will create a space specifically for women inventors and entrepreneurs.
Kennette Hayter’s company, Nom Nom LLC, which makes nutrition-packed ice pops, is currently housed in the building. Hayter said the Innovation Hub’s resources, like guidance with business pitches and sit-downs with investors, are useful to her.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to help you grow your business faster,” Hayter said.
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