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Greater Binghamton - Home to
Innovation
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Greater Binghamton's Newest Business Incubator Ready for Tenants
10/24/2008 (Source: Press & Sun Bulletin)
BINGHAMTON -- Local business and elected leaders welcomed the opening of the Greater Binghamton Innovation Center Thursday, announcing that four companies are scheduled to lease space in the high-tech business incubator.
BINGHAMTON -- Local business and elected leaders welcomed the opening of the Greater Binghamton Innovation Center Thursday, announcing that four companies are scheduled to lease space in the high-tech business incubator.
"They say you have to have a vision, and somebody did," said Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala about the project, announced in December 2007.
The newly renovated area includes reception desks in a common entryway, four offices of varying size and 10 cubicles for small start-up companies.
Fiala said the renovations were paid for by a $250,000 federal Housing and Urban Development grant secured by U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles E. Schumer, both D-N.Y. An additional $250,000 was secured by state Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton, which paid for furnishings and will help sustain the incubator.
"This is a wonderful partnership," Fiala said. "The incubator will go a long way toward growing jobs."
Four prospective tenants, who have not yet signed leases for the space, are:
* VirtuSphere Inc., which offers virtual reality technology using a large sphere that users -- wearing a wireless head-mounted display -- enter and then walk, run or move in without the sphere moving from its base platform. The company has several locations, including Washington, D.C., and Moscow.
* H2 Innovation. Two Binghamton University graduates started this endeavor with the hopes of offering a Web-based application to allow users, including BU students, greater access to area businesses, including what the businesses offer, what events are happening, prices, menus and coupons. The company said it will list business information at a cost lower than traditional advertising streams.
* Interos LLC, which offers two secure Web sites allowing users to store their programs, files and other information, which can be accessed from a variety of computers and mobile devices.
* Johnson Consulting, which offers business consulting.
At least one of the businesses, Interos, is seeking employees.
The company needs software developers, said President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Angeline, a graduate of BU's entrepreneurship program.
A fifth tenant, which will occupy a front reception area at no cost, will be Binghamton Downtown Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to preserve Binghamton's downtown.
Space at the facility costs $100 per month for a cubicle and $7 per square foot for office space in the first year; $9 in the second; and $11 in the third and final year, said Darcy Fauci, Broome County's economic development director. The rents include access to copiers, phones, faxes, conference rooms and a part-time shared receptionist, she said.
Space is still available within the incubator, including two offices; one with 250 square feet and the other with 350 square feet, Fauci said.
Additional Information:
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20081023/BUSINESS/810230330/1043/STBN
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