Lake County explores potential for a South Lake Business Incubator

TAVARES — The Lake County Board of County Commissioners is currently in the process of reviewing site locations in South Lake County to expand its successful business incubator program to that area of the County. Partnerships are also being sought to help with the establishment of the program.

Lake County currently has an existing business incubator in downtown Leesburg, located at 600 Market St. The incubator provides tools, training and infrastructure to start-up companies, and is operated through a partnership with the City of Leesburg and the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Business Incubation Program.

The incubator is currently assisting seven start-up companies that account for 18 jobs. Because of the outstanding results of the current incubation program, Lake County is looking to duplicate this success in the southern region of Lake County. 

“The demographics of South Lake County make it an ideal location within Central Florida for a business incubator because of its high concentration of workforce, with over 47 percent of its population being 20–54 years of age,” said Cary Pierce, Economic Development Coordinator with the Lake County Office of Economic Development & Tourism. “Additionally, the area has the highest concentration of degreed professionals, with 39 percent of Clermont, and 41 percent of Minneola’s total workforce population having college degrees.“

To learn more about becoming a partner or participating in the South Lake business incubator program, contact Cary Pierce at (352) 343-9867, or e-mail [email protected].