Lease terms between the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and the JAXUSA Partnership were approved by the JTA Board to create the Open Innovation Center at JRTC business accelerator space inside the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC) at LaVilla.
JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. and JAXUSA President Aundra Wallace signed a memorandum of understanding during the Oct. 29 board meeting.
The 3,900-square-foot Open Innovation Center at JRTC will be located on the second level of the multimodal hub and feature innovation and technology training for entrepreneurs and employees.
“The Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla serves as a space for innovation, enhanced mobility and as a catalyst for economic vitality in this historic neighborhood,” said JTA Chief Administrative Officer Cleveland Ferguson III. “This initiative with JAXUSA Partnership and the JAX Chamber will create opportunities for creativity and shepherd the next generation of local entrepreneurs as they pursue their dreams.”
“This partnership with JTA is an incredible opportunity for our region to build its innovation ecosystem and continue the great work underway with Smart Regions and the transportation space,” said JAX Chamber Chief Innovation Officer Carlton Robinson. “Through our experience working with entrepreneurs, we saw a need to be able to move quickly and, for example, offer opportunities for companies to send employees to get tech training that will build a pipeline of skilled talent in our region.”
The chamber’s Venture Services Division will be based inside the JRTC. Through its JAX Bridges program for entrepreneurs, the chamber has completed pilots on open innovation and entrepreneurial acceleration that will be offered to innovators and corporate partners in the new center. The innovation space will become a place to explore different innovation models and advance innovative thinking, Robinson says.
