Lakeland will soon have the resources and personnel to help you start up your new business. USF Polytechnic has created an incubator program right here in Downtown Lakeland that will help start up businesses get on the right track for success.

The USFP Bly Sky West Business Incubator is designed to help people on the verge of starting a new tech-related enterprise or who are starting a business in or making the move to Central Florida. The Blue Sky West Incubator is located above Palace Pizza and has offices available for use by new companies. I was able to tour this facility a couple weeks ago and it looks like a really cool place to go to put your thinking cap on. The walls are painted in upbeat colors and the whole place is designed in a modern style, this is not your typical drab office space.

To be considered for Blue Sky West’s services, you need to fill out an application. Eligibility criteria includes:

A for-profit technology corporation. (Proprietary technologies are preferred)

Start-up company, existing small business in a growth phase, existing business launching a new business project, or an international business looking for a soft-landing site.

Identifiable reasons to leverage the programs and services of the University of South Florida, USFP Blue Sky program, and community partners.

Potential to create a significant economic impact in Central Florida (i.e., high-tech, high-wage job creation)

To view the application, visit the website HERE
The Blue Sky West incubator will serve as a place for new business people to use to get started. Fully furnished offices at Blue Sky West provide one less thing for future business owners to worry about. At the incubator, business hopefuls have access to the expertise of USF professionals and student interns, cutting-edge research, technology, and social networking.

The USFP Blue Sky West center will help you form connections with important members of the business world including:

Central Florida Development Council
Central Florida Partnership
East Polk Committee of 100
Florida High Tech Corridor
Lakeland Economic Development Council
Tampa Bay Partnership

Also, the staff at Blue Sky West are very experienced in the fields of business development, international business, and entrepreneurship, making them qualified to help you get started.

For businesses that have already started, a second incubator program, Blue Sky East, designed to help accelerate businesses will be located in Winter Haven.

If you are planning on starting your own business after graduating, why do it all on your own? Especially in today’s extra competitive society, businesses need to find a way to stand out. Blue Sky’s only job is to help you and put you on the path to business success.

For more information or to submit an application, contact Eddie Hill, the Assistant Program Director at:

Eddie Hill
Blue Sky Incubator System
University of South Florida Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
863-667-7056