UCF to host a National Business Incubation Association Conference May 16-19 at Buena Vista Palace

ORLANDO - The University of Central Florida will host the 2010 National Business Incubation Association conference May 16-19 at the Buena Vista Palace in the Walt Disney World Village.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, and two-term member of the board of directors of the National Business Incubation Association will deliver the conference welcoming address and present two conference sessions.

Incubation programs that accelerate development of promising startup enterprises have become an increasingly popular economic development tool nationwide, Dr. O’Neal said.

“Incubation programs can prove much more cost-effective for generating local jobs, opportunities and economic growth,” Dr. O’Neal said. “Over the past decade we have developed proven strategies to analyze the potential of startup enterprises and help them to establish themselves as major contributors to the local economy,” He explained.

The UCF Business Incubation Program which has served more than 130 companies, that have created more than 1,600 new jobs, ranks as one of the most successful business incubation programs in the nation, operating seven facilities located at Research Park, the UCF Campus Orlando, Sanford, Winter Springs, Leesburg and St. Cloud.

More than 600 participants are expected to attend the 2010 National Business Incubation Association conference.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including more than 80 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County and the City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.