UCF Business Incubation Program, Fla. Economic Gardening Institute Participate in Osceola Entrepreneur Summit in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla., -- The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute were among the participants at the recent Osceola Entrepreneur Summit in Kissimmee to help link promising entrepreneurs with potential investors, job seekers and the public.

Rafael Caamano, site manager at the UCF Business Incubator Kissimmee, said Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) hosted the event and Caamano hopes similar summits will become a regular feature of Osceola’s economic development effort.

Caamano, whose roles at the event included serving on the selection committee, mentoring presenting companies and coordinating entrepreneur presentations, said strong attendance and excellent presentations by emerging entrepreneurial companies point to a solid base for “home grown” economic development in Osceola.

“Clearly the future of economic development in Osceola County and throughout Central Florida is to grow our own companies, provide them with the environment where they can succeed and reap the benefits in increased employment opportunities,” Caamano said.

Entrepreneur companies that made presentations during the Osceola Entrepreneur Summit include Biowoman LLC, a natural based beauty products company; Blast Family Sports Multi-plex, an affordable family entertainment complex; Cinematika, a technology company that focuses on emerging digital entertainment systems; Green World Products, LLC, producers of “DE-OIL-IT” a product that breaks petroleum waste products into harmless compounds; TRU-SAFE Technologies, Inc., which produces products that safeguard against electrical fires; and MemoreePlus, which specializes in digital memory cards.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 assisted emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business 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, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.