Don Ryan Center for Innovation Announces Groundbreaking for New Facility November 14th
Staff Report From Low Country CEO
Friday, November 9th, 2018
The media and public are invited to join the Don Ryan Center for Innovation Board of Directors, staff, and Town of Bluffton Town Council, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Don Ryan Center for Innovation facility on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. in Buckwalter Place Commerce Park.
“The groundbreaking signifies an important step in furthering our mission to build a vibrant,
business-friendly community for entrepreneurs and attract core target industries,” said Trent Williamson, CEO, Don Ryan Center for Innovation.
Town of Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka added “Buckwalter Place is a critical component in the Town of Bluffton’s strong economic future. Central to this will be the new Don Ryan Center for Innovation, which allows us to attract quality jobs and provides an invaluable asset for the Town of Bluffton.”
Buckwalter Place Commerce Park is a 94-acre upland area that represents a concerted effort to expand the Town of Bluffton and Beaufort and Jasper County’s economic base by attracting high-paying primary jobs. It has become a focal point for economic development and diversifying the local and regional economy.
Landowners include but are not limited to: eviCore Healthcare, Southeastern Development, Regency Centers, St. Joseph Candler, and Technical College of the Lowcountry Culinary Arts.
Marc Orlando, Town of Bluffton Town Manager, said “Buckwalter Place Commerce Park includes a highly focused mix of coordinated uses centered around principals of smart growth, new urbanism and economic sustainability. It is only because of the close collaboration of public and private partners that the vision for this unique development has become a reality.”
In July 2016 the Town of Bluffton issued a development permit that provided for a 120,000 square foot Kroger Market Place with approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial/retail space that includes the new Don Ryan Center for Innovation facility.
The facility will house the DRCI business incubator and offer high tech co-working and meeting space. Additionally, it will serve Town of Bluffton’s economic development headquarters.
“The new state-of-the-art space will enable implementation of our recently adopted 5-year strategic plan.” said Matt Green, Chairman of the DRCI Board of Directors. “The ambitious plan includes work in five core pillars, each of which will make a significant impact in the economic future of our region. With the continued support of the Town of Bluffton, private entities and individuals, the vision laid out in the plan can become reality.”