CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President/CEO of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and several other local officials presided over the ribbon cutting ceremony that was held on Tuesday, October 1 to celebrate the completion of $1.4 million in renovations to the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center (CBBIC). A federal grant allowed for the renovation of this facility that harnesses the many innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit of the Coastal Bend.
“With the federal grant we were able to expand our space significantly and we doubled our capacity for resident clients,” said Bill Cone, Director of the CBBIC.
The Center can now handle 35 resident clients. Cone says clients who are housed at the Center tend to see more success because they get more personal attention.
Invited guests were given a tour of the expanded facilities of the CBBIC which added 15,000 square feet and two new laboratories. During the tour, clients and students involved with the programs at the Innovation Center had the opportunity to speak with guests about the support available for area entrepreneurs. Tuan Phung, a graduate assistant working on his MBA at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was one of the students celebrating the renovation.
“Working at the CBBIC gives me the ability to apply the knowledge I learned in school and actually work with clients,” said Tuan.
Tuan works with CBBIC entrepreneurs and provides services which help them to nurture and develop their business. They also offer activities to help clients assess their business visibility, provide resources, and help them unlock their full potential.
“I feel proud to know that my client’s success is the result of the collaboration between us and we are happy to help,” he said.
The Center has created over 400 jobs since it first started in 2009, making a significant impact on the local economy.