TCC opens Center for Innovation downtown

February 10, 2017

Interior of Center for InnovationTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 6, 2017) — Tallahassee Community College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the newly completed TCC Center for Innovation, located at 350 South Duval Street in downtown Tallahassee.

“We are so thrilled to be opening the new TCC Center for Innovation,” said Kimberly Moore, vice president for workforce development. “Our team has been working hard to complete this facility, which will bring together the public sector with private businesses and nonprofits in an innovative and collaborative space that is just steps from the state capitol.”

The 34,000-square-foot facility, which was built in 1997, has sat largely empty since the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science closed in 2013. It recently underwent significant renovations to make much-needed updates to infrastructure and to repurpose the space. The College’s vision for the new center was influenced by increased demand for public- and private-sector industry training and access to technology resources, along with community leaders’ desire to increase foot traffic in the area.

The center houses offices and conference rooms available for rent, technology-infused training rooms, a retail incubator, and an innovation and collaboration room. Current tenants include WTXL-ABC 27 and New Horizons Computer Learning Center. TCC initiatives such as the Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence and a Starbucks coffee shop are also located in the facility. The Starbucks, which opened on January 30, was licensed by TCC to help support retail training and student job opportunities and is part of the College’s commitment to advance entrepreneurship both in the community and as a campus culture.

“It is exciting that TCC is utilizing this building to serve its faculty and students as well as everyone that comes downtown,” said Nancy Miller, Tallahassee city commissioner. “Starbucks’ nationally recognized name will certainly encourage people to venture into Kleman Plaza and perhaps explore other areas downtown.”

Visitors enjoyed tours of the facility and remarks from Paige Carter Smith, CEO of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, Jared Willis, president of the Downtown Business Association, Dustin Daniels, chief of staff to Mayor Andrew Gillum, and Sue Dick, president and CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. Jim Murdaugh, TCC president, spoke about the evolution of the center and how it will increase opportunities for Tallahassee businesses and other community members.

"We are proud of our role in creating talent in ‪Tallahassee!” said Murdaugh.

For information, contact Kim Moore at mooreki@tcc.fl.edu or (850) 201-8760.