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An idea that Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel Ford Sr. and JaxChamber Chief Innovation Officer Carlton Robinson discussed in the mile-high air took a step toward getting off the ground Thursday afternoon: The chamber and JTA have come to terms for space for an Open Innovation Center at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center.

Ford and JaxUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace signed a Memorandum of Understanding to open the 3,900 square foot center inside the JRTC.

The center, located on the second level of the multimodal hub, will feature innovation and technology training for entrepreneurs and employees. Robinson's Venture Services Division will be housed inside the JRTC.

Under the terms of the five-year agreement, JTA will not charge JaxUSA — the economic development arm of the chamber — rent for five years; however, the chamber will pay to build out the space and for day-to-day operations.  

“We couldn’t have better partners between Aundra and Carlton,” said JTA chief executive Nathaniel Ford Sr. “We saw the vision and what that would mean to the City of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida and, frankly, what it means for the JTA. …We have built a reputation as one of the most innovative transportation agencies in the country. …It’s just fitting that we would be able to partner with JAXUSA and create this innovation center in the Regional Transportation Center in Lavilla.”

The idea for the center came out of a discussion Robinson and Ford when in Denver on a chamber leadership trip a few years ago.

Robinson said the Open Innovation Center will allow the Chamber to work with entrepreneurs as well as institutions in an attempt to grow and facilitate business.

“This partnership with JTA is an incredible opportunity for our region to build its innovation ecosystem and continue the great work underway with Smart Regions and the transportation space,” Robinson said in a statement. “Through our experience working with entrepreneurs, we saw a need to be able to move quickly and, for example, offer opportunities for companies to send employees to get tech training that will build a pipeline of skilled talent in our region.”