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Commissioners approve RFP to sell BDC amid debate over Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center and incubator space
Summary
Hamilton County commissioners voted to surplus and solicit proposals for the Business Development Center at 100 Cherokee Boulevard, triggering months-long debate as tenants and business advocates warned of lost incubator capacity while supporters said sale proceeds would help fund the Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center and a modern incubator adjacent to the school.
The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on May 6 authorized the surplus and potential sale of the Business Development Center (BDC) at 100 Cherokee Boulevard, starting an RFP process that commissioners said would solicit highest-and-best-use proposals and return recommendations to the body for final approval.
The decision, contained in Resolution 526-10, followed more than two hours of public testimony and commissioner questioning that centered on whether selling the county-owned incubator building would reduce capacity for local manufacturing startups and displace nonprofit and production-based tenants. Opponents described the BDC as a proven local incubator that has supported hundreds of businesses and urged the county to invest in existing infrastructure rather than divest.
"This building has helped over 500 businesses and generated over $79 million in economic impact," said Kina Goldy during public comment, arguing the county should reinvest in the existing facility rather than sell it. Alexis…
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