Commissioners approve RFP to sell BDC amid debate over Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center and incubator space

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 Willis, former director of the incubator, told commissioners that the BDC’s manufacturing zoning and existing freight access make it uniquely suitable for companies that would not fit in a typical office incubator.

Supporters of the sale, including business leaders and educators, said proceeds would fund the Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center and a new co-located incubator in the Golden Gateway (referred to as Franklin Roberts Gateway levels). Dr. Leandrea Wear, who represents Howard School and its work-based learning program, said the center would create paid opportunities and apprenticeships for students who otherwise juggle work and school.

Commissioners pressed administration and staff on details the public requested: current tenant counts (about 35 tenants reported), occupied square footage estimates (staff cited roughly 44,000 sq ft in active tenant space), the status of earlier allocations to the BDC (a previous $5.3 million allocation for repairs was discussed), and whether design schematics and tenant assessments were available. Chief staff and county project managers said an architect is engaged to design the Franklin Roberts spaces and that an assessment of tenants' electrical, floor and lift needs had been circulated to tenants; officials said roughly 11 tenant responses to that survey had been returned by the time of the meeting.

Commissioner questions focused on transition protections. Commissioners sought assurances tenants would have individualized relocation plans, asked whether the county could require a buyer to honor existing leases, and debated whether the county should bind the RFP to tenant protections (which staff warned could reduce sale value). Commissioner Sharp proposed an amendment to require contractual assurances for tenants; the county attorney said enforceability would be complicated because most tenants’ leases are with the Chamber of Commerce, not the county. Staff described options including subsidized relocation, requiring a buyer to assume leases, or offering month-to-month arrangements during a transition period.

After debate and public comment that included entrepreneurs, incubator staff, Chamber representatives and school leaders, commissioners approved the resolution to surplus and solicit RFPs for the property. The RFP will return to the commission with recommendations for any sale or purchase-and-sale agreement; the commission emphasized it retains final legislative authority over any sale.

The commission also approved a related design contract increase for the Gateway Career Technical Education building (Resolution 526-11) during the same meeting.

The process now shifts to staff and procurement: the county will issue an RFP, receive proposals, and present recommendations to the commission; any subsequent purchase-and-sale agreement would require a future commission vote. Commissioners and staff said they intend to meet individually with tenants and the Chamber to minimize disruption and will seek to include tenant needs in future design work for a replacement incubator.