A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, June 24, for The Edge Connection Enterprise Center, a new Business Incubator and Commercial Kitchen which will help advance economic development, grow sustainable businesses and create new jobs in Kennesaw, Cobb County and the state of Georgia.

Bringing the project into Kennesaw has been a goal of City officials and the Kennesaw Development Authority (KDA) for several years, and the groundbreaking brought together a number of partnerships including the City of Kennesaw, Kennesaw Development Authority, The Edge Connection, Kennesaw State University, the Marcus Foundation and the Hewlett-Packard Foundation.

The 30,000 square foot facility is currently under construction at the large retail and office development under way at the southwest corner of U.S. Highway 41 and Kennesaw Due West Road.

The project will include 25 mixed-use incubator offices, a 6-station commercial complex kitchen, production center, product market place and event space, as well as offer business development training and a certificate culinary course in partnership with Kennesaw State University.

Anticipated cost of the project is $10.5 million. To date, $350,000 has been committed from public funds, $900,000 from private funds and $2 million from foundation funding. The capital campaign is ongoing.

“This is a great day for the City of Kennesaw,” said Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews. “This Enterprise Center is aptly named as it is on the cutting edge of growing business and providing opportunities for businesses. It will help create jobs and opportunities right here in Kennesaw, as well as Cobb County and across the state.”

Mayor Mathews also praised The Edge Connection Executive Director and CEO Patricia Harris, who in turn thanked the City and the Kennesaw Development Authority for their involvement.

"Communities that forge sustainable strategic partnerships don't reinvent the wheel. They build partnerships from existing entities that provide services and resources to better serve its citizens,” Ms. Harris said. “This business incubator and its partnership with The Edge Connection, Kennesaw State University and Kennesaw Development Authority will become a replicable model for cities around the country."

“The City of Kennesaw has been known for many years as a great place for families,” Mayor Mathews added. “With our ongoing relationship with The Edge Connection and with everyone here today, the City of Kennesaw will also be known as a great place for business.”

For more information on The Edge Connection, please visit www.theedgeconnection.com. For information on economic development in the City of Kennesaw, please call 770-794-7075, or visit www.kennesaw-ga.gov.