FloridaWest’s CO:LAB is Making a Comeback Downtown Entrepreneurial Hub is Set to Reopen

by Morgan Cole

CO:LAB, a local entrepreneurial development center established through a partnership between FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance (FloridaWest) and Pensacola State College, is roaring back to life after being put on pause by the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sally.

First established in 2008 as the Gulf Coast Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) as part of an economic development initiative, CO:LAB offers eligible business startups acceptance into a three-to-five-year program that includes access to office space and equipment, business mentoring and the camaraderie of other entrepreneurs who share many of the same challenges.

CO:LAB is an enterprise of FloridaWest and assists early stage high-growth companies become more successful by providing affordable, private office space, mentors and access to a variety of business services to help develop companies that will employ more people from our area as well as companies that will benefit our community.

From only two flagship tenants in 2008, CO:LAB has grown to become a thriving entrepreneurial hub serving more than 55 unique businesses, each in varying stages of growth and development.

Just before the onset of the pandemic in January 2020, CO:LAB was buzzing at 86 percent occupancy, representing a total of 19 companies with nearly 60 employees. As countywide restrictions began to impact CO:LAB businesses, a handful of tenants decided to pause operations and some made the decision to leave.

“As people and businesses were learning how to navigate the pandemic, they began to return to CO:LAB,” CO:LAB Office Manager Casey Campbell said. “We were very optimistic—then Hurricane Sally struck.”

In September 2020, Hurricane Sally caused significant damage across Northwest Florida, lashing the region with category 2 winds. These extreme winds ripped off half the roof at CO:LAB’s Garden Street building in downtown Pensacola, which caused water intrusion that heavily damaged the inside of the building.

“The third and fourth floors had to be gutted down to the studs,” Campbell explained. “The entire building had to be dried out and renovated—but PSC stepped in without hesitation to begin helping with the rebuild. Needless to say, our tenants who just returned no longer had a home. Still technically a part of CO:LAB, several companies relocated permanently and others did not come back. It was like starting all over again.”

Today, the downtown CO:LAB is well on its way to returning to previous occupancy levels. Director of Entrepreneurial Development Patrick Rooney said that "It's rewarding rebuilding the business-boosting enterprise.”

“We are now at 62 percent occupancy with 19 current tenants that represent 49 employees,” Rooney said. “CO:LAB is back to being a hub of entrepreneurial activity—it’s exciting to watch this important business incubator regain its foothold in our community, and it’s very satisfying to see our graduates successfully move on and make room for new tenants.”

One of these new tenants, Video Brochures Direct, is owned and operated by Aaron Ball and Glenn McDuffy. McDuffy said they were looking for office space downtown when they discovered CO:LAB. As a startup with specific needs, they fit the model perfectly.

“We got a tour of the facility and I knew right away it was a perfect fit,” McDuffy said. “We needed a showroom and office space and we got that and so much more. It’s the perfect environment for networking and sharing best practices with other entrepreneurs. I feel like we’re just thriving here—

Pensacola offers so much: quality of life, talent pool, the university and colleges—it’s the perfect place for our headquarters.”

Another new tenant, Kevin Wessa, founder of BREWWW web design studio that focuses on creative solutions for complex problems, joined CO:LAB in April 2022. He and his wife and co-founder, Christine, were looking for a place to grow their business.

“I was exploring downtown for an office and discovered CO:LAB,” Wessa said. “The aspect of the entrepreneurial community is what makes it so special—our businesses are all different but we share a similar excitement for the work we do and can understand the challenges of running a business as well. Having other entrepreneurs around to bounce ideas off of has been a game changer.”

Dr. Ed Meadows, President of Pensacola State College, said that CO:LAB is an important economic driver and business incubator for entrepreneurs in the Pensacola community.

“We continue to be excited about making this space available to the entrepreneurial community,” Dr. Meadows said. “These entrepreneurs need not only space, but also the support and training offered by FloridaWest.”

Business owners who are interested in becoming a part of CO:LAB must meet specific criteria. For more information on eligibility requirements and CO:LAB services, visit colabpensacola.com.