NeoCity Opens New Lab Hub to Boost Tech Growth

A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of NeoCity’s new lab complex, a 30,000‑square‑foot facility that will host wet‑lab, dry‑lab, and cryogenic spaces. The event took place on a sunny Thursday in Kissimmee and was attended by Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, Alex Kelly, local officials, and business leaders.

Key Highlights

• Strategic Expansion
  Existing tenants such as imec and SkyWater will use the space to grow their semiconductor and advanced packaging operations. New companies are also invited to occupy the facility.

• Economic Impact
  Osceola County, traditionally reliant on tourism and farming, is poised for diversification. During the pandemic, unemployment reached 31 %, the third highest in the nation—a figure highlighted by County Manager Don Fisher.

• Funding and Support
  The $22 million project is primarily funded by a $17.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Commerce’s Job Growth Infrastructure Fund. Fisher praised this state support, noting that without the grant the facility would not exist.

• Future Tenants
• Zing Drone will open a design center.

• 22 Hybrid, a St. Cloud start‑up, will offer identity‑management solutions to government and healthcare clients on the first floor.

• Industry Vision
  Secretary Kelly emphasized NeoCity’s status as one of the largest semiconductor hubs in the country, attracting national and international attention. He highlighted the importance of building a supply chain for advanced technologies such as quantum computing.

Master Plan Overview

NeoCity’s 480‑acre site includes:

• A dedicated power substation.
• An agreement with AdventHealth to develop a 20‑acre health campus in St. Cloud, starting with an 80‑bed hospital that could expand to 200 beds over eight years.

Community Engagement

A STEM Day event, postponed from February due to cold weather, will be held on Saturday, March 28 from 1–4 p.m. at NeoCity. Highlights include:

• Hands‑on activities
• Interactive stations
• A chance to win a tablet
• Free pizza for all attendees