New Haven’s new technology hub to benefit from Comcast donation

(Contributed - Kenneth Boroson Architects) A rendering of District New Haven (Contributed - Kenneth Boroson Architects) A rendering of District New Haven Photo: Journal Register Co. Photo: Journal Register Co. Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close New Haven’s new technology hub to benefit from Comcast donation 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN — The business development arm of media giant Comcast is contributing $700,000 in cash and in-kind services to help bolster District New Haven as new technology business hub.

Paul Savas, vice president of the western New England region for Comcast Business, said about 60 percent of the total value of the company’s donation will involve outfitting District’s Innovation Center with ultra-high-speed Internet for business, a cloud-based telephone system and other important technology services. The remaining 30 percent of the company’s donation will be in cash, which translates into about $230,000.

The design for the Innovation Center is being worked on and Savas said no opening date has been scheduled yet for that portion of District New Haven.

“By taking part in this, we’re looking to help provide the city and the region with a really solid talent base as the technology sector grows,” Savas said.

District New Haven’s Innovation Center also will benefit from $850,000 in funding over the next five years that is coming from CTNext, a subsidiary of the the state’s quasi-public technology investment agency. The Innovation Center will receive $50,000 this year and $200,000 in each of the next four years from CTNext.

How that money will be used at the Innovation Center will be overseen by the Elm City Innovation Collaborative, which also is being funded by CTNext

Elinor Slomba, implementation manager for the Elm City Innovation Collaborative, said the contributions from Comcast and the state support “our mission to build on New Haven’s strengths as a city that nurtures innovative companies and hubs.”

“It’s amazing to see a project of this magnitude flip the switch and open for business,” Slomba said in a statement.

District New Haven opened earlier this year after $25 million worth of renovations over two years, converting the former Connecticut Transit bus garage at the corner of James and State streets into a technology hub. Digital Surgeons, the anchor tenant for the technology hub, moved its new home in February.

Digital Surgeons helps client companies switch their marketing and promotion from traditional channels such as print and broadcast advertising to digital, social and mobile channels.

A co-working space opened in District New Haven in May.

District New Haven is the brainchild of David Salinas, who co-founded Digital Surgeons and spearheaded the renovation effort. Salinas also founded the District Innovation and Venture Center, a non-profit that is based at the District New Haven campus.

“As a result of (Comcast’s) investment, we have been able to rally the support of additional partners and vendors and will be announcing education and workforce development programming in critical areas starting with Software Engineering and Data Science,” Salinas said in a statement explaining part of the Innovation Center’s purpose..

Savas said in addition to Comcast’s investment, the media giant will produce and air public service announcements promoting the education and workforce effort at the Innovation Center.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com