A government contractor from Minnesota has emerged as a potential buyer for the beleaguered BRIDG facility in Kissimmee.
Osceola County on Monday approved SkyWater Technology to negotiate with economic officials for ownership of the 109,000-square-foot facility off U.S. Highway 192.
The facility has been entangled in controversy since relations with University of Central Florida, a partner in the project, disintegrated over its profitability.
The county and school agreed to pursue other suitors.
Gov. Ron DeSantis compounded the troubles in June when he vetoed a $10 million appropriation, GrowthSpotter reported then.
Although board materials for Monday’s emergency meeting included the expectation of 220 jobs created, the board indicated that they might remove that language.
The board estimated that SkyWater might have to invest more than $50 million initially into BRIDG, with another $25-30 million expected for operating expenses in the first five years.
Government work landed
The facility previously landed several contracts with government agencies and defense companies for research related to high-tech semiconductors.
SkyWater is known as a “pure-play foundry,” that is one that manufactures components for other businesses.
SkyWater has experience in a number of industries, including eerospace, defense, automotive and consumer technologies.
A board meeting document suggested that the company could bring as many as 220 jobs.
But board officials reduced that number during the meeting and said they might eliminate it altogether.
The board action gave the county the authority to enter into a “memo of understanding”
The facility includes some of the most high-tech clean rooms in the industry.
When it opened, leaders hoped it would usher in a period of leadership in sensor-based tech for Osceola County.
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