Four years after the Innovation Connector began working with startup companies to boost the local economy, the business incubator is full and its tenants are looking to expand.

As a result, the Innovation Connector will host a community open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 to unveil the startup firms and their services to area business leaders. The incubator's businesses are located in renovated homes on Marsh Street adjacent to the Ball State campus.

"We believe there's an entrepreneurial seed within many individuals," said Katie Frederick, the incubator's executive director. Our tenants are passionate about their work and dedicated in their efforts. These businesses reflect the knowledge-based arena that Delaware County is trying to build.

"The growth experienced at the Innovation Connector during the past five months gives expectations for excellent business development in the next few years," she said. "Our job is to connect an entrepreneur with a wealth of resources, advisers and funding avenues to help the business flourish."

The Innovation Connector is a partnership between Ball State, Cardinal Health Systems and the City of Muncie. Ball State renovated several former residences with the intent of routing faculty and staff with business ideas through the startup process. Several of the startups in the incubator are headed by Ball State faculty, students or alumni.

Ball State provides tenants with access to faculty members as well as professional and technology staff members who provide special expertise with the development of product prototypes, market research, financial management, accounting services, advisory board members, and specialized processes and procedures assistance for licensing and technology transfer.

Reservations for the open house may be made by contacting the Innovation Connector at lzody@bsu.edu or (765) 285-4900.

For more information about the Innovation Connector, including contact information for the startups, go online to www.innovationconnector.com