About
The Don Ryan Center for Innovation is the economic development department of the Town of Bluffton.
Our Mission
To help innovators, start-ups and early stage businesses launch and grow their companies, providing the resources and experienced business guidance needed to help them achieve their goals – and help create a vibrant entrepreneurial business climate throughout the region
Our Vision
Create a vibrant entrepreneurial business climate within the region through economic development emphasizing organic, sustainable growth. Enhance the economic vitality, diversity, and dynamism of the region.
Who Was Don Ryan?
Don Ryan
Don Ryan, co-founded CareCore National (now eviCore healthcare) in 1994, and under his leadership it became one of the leading specialty benefits management companies.
After bringing his company to Bluffton, Mr. Ryan became involved in the efforts to recruit other companies to the area.
He was an energetic supporter of what was going to be “The Bluffton Technology Corporation Incubator”. Don donated the original office space to the incubator. After his untimely passing the Center was renamed in his honor.
History
The Don Ryan Center for Innovation (DRCI) was established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3). The corporation’s mission was to function as a business incubator to grow Bluffton’s and the surrounding regions’ economic base by helping innovative start-up or early-stage companies. The organization incubated 29 companies and expanded into partnerships with Beaufort County Schools, USCB, TCL, SCAD and the City of Beaufort to promote and support innovation and entrepreneurship for the purposes of economic development.
The Bluffton Public Development Corporation (BPDC) was the Town’s 501(c)(3) established in late 2012 by town leaders to pursue economic development within the Town. The corporation’s mission was to accept, buy, sell, develop, mortgage, and transfer real and personal property including development rights.
Its two other objectives were to assist in the town’s economic development and undertake activities designed to promote and support the May River and other watershed cleanup efforts of the town. The corporation was an arm of the Town and was formed because, by law, a municipality cannot execute specific financial transactions.
The Present
Both organizations matured and evolved to reflect the needs of the Town and the region. Since both worked in the realm of economic development Town Council authorized the merger of these entities by the adoption of a resolution on December 13, 2016, into a single entity known as the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, Inc.
This new entity fosters and promotes economic development in these general areas:
Strategic Plan
The following Don Ryan Center for Innovation Economic Development Strategic Plan is a bold, ambitious, and aspirational plan that will guide the organization to expand economic development in Bluffton, South Carolina. The Don Ryan Center for Innovation will execute the greatest attempt at reaching the goals and delivering upon the strategies set forth in this plan but reserves the right to adjust as needed in an ever-changing economic environment.