History

In 1997, the City of Scottsburg began a journey. The elected leadership had a vision for a facility that would become a hub of progressive science and technology, invigorating regional job opportunities and education.

Plans began to create a remarkable space that is competitive with other science parks in the U.S. and the world. It would bring Scottsburg into the future of knowledge-based jobs and secure the economic future of the region. Scottsburg already had all of the advantages:

• Open space and reasonable operating costs
• An established transportation system and infrastructure with regional, national and global links
• A long history of strong leadership and successful economic development projects

Scottsburg began planning long before the City was able to pinpoint the exact operations of the science park. By doing so, the City of Scottsburg found itself in the right place, at the right time and with the right plan, thirteen years later. With that plan in hand and facing another great recession, Scottsburg was able to match a $4.3 million federal grant to fund its vision.

This match allowed Scottsburg to receive the largest federal grant in the Economic Development Administration region, and one of the largest federal grants in the nation dedicated to increase entrepreneurial and high-tech business development.

As a result, Scottsburg is now home to the Mid-America Science Park, putting it on the map of state and national science parks and technology centers.

MASP received its first tenant in 2009. Stray Light Optical Technologies, now in the accelerator phase of MASP, is well on its way to become a multi-million dollar company with clients including NASA, Sandia National Lab and Boeing.