Governor Steve Beshear announced CirrusMio Inc. will begin operations in Lexington, focusing on the development of cloud-based software solutions for public sector clients. The project will create 10 new, high-tech jobs.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome CirrusMio to Kentucky and support these talented entrepreneurs as they start their software company in Lexington,” Gov. Beshear said. “It’s cutting-edge technology like theirs that is helping to create high-paying jobs for people in the Bluegrass region and across the Commonwealth.”
CirrusMio is a newly-formed subsidiary of Virginia-based Metaformers Inc., created in 2000 to offer enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution architects for public sector clients such as government agencies and universities. The applications for the software that CirrusMio will develop will include the provision of a collaborative exchange environment to allow project and organizational leaders to manage human and financial resources and allow the transparency of operations for initiatives and projects.
“We are excited by the opportunity to build CirrusMio in Kentucky with the support of KEDFA,” said Andrew Beck, vice president of global operations of Metaformers. “We were impressed by the enthusiasm and support offered by Commerce Lexington Inc, the University of Kentucky, the city of Lexington and the Commonwealth of Kentucky state government for our organization. It is the shared goal of these organizations and CirrusMio to build a technology and skills infrastructure supporting cloud-based solutions, bringing Kentucky to the cutting edge of IT and business solutions. Through the employment of skilled team members in the region and our commitment to the community, we expect to build value in many ways for the people of Kentucky from their investment in us.”
The project was approved for funding up to $100,000 by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) through the Cabinet for Economic Development’s High-Tech Investment Pool. The Pool is used to support technology-based and research-intensive companies and projects in the Commonwealth. Metaformers will provide a match of the loan as part of a bigger investment in the development of CirrusMio and the purchase of equipment, hardware, software, subscriptions for cloud-based applications and intellectual property protection.
“This investment speaks to the commitment of this company to Lexington and the work ethic of our people,” said Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr, of Lexington. “I am pleased to hear CirrusMio will create 10 new, high-tech jobs with great pay and benefits.”
“This is another example of Lexington’s ability to attract cutting-edge technology jobs, helping to turn our community into a mini Silicon Valley,” said Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, of Lexington. “I’m proud that the state could play a role in making this happen, because startups like CirrusMio are a key driver of our nation’s economy.”
CirrusMio is a client of the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership, which is a collaboration of Commerce Lexington Inc., University of Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. The company is also a client of the Lexington Region Innovation and Commercialization Center, which is part of Kentucky’s statewide network of six Innovation and Commercialization Centers (ICCs) and seven Innovation Centers (ICs) that provides locally accessible, business-building consulting and related services to the state’s high-tech entrepreneurs and inventors.
“The Bluegrass Business Development Partnership is excited that Metaformers is starting a new software company, CirrusMio, in the heart of downtown Lexington,” said President and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc., Bob Quick, CCE. “We welcome CirrusMio to the growing number of software and IT companies in our region. They are a nice addition to the market and are a key strategic targeted industry for our community. This industry is a great asset to Lexington, and we're happy that CirrusMio will be part of this vibrant sector.”
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.
A detailed community profile for Frankfort (Franklin County) can be viewed at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/index.aspx?cw=053.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2010 totaled more than $2 billion with the creation of nearly 11,900 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training,incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com.