UWF partners with Historical Research Associates for Next Exit History
The University of West Florida and Historical Research Associates, Inc. signed a licensing agreement for Next Exit History™ yesterday during a partnership celebration event, marking the first agreement signed from a social sciences department at UWF. The event also recognized the grand opening of the HRA Pensacola office.
Next Exit History™ is a GPS-based mobile app developed by UWF faculty researchers that provides information about more than 55,000 historical sites across the country.
“We are excited that our faculty have found a way to convert their passion for history into a commercially viable venture,” said Dr. Richard Podemski, associate vice president for research and dean of the UWF Graduate School. “This partnership with HRA will help promote the expertise of our history faculty on a national scale.”
Through the partnership, HRA holds exclusive oversight of Next Exit History™, including building income through partnerships and more. By establishing a Pensacola office, HRA aims to create new job opportunities in the Northwest Florida region for those interested in heritage tourism, cultural resource management and historical research.
“Next Exit History™ is a proven tool for helping communities turn their historical and cultural resources into economic assets,” said Brad Bowden, president/CEO and senior archaeologist for HRA. “It has immediately allowed us to help our clients satisfy the public education and outreach requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. We are excited about our collaboration with UWF, which enables us to build on the University’s long history of working with state and municipal entities.”
HRA will also represent Next Exit History™ as a finalist at the Innovation Coast Awards Nov. 6-7. To learn more about Next Exit History™, visit nextexithistory.com.
