In 1977, a plan that would forever change how the Orlando region works to attract and grow local industry was put into place. The Industrial Development Commission (IDC) was formed with four staff associates, 110 individual members and a great vision for the future.

The IDC united the efforts of three groups that were doing similar economic development-type work—the Orlando Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 200, the Central Florida Development Committee and the Orlando/Orange County Industrial Development Board. The group was primarily focused on the attraction and recruitment of targeted industries.

While the IDC originally served Orange County and the City of Orlando, a regional focus was always the vision of its leadership. In 1981, Seminole County folded its economic development functions into the IDC; Lake County joined the partnership in 1987; and Osceola County came on board in 1989, the same year that the organization's name changed to the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida (EDC).

In terms of responsibilities and functions, the EDC has launched four important, and somewhat unique, economic development initiatives. In 1986, the organization added film and television production to its line-up of focus areas and the Metro Orlando Film & Television Commission was born. Three years later came the establishment of an industry retention team that specifically worked to help local businesses grow and to regularly assess and help meet their needs. In 1995, the region witnessed the creation of the Metro Orlando International Affairs Commission (MOIAC)—a community program managed by the EDC dedicated to bringing global investment to the area and to enhancing local exporting opportunities. The Central Florida Technology Partnership (CFTP), another program managed by the EDC, was established in 1999. This program is focused on building our region's technology business base.

In 2001, the organization was renamed the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the community brand, "Putting imagination to work", was launched. Today, with a staff of 38 and approximately 323 private- and public-sector investors, the EDC is focused on attracting, retaining and growing targeted industries that have the potential to create high-wage, high-value jobs and to diversify the region's economic base.