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The Metro Orlando region is one of the world’s only quadramodal
transportation centers, providing global shipping opportunities via
land, air, sea and space. The region’s superior network of air
routes, rail systems and interstate highways, as well as nearby
deep water ports and launch facilities at the Kennedy Space Center
are a distinct advantage to the manufacturing, warehouse and
distribution sector. The region’s varied transportation options
combines with other critical needs, such as widely available land
for new facilities construction and a young workforce qualified to
fill a variety of jobs.
With location and transportation assets that place Metro Orlando
near suppliers and customers, the region’s locale is becoming
increasingly valuable to the sector. A strong network of support
companies that handle outsourcing of various business needs further
makes Metro Orlando attractive to manufacturers. Industries that
have a major presence in the region include plastics, metal
fabrication and parts, infrastructure materials, defense, power
plant systems, microelectronics and laser equipment.
Metro Orlando is a major center for warehouse and distribution
in Florida and the Southeast, with a total of 98.7 million square
feet of industrial space. The types of goods stored in and moved
through these facilities include groceries; restaurant items;
health care products; building supplies; auto parts; consumer
electronics products and major household appliances.
Industry leaders often cite the world-class Orlando
International Airport (OIA) as being integral to worldwide sales
efforts because of its convenient flight routes. OIA also features
robust air cargo operations. As one of the world’s few airports
able to accommodate the new generation Class 6 aircraft, the
facility offers an infrastructure designed for optimum cargo
processing. Because many major U.S. cities are within overnight
trucking distance of OIA, land transportation to warehouses and
distribution centers is convenient, fast and economical. OIA's
Foreign Trade Zone No. 42 provides a significant economic advantage
to the sector by permitting imported goods to be stored or
processed without being subject to import duty. The 205-acre zone
is part of Orlando Tradeport, a 1,400-acre fully integrated cargo
center that is master planned with high-quality design criteria,
intermodal transportation capacity, and direct airside access.
Also vital to Metro Orlando’s air access to international and
domestic markets is Orlando Sanford International Airport. Rated
for wide-body air carriers, the airport has aircraft service
facilities and a U.S. Customs office. A 395-acre industrial park
with rail service available is located on airport property, along
with a 50,000-square-foot cargo building in the Airport Commerce
Park that facilitates cargo handling, pallet preparation and
receiving. Orlando Sanford International Airport is part of Foreign
Trade Zone #250.
Convenient access to such major highways as Interstate 4,
Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike permits easy and efficient
distribution throughout the state and the Southeast. Trucking in
Florida is deregulated, which serves to keep prices as much as 10
percent below the national average.
Located less than an hour east of Metro Orlando, Port Canaveral
provides more than 3,200 feet of docks for petroleum, frozen and
perishable food shipments and other general cargo. Covered dry
freight storage capacity on port property totals 750,000 square
feet. The Port of Tampa — Florida’s largest seaport — is only an
hour and a half west of Metro Orlando.
The region’s impressive range of resources and diversity of
businesses ensure that the manufacturing, warehouse and
distribution sector is well positioned to build upon its current
success, and in doing so create an even more prosperous economic
climate.
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