Focus on Future, But Don't Overlook Achievements of 2008
By Ray Gilley, President & CEO, Metro Orlando EDC

As we begin a new year in the midst of economic uncertainty, it is important to recall the mission of the Metro Orlando EDC: In concert with our investors and partners, to build a diverse economy capable of withstanding dramatic shifts in the global marketplace and to position Metro Orlando as the world's premier business location. Never has that charge seemed quite so vital, and never has your continued support for this important effort been as essential as it is today.

However, before we turn our attention to the year ahead, let's take a look back at the year just past. While the slumping national economy has received most of the headlines, it is important to recall the many significant achievements from which our regional economy benefited in 2008. The magnitude of this list may take you by surprise. Here's a re-cap of the year:

Locations and Expansions

House of Moves - a nationally recognized motion capture studio that has worked on projects including Titanic and Beowulf - opened the doors of its East Coast studio, co-locating with UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) in downtown Orlando.

France's Aromatech Flavoring's Inc., which develops flavors for food products, and Canada's Trihedral Engineering, a computer software developer serving utilities and manufacturers, were two international companies that chose our region for location of their U.S. operations.

Virtual Reality Medical Center (VRMC) and TeKONTROL, Inc. cut the ribbon on a unique R&D facility located in Orlando's Parramore area. The partners will design and produce specialized devices to provide emergency medical training for military and civilian healthcare workers utilizing simulation technology.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) announced that it will build an 85,000-square-foot Class A office building in Lake Mary, creating 141 new jobs with average salaries of over $60,000; Oviedo-based I-Con Systems purchased a 55,000-square-foot facility with plans to expand its manufacturing capacity and jobs; Sanford-based Roses Southeast Papers, LLC announced plans to add 20,000-square-feet to their existing facility, new equipment and up to 20 new jobs; and Lake Mary-based Market Traders Institute, recognized worldwide as the leader in Forex (foreign exchange) education and training, was approved for a state grant to train 116 new employees.

Blue Earth Solutions considered other locations in Florida, Kansas and California before selecting Clermont for the start up of its new tech business with plans to innovate the plastics manufacturing and recycling industries. The company expects to create 150 jobs and initially invest $10 million.

Channel Intelligence, Inc. announced that the software solution company will expand operations in downtown Celebration and create 420 new jobs.

Kaplan University, a leading provider of online higher education, will open a new online student support center in the Central Florida Research Park and expects to employ as many as 750 people over the next four years.

Southern Technical College will renovate and occupy the former SunTrust building along the 17-92 corridor in Sanford, creating 26 new jobs.

Florida Hospital and the Walt Disney Company unveiled plans for Disney Children's Hospital at Florida Hospital. This facility will be one of three hospitals in Metro Orlando focused on children - the others being Orlando Health's Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Nemours Children's Hospital.

Mitsubishi opened the doors to its most recent U.S. (and Metro Orlando) expansion - its $64.5 million new Blade & Vane Manufacturing Facility located in Orlando Central Park. With this third division establishment in our region, Mitsubishi expects to add approximately 225 new jobs.

Restor Telecom announced plans to add a 10,500 square-foot production facility adjoining their current Leesburg location, allowing them to add 26 employees.

EZYield.com's relocation of their corporate offices to Winter Springs allows them to double the company's space and add 51 new jobs, which will triple their employment.

UCF and Siemens expanded their partnership, opening the new Siemens Energy Center at UCF where engineer training and advanced turbine research will be conducted.

SEOS completed its new 34,000-square foot facility in Oviedo, which now serves as the simulation company's U.S. manufacturing and headquarters location.

Metavante Corp, a world leader in the development of software technology for the banking and financial industries, agreed to remain and expand in Central Florida, leasing half the space in the Maitland Summit Park III building scheduled for completion in late 2009.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) completed acquisition of 65 acres of land at Lake Nona, allowing construction to begin on the highly-anticipated $656 million VA Hospital medical complex, which will soon become the most state-of-the-art Veteran's Hospital in the world and could employ up to 2,500.

The Burnham Institute announced that its facility at Lake Nona is slated to receive $40 million in research funding from a National Institute of Health (NIH) grant, which will be used to equip and manage small-molecule screening and discovery centers.

Also at Orlando's new "Medical City" at Lake Nona: Tavistock Group announced plans to build a wet lab; Nemours received approval to build a pediatric healthcare system, anchored by the Nemour's Children's Hospital; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando's Cancer Research Institute (CRI) announced that they will locate in the new UCF Burnett Biomedical Sciences Building, which is under construction adjacent to the coming UCF College of Medicine; and Osceola County Commissioners and officials from the FDOT and Metroplan broke ground on the Narcoossee Road expansion, which will serve this fast-growing business hub from the south.

On the film front, feature films Bait Shop and Beethoven: The Reel Story, and reality TV show Bridal Boot Camp, were among the dozens of film and commercial projects produced here.

Dream Balloon Productions, a digital media production studio devoted to producing high-quality family entertainment through the use of computer-generated (CG) animation, has relocated its headquarters from New Jersey to Orlando. The company now occupies 10,500 square feet of space in the DrewTina Commerce Center in Orange County. They expect to add up to 60 new employees over the next three years.

Dream Balloon Productions co-founder Michael Attardi wrote and directed the multiple award-winning "Once Upon a Christmas Village", a 15-minute animated short that features the voices of Tim Curry, Jim Belushi and Amanda Davis. The animation, created in collaboration with animators from the DAVE School at Universal Studios Orlando, serves as a prototype for the full length feature, Snowyville, which is currently in pre-production.

"My Hometown"... a place where people come to visit, scientists make discoveries, doctors cure diseases, animators bring monsters to life, and much more. Sound familiar? That's Orlando, as it will be promoted through a commercial scheduled to premiere nationally on ABC-TV during halftime of Orlando's Champs Sports Bowl on December 27th and again (twice) during halftime of the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day.

The one-minute community promo is the work of O2 Pictures, a film and video production company based in Orlando. This is the third year that this memorable spot has appeared during the Bowl games. This year, it will be aired through a partnership that includes the Metro Orlando EDC, Orange County, City of Orlando, Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Florida Hospital and Florida Citrus Sports.

To get a sneak peek, click the picture above. To see it again, or share it with others, go to www.OrlandoWorks.com.

In 2006, the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine was a dream fighting for approval. At this time, an economic impact analysis predicted that, if approved, that new College could eventually create nearly 26,000 jobs and have an economic impact of $6.4 billion over 10 years. Some thought it to be overly ambitious at the time. But now -- just two years in and still waiting to open the doors to its first class of students -- UCF President John Hitt has announced that 80 percent of the impact projection has already been achieved.

And the outlook is even brighter. An updated economic impact study now projects a nearly 20 percent increase in jobs and overall economic impact compared to the 2006 study, despite an overall economic slowdown. This translates into more than 30,000 local jobs and an economic impact of $7.6 billion within 10 years. The new figures are based on current and future commitments to the medical school and the life-sciences cluster developing at Lake Nona.

Like everything that UCF touches, these great results are the product of great partnerships. Since UCF announced its College of Medicine on land donated by the Tavistock Group at Lake Nona, other premier institutions have joined the life-sciences cluster. They include California-based Burnham Institute for Medical Research, a Veteran's Administration hospital, Nemours Children's Hospital and M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute. These partners are creating a unique collaboration that promises to make Orlando a world-known destination for medical care and research and add billions of dollars to the Central Florida economy.

Additional study findings predict that the College of Medicine and life-sciences cluster could:

- Help Florida earn more than $13 for every dollar it invests in the College of Medicine and medical city, a 25 percent increase from the 2006 projection.

- Generate $459.9 million in additional tax revenues for the state by year 10, a more than 25 percent increase.

- Create up to $2.8 billion in wages by year 10, a more than 20 percent increase.

"In a time of declining economic activity around the globe, Central Florida has a proven economic engine in the UCF College of Medicine and medical city at Lake Nona," Hitt said. "Few things, if any, are as important to our Central Florida economy as the continued support of the medical school."

Helping ensure full and continued state legislative support for the UCF College of Medicine is a main legislative priority for the Metro Orlando EDC for the 2009 Legislative Session.

Online shopping is at an all-time high. As people flock to the Internet in search of good deals, one Central Florida company is helping consumers easily find and buy products online.

Channel Intelligence (CI) - based in Celebration, Fla. - is a software company that provides e-commerce solutions to online retailers such as Best Buy, Target, Neiman Marcus, Circuit City, Overstock.com and hundreds of others. CI's innovative technology not only enables consumers to find available products (in real-time, in-stock status), but also provides them with information on where to purchase the products whether it be on-line or in stores. The company also helps manufacturers by enabling them to track and manage their inventory levels and pricing, while comparing the data with competitors.

Channel Intelligence recently expanded their headquarters operations, adding 420 new jobs and a capital investment of $33 million.

For more info, click here.