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.
Military Commands Gain Ground
Of tremendous importance to retaining Metro Orlando's defense and affiliated tech industries, the Florida Legislature approved $9.1 million to enhance force protection and military base protection requirements for the Department of Defense simulation and modeling activities in the Partnership I and II buildings in the Central Florida Research Park. The Legislature also funded a Partnership III building, which will provide overflow space for growing military and UCF operations.
In April, University of Central Florida leaders signed their largest ever research contract with the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Simulation, Training and Technology Center (RDECOM STTC). The contract - worth up to $75 million over seven years - establishes a collaborative research laboratory to enable technology transfer across U.S. Army programs, to other branches of the military and throughout the simulation technology community.
And in July, the U.S. Army's Orlando-based PEO-STRI announced that it has signed an agreement with the U.S. Joint Forces Command to develop and procure simulation training systems supporting the military joint services headquartered in Tidewater, VA. This means that the $3 billion annual budget already executed by PEO STRI from its headquarters in the Central Florida Research Park will grow even larger in the years ahead.
Increased Global Access
TAM Airlines initiated daily service between Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Orlando International Airport, expanding international connections with an important global market.
Reflecting the success of its year-old daily flights from Orlando to Frankfurt, Lufthansa replaced its A330-200 plane with the Airbus A340-600 at Orlando International Airport. In addition to providing over 100 more daily seats, the A340 is now OIA's 'longest' airplane.
Orlando Sanford International Airport was selected to receive more than $9.2 million in federal grant funding for runway improvement and expansion projects through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program. OSIA is the 2nd busiest general aviation airport in the Southeast, and 8th busiest in the nation.
Going Green
The City of Orlando was selected one of 12 "Solar American Cities" by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The designation comes with a two-year, $200,000 grant, which the City of Orlando will use to develop a strategic energy plan and implement a solar education program.
LYNX became the nation's first transit agency approved to build, own and produce an on-demand biodiesel fuel facility; the first step in converting its entire fleet of 290 vehicles to carbon neutral biodiesel fuel.
OUC - The Reliable One celebrated the grand opening of "the greenest building in downtown Orlando."
EDC client Datasite Orlando announced that it will partner with Progress Energy and invest $26 million to renovate an existing facility into a data center that prioritizes energy efficiency. In addition to an energy-saving re-fab, the project is expected to generate 39 new jobs averaging salaries of $70,000.
Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty announced a double-barreled initiative to target cleantech economic development. A Cleantech Benchmark Study will evaluate our region's capabilities and potential in this realm; a Cleantech Symposium Series will help to nurture new technology spin offs.
Community Achievements
History was made in Central Florida when the brand new UCF College of Medicine announced that it had achieved Dean Deborah German's landmark goal of securing fully paid, four year scholarships for each student in the College's 2009 charter class. By year end, more than 4,300 applications for the 40 spots in UCF's 2009 inaugural class had been received.
From more than 2,300 schools surveyed by Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review, the Center for Entrepreneurship at Rollins College's Crummer Graduate School of Business was distinguished as one of the nation's top 50 entrepreneurship programs, ranking #24 in the graduate category of the survey.
Supporting start-up businesses throughout Metro Orlando, the UCF Tech Incubator program added a location in Seminole County; facilities in Lake and Osceola Counties are next on the drawing board.
The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness was established to tackle that critical issue throughout Central Florida.
While work began on the building of the new Orlando Event Center (future home of the Orlando Magic), the Orlando Performing Arts Center (OPAC) officially unveiled the design for the 330,000-square-foot Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center, which is scheduled to open in 2012.
In November, site selection consultants and corporate real estate advisors - many of the EDC's top clients and prospects - got a first hand look at what Metro Orlando has to offer when their coveted annual meeting, CoreNet Global Summit, was held here.
This year, Fast Company named Orlando one of the "12 Best Cities for Innovation"; Milken Institute included our region on their 2008 list of "Best Performing Cities"; The Patent Scoreboard ranked UCF 3rd among the "Top 10 Most Impactful Patent Portfolios"; and Kauffman Foundation surveys show Florida ranks 11th for entrepreneurial activity.
Scott Faris, founder of Orlando's Planar Energy Devices, was honored with one of Governor Charlie Crist's Business Diversification Awards, which recognize business achievements that advance the state's economy through job creation, distinctive community involvement and capital investment.
The EDC's Ray Gilley was elected 2008-09 Chairman of the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC), a statewide association of economic development professionals that works to advance economic development priorities and advocate for industry concerns.
Of course, there were disappointments as well. Approval of the Central Florida Commuter Rail project was derailed by the Florida Legislature, though it will be back for consideration in the 2009 session. Florida's Entertainment Incentive and Innovation Fund - two valuable business attraction tools - were reduced or left unfunded. And unemployment in the region grew to 7.3%, mirroring rises throughout the state and nation.
While the year ahead will hold its challenges, this region remains very well poised for continued and long term success. On behalf of all of us at the EDC, it is a privilege and an honor to work with you and on behalf of this dynamic community.
Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.
