Central Florida's State Road 429 was transformed into a film set last week, as Forensic Files, a television series airing on the tru TV network, shot on location in Orange County. The reality TV show, which delves into the world of forensic science - profiling intriguing crimes, accidents and outbreaks of disease - is seen in 142 countries worldwide.

With the help of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority and the EDC's Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission, series producers located a spot suitable to film their crime re-enactment, while also minimizing the impact on local traffic. Our Film Commission assisted throughout planning and production, providing location scouting and permitting services.

Look for Forensic Files on Friday nights at 10 p.m. EST.

A new partnership between Florida Hospital and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research at Lake Nona brings two powerhouse organizations together to tackle the growing health problems of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. The goal of the two organizations, who are collaborating to establish a new health research institute, is to bridge the distance between research in the lab and treatment at the bedside.

Dr. Steve R. Smith, an internationally-renowned diabetes and obesity researcher, was introduced on Monday as the executive director of the new Florida Hospital - Burnham Clinical Research Institute. The Institute, scheduled to open in 2012, will be housed in a 35,000 square foot building on Princeton Street. Located adjacent to the Florida Hospital South Campus, the new facility will serve as the gateway to Florida Hospital's "Health Village".

"With this partnership, we hope to change how diabetes and obesity research is conducted," said Dr. Steven R. Smith. "This new institute will help break down the distance that exists between research and the clinic and help make it possible to deliver results faster and on a personalized level."

Community and business leaders, who gathered for the announcement on Monday, lauded this as another milestone for the fast-emerging life science cluster that is transforming the Metro Orlando economy.

Attraction, retention, creation. Those "big three" strategies in economic development are all equally important to growing and diversifying an economy.

Here in Metro Orlando, the creation component of this three-pronged approach most often begins when an entrepreneur with a good idea finds his or her way to the University of Central Florida's Business Incubation Network. Since its founding in 1999, this UCF program, which was named best in the nation in 2004, has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs.

And more is on the way. Last week, UCF, the City of St. Cloud and Osceola County broke ground on its Business, Technology and Research Center, which will be located at Stevens Plantation in St. Cloud. Upon opening in early 2010, the new 14,000 square feet facility will be the 8th in the University's Incubator Network. In a reflection of true partnership, Osceola County has committed $675,000 in funding to the Incubator over a five year period, and the county's economic development team will work closely with UCF in marketing this great new resource.

The UCF Business Incubator - Lake County/Leesburg is another recent addition to the network. This facility, whose newest client is Green Solar Solutions, focuses on supporting growth of companies in three of Lake County's targeted industry sectors: clean tech, agritech, and life sciences. Along with mentoring and management counseling, incubator clients are provided with office furniture, equipment, and other resources to help get them off on the right foot. The Small Business Development Center and Florida High Tech Corridor Council are also partners in this Lake County-based program.

The network is growing in Seminole County as well. Already home to a facility in Winter Springs, UCF announced plans to open the UCF/Sanford Business Incubator at 110 West First Street. The 4,000-square-foot space will be located in the center of Sanford's historic district. Like the others, this program will focus on emerging business enterprises that exhibit potential for growth and development. The Sanford facility is slated to open in September 2009.

According to Tom O'Neal, executive director of the Incubator network: "Our job is to help businesses create jobs. Business incubation is an efficient strategy to help improve the local economy, and the benefits are long-lasting."

The Metro Orlando EDC works closely with O'Neal and each of his facility directors to support growing companies throughout the incubation period and beyond. Our shared goal is ensuring the right environment and resources necessary to help companies build and stand on their own, eventually resulting in thousands of new jobs for citizens throughout Metro Orlando.

Did you know that one in six companies based in Metro Orlando is owned by a woman? Celebrating the impact of women-owned businesses, as well as the increasing number that are women-led, was the goal of an EDC gathering attended by over 100 of those dynamic female executives on Thursday.

Hosted in conjunction with the Orlando Business Journal, the morning reception honored past and recent recipients of the OBJ's "Women Who Mean Business" awards. It also provided an opportunity to introduce participants to the EDC's Minority Business Channel, an initiative designed to target and attract additional minority and women-owned businesses to Metro Orlando, as well as helping those already located here to grow and succeed.

Highlights of the morning included remarks from Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World, an inspiring executive at the pinnacle of her career, as well as from Rachel Pohl, a nineteen-year-old Hamilton College student studying the status of women in developing countries, who represents the "next generation" of female leaders in our community.

Metro Orlando's demographic diversity leads the nation. This, combined with our region's reputation as a community that welcomes those from all backgrounds and walks of life, provides a competitive advantage in attracting minority and women-led businesses. And that's a smart economic development strategy, as these groups comprise the fastest growing segment of industry today.

For more information on the EDC's Minority Channel, contact Rodney Hughes.

This Man's Life, which filmed on locations including the historic Amtrak Station in downtown Orlando and the Inland Lakes Railways Station in Mount Dora, has been named BEST FLORIDA FILM at the 2009 Rhode Island International Film Festival. The production company behind the film, Stars North™, is based in Celebration, making this company another Central Florida success story.

Directed by Todd Thompson, the film stars Michael Rooker, Bill Cobbs and Betsy Brantley. It follows the story of a man traveling home to claim his father's inheritance when he meets a stranger who seems to know everything about his life. Smithy Sipes co-produced the film with Thompson, who also penned the screenplay with the help of co-writer Peter Raymundo.

The EDC's Film & Entertainment Commission worked with filmmakers throughout production, assisting with site location and permitting.

Students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will have a new modeling and simulation post-bachelors program to choose from later this fall. This is good news for Metro Orlando, as it further bolsters our region as the nation's hub for the modeling, simulation and training industry.

The two-year, online Professional Science Master's program will have two components: UCF will offer 36 credit hours and Embry-Riddle, through its Worldwide Campus, will offer 18 credit hours toward the program. Graduates also qualify for Embry-Riddle's certificate in modeling and simulation management. Equivalent to an MBA for business majors, this curriculum will not only provide business education for science majors and enhanced training for our incumbent workforce, but is also designed to build close connections to the professional world through required internships and an industry advisory board that will help design the course offerings. As with every advancement that strengthens our skilled workforce, this is viewed as an important addition to the region's economic development arsenal.

The two universities designed the program for working professionals who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in this growing field. Most will pursue the degree as part-time students and the online format is perfect for this. Program graduates also qualify for Embry-Riddle's certificate in modeling and simulation management. Eventually, the collaborative program will produce 1,000 graduates to help fill positions in industries including biotechnology, environment and sustainability, forensic science, homeland security, health care and simulation.

Click here for more information.

There's Mosaic, Arcadian Broad and Drew Thomas Magic. If you're not familiar with these names, they're among the folks that made it to the Top 40 in the popular America's Got Talent show. They have something else in common. They all come from a city where creative talent is building ... and in the eyes of Richard Florida (of the popular 'Creative Class' theory), that's one of the key ingredients to economic competitiveness, transformation and innovation.

Orlando, Florida, has become a place where creative talent is flowing and in multiple industries. The region, long known as an entertainment destination, has transformed into a technology hub that's entertaining company leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, workers and young minds alike. Here are some reasons why:

This week, Orlando welcomed its inaugural class of 41 med students at the University of Central Florida's (UCF) new College of Medicine -- the first medical school in U.S. history to offer full, four-year scholarships to an entire class. The new college is one anchor in a new 'medical city' underway - one of only two such developments happening in the world right now. It's joined by the recently opened East Coast hub for The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, and forthcoming openings of the University of Florida Research Facility, Veterans Affairs Hospital, M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute and Nemours Children's Hospital. Economic analysts predict that by year 10 of operation, the world's newest life sciences cluster here could create 30,000 jobs and $7.6 billion economic activity.

At UCF, research and patents are on the rise. UCF, now the fifth largest university in the nation, has seen research funding (and subsequent lab space) grow exponentially in the past decade, from $37.5 million in 1999 to the new record high of $122.8 million in 2008. Additionally, UCF's patent portfolio was ranked in the top 10 of 122 universities in the U.S.

Inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs are thriving here. New drugs, therapies and vaccines are being developed ... one scientist is genetically modifying lettuce heads to produce insulin in the quest to develop a cure for diabetes. An entrepreneur has developed ultra-portable personal air-conditioners for military personnel. Another is developing advanced micro-batteries for use in medical, alternative energy and other applications. In addition, the number of incubators has grown rapidly here, opening the door to more entrepreneurs.

A new Photonics Academy was created at a local high school in partnership with Northrop Grumman to encourage student interest in the laser/photonics field. This new academy joins others already in existence, including one focusing on simulation (an industry with a top-ranked cluster in Orlando).

Nation-leading digital media schools in Orlando-- Full Sail University and UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy -- continue to see enrollment grow in this burgeoning field.

Entrepreneur Magazine recently recognized Orlando as one of best places to start a business. Forbes recently recognized Orlando one of best cities for tech jobs. And Next Generation Consulting ranked Orlando as a top hot spot for young professionals.

It is with great pride that Metro Orlando witnesses the opening of the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine today, Monday, August 3rd, a monumental event that will help define the future of our region. But as we commemorate this historic first, we should also remember that this is only the latest in almost five decades of impact that our hometown university has had on building our local economy.

Last week's CEO Roundtable luncheon, a quarterly event of the Metro Orlando EDC, featured Dr. John Hitt, president of the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Hitt focused his remarks on how the university has partnered with business to create a stronger economy. The more than 100 local CEO's in attendance learned what has earned UCF its reputation as "America's leading partnership university." From preparing the workforce needed by local companies; to shaping the research and curriculums that have attracted simulation, digital media, photonics, energy, and now life science companies to our region; to incubating entrepreneurial companies until they are ready to stand on their own; to unique partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense and with mega-companies like Siemens and Burnham ... this region has been in a large part shaped by the strengths and leadership of the University of Central Florida.

Now the fifth largest university in the nation, UCF has come a long way since it opened as Florida Technological University (FTU) in 1963. Dr. Hitt perhaps summed the significance of this institution up best when he stated, "When you look at what we've accomplished already, there is no limit to the possibilities."