Today, the Global Peace Film Festival kicks off in Central Florida. The festival features 39 films (both feature and shorts) from six continents, panel discussions, art exhibit and more.

The Global Peace Film Festival - established to utilize the power of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth - runs through September 27 at a variety of locations throughout the region. More info at www.peacefilmfest.org.

Other major film festivals held in Central Florida throughout the year include the Florida Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Hispanic Film Festival and IndieFest.

Eight companies in Metro Orlando were honored by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) with the 2009 William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation Award on September 17, 2009.

The annual award program recognizes innovative companies who have had a significant impact on the region and in their respective fields for innovative practices, products and/or ideas.

The program is named in honor of the late William C. Schwartz, an avid community leader, business pioneer and innovator within the field of optics and photonics.

"Cultivating innovative thinking helps drive the economy and is critical to the long term economic growth of the region," said Ray Gilley, president and CEO of the EDC. "We are proud to remember [William C. Schwartz] and his great spirit though this awards program."

Recipients come from each of the four counties served by the EDC - Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties - and from the City of Orlando. In addition, awards were also presented to judges award winners and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's Award for Innovation.

One of the top passenger airports in the world noticed a security issue when bags that had been on the claim device began making their way back into the "secure" area of the airport. Lake County based G & T Conveyor surveyed the situation and created a solution called the "secure claim device". It utilizes a merging system designed to eliminate the security issue, plus adds energy conservation and quicker customer turnaround.

A prime example of the type of company included in City of Orlando's vision of a Creative Village is 360Ed, an educational software development company that has leveraged Orlando's unique position in digital media, training, simulation and virtual education through developing a high school level full-credit videogame course in American History.

Orange County based Smart City Telecom partnered with Florida Hospital to provide hospital specific content on televisions in patient rooms, the first of its kind. This customization of television is believed to be a competitive advantage to better educate patients and help improve patient satisfaction.

In Seminole County, the City of Oviedo implemented a water conservation effort known as the H2Oviedo Water Conservation Incentive. The program is the first of its kind in Central Florida and it offers incentives in the form of rebates to residents for retrofitting existing landscaping, wasteful water-use devices and high water-use irrigation systems with more efficient ones. It is a win-win environmental initiative for the community where residents learn new ways to save water and money while becoming stewards for their community.

Over ten years ago, INViSiON Industries created the world's first overhead video system with a built-in monitor for vehicle entertainment and set the standard for all others who are now involved with rear seat entertainment. As the demand for these entertainment systems increases, it should come as no surprise that INViSiON recently announced they plan to expand their corporate headquarters by adding 100 employees in Osceola County.

Judges' awards

Children's Home Society of Florida received an award for their annual Florida Innovation Symposium. This one day conference made possible through the donation of Siemens' Spaceship Earth Conference Center at Walt Disney World's EPCOT. Several partnerships between organizations have been the result of the annual gathering, including collaborations between Children's Home Society, Orange County Domestic Violence Program and Harbor House that lead to a more coordinated focus on child and family advocacy programs.

AT & T was recognized for their generous donation to the Parramore Kidz Zone project. With their donation, the Parramore Kidz Zone was able to enhance computer accessibility for schoolchildren at "homework rooms" throughout the community. In addition, the program was able to expand the access of children to attend the University of Central Florida "CREATE U" program, giving students access to learn how to create digital videos about their lives.

Florida High Tech Corridor Council Award for Innovation

Lockheed Martin was recognized for serving as an innovation leader with a history of stimulating technology growth in our region. Lockheed Martin is one of the largest partners in the Council's Matching Grants Research Program. Over the program's 13-year history, Lockheed Martin has funded more than $5 million in matched research dollars, on 73 projects with 37 faculty members at two of our three Corridor universities, UCF and UF.

Medical Markers

This year, as part of the EDC's award ceremony, bioOrlando - an EDC led initiative aimed at stimulating the life science and biotechnology industry in Metro Orlando - announced the inaugural class of 'medical marker' recipients. This program is designed to build awareness of the growing presence of biotech and life science companies in Metro Orlando with a physical marker designation.

The inaugural recipients include:

Florida Hospital, Orlando Health, The Tavistock Group, Florida Blood Centers, VaxDesign, Curascript, Triad Isotopes, Virtual Reality Medical Center, Emergency Medicine & Learning Resource Center, Cord:Use, National Training Center, Health Central, .decimal and South Lake Hospital.

Orlando, Florida, is one of the fastest growing regions in the country for Hispanics according to the Pew Hispanic Center. And Hispanic Heritage Month - which runs from September 15 to October 15 - is an opportunity to remind us of the contributions Hispanics have made to our community and our nation. Throughout the month, there are several celebrations taking place, including the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival.

In addition, Orlando is opening doors for Hispanic entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. There are a multitude of organizations that directly support the Hispanic community in Central Florida, including both the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund.

Metro Orlando's diversity, 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 owned and led businesses. Building on the belief that a culturally diverse community makes good business sense, the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) established a Minority Channel initiative aimed at encouraging minority owned and led businesses in targeted industries to consider Orlando as the site of choice for relocation or expansion.

The 2009 Beacon Awards, which honor Central Florida organizations and leaders who make workforce diversity a priority, were announced ... and the Metro Orlando EDC's Minority Channel Initiative was a winner! The ceremony was held last week at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club. From the EDC, Carmenza Gonzalez and Beverly Marshall-Luney were there to accept the award from Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum.

The EDC's Minority Channel initiative is aimed at recruiting minority-owned and led businesses to Metro Orlando. And, that is exactly what the EDC was doing over the Labor Day weekend, as the EDC's Ray Gilley and Rodney Hughes participated in the Black Enterprise Pepsi Golf and Tennis Challenge, held here in Orlando at the J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes. This provided the opportunity for the EDC team to spend time with several c-suite executives interested in expansion opportunities. Similar EDC activities target Hispanic-owned and women-owned businesses on an ongoing basis.

Congratulations also to Zoraida Velasco of the EDC's International Business Development Team, who was honored with the "up-and-comer" Beacon Award, and to the following EDC investors who were recognized: Disney Entrepreneur Center; Siemens Energy, Inc.; and Barton Malow Company.

Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp was in Maitland last week to help announce the expansion of Digital Risk LLC, a leading risk mitigation solutions provider for the mortgage industry. Headquartered here in Central Florida, the company also has offices in New York and Dallas.

In a new era of mortgage risk awareness, this company is experiencing explosive growth. It recently increased its employee base to 400 and 240 new high-wage, knowledge-based jobs are anticipated with the expansion announced this week. "When we talk about targeted industry growth and diversified job creation, this is just the type of company that makes it happen," said Lt. Governor Kottkamp.

In addition to the job creation, the company has committed to a minimum of $1.2 million capital investment in equipment, research and development.

Over the last eight months, the Metro Orlando EDC led coordination between the Governor's Office of Trade, Tourism and Economic Development (OTTED), Enterprise Florida, Orange County, and the City of Maitland to secure this project. Digital Risk qualified for a Qualified Targeted Industry (QTI) tax refund, as well as for support through the state's Quick Action Closing Fund program.

More jobs

Orlando-based Gen2Media Corporation - a fully integrated digital media, technology and marketing company whose clients include Microsoft Xbox and Coca-Cola, among many others - recently expanded into nearly 6,000 square-feet of office space near Kirkman and Sand Lake Roads in the City of Orlando. Capital investment is estimated at $150,000 and the company plans to add 40 new jobs within the next 36 months.

One of Metro Orlando's hidden gems; Gen2Media's proprietary Digital Video Publishing Platform enables companies of all sizes to create and deliver video via traditional, online and on-location media. Most recently, the company provided all digital video production and technology for Grammy® award-winning artists Black Eyed Peas' concert performance during the "NFL Opening Kickoff 2009 Presented by EA Sports" pregame show, which aired Thursday night.

The EDC assisted Gen2Media throughout their expansion with regional industry information, facilitation of applications for various incentive programs, introduction to key local contacts, and workforce resources.

Still more jobs

In Seminole County, Pinnacle AMS has been approved to receive $52,324 in Quick Response Training funds. The company, which currently employs 160, will use grant dollars to train 50 new full-time employees over the next two years. Pinnacle provides property management and accounting services for clients worldwide. While based in Seattle, the company's Central Florida location serves as their East Coast Regional Office and headquarters for company-wide accounting services. Seminole Community College and EDC staff assisted in the application process.

And, Lake Mary-based Laser Photonics' expansion into 100,000 square feet has resulted in 72 new jobs, bringing the companies total employment to 102. Capital investment for new equipment and tenant improvements is estimated at $7 million. Laser Photonics is an industry leader in developing high-tech fiber and CO2 laser systems for various manufacturing applications. The EDC assisted this company with financing, incentives, utilities, training, and workforce.