There is a reason that Orlando has been named among the nation's best locations for minority-owned businesses. This young, dynamic community embraces novel ideas, diverse perspectives and new faces. Look closer! You'll see why forward-thinking companies, visionary entrepreneurs and talented workers from all walks of life come to Orlando to find opportunity and success.

From a nurturing entrepreneurial environment, to a diverse and economically thriving marketplace, to a can't-be-beat quality of life, Orlando has the assets and features that are drawing people of all ethnic backgrounds from all over the globe.

* Recently ranked as the third fastest growing metro area for the African-American and Asian-American populations.
* Ranks third in the nation for African-American net migration; minorities make up one-third of Central Florida's population.
* By 2020, nearly half of the region's residents will be African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American.
* Numerous Orlando-based companies, including Walt Disney World Resorts, Darden Restaurants and Lockheed Martin, are national leaders in providing diversity programs and initiatives.
* Orlando is considered a "Melting Pot", which is defined by the Census as a region with more than one minority group overrepresented and a white population smaller than 67.4% of the population.

Metro Orlando is a region on the move for African-American entrepreneurs and business leaders with more than 11,000 black-owned businesses currently operating here. Many of our most successful businesses are led by African Americans, including:

* Ronald Blocker - superintendent, Orange County Public Schools
* Brian Butler - president and CEO of JCB Construction
* Mark Glover - president and CEO of M & S Enterprises LLC
* Tony Jenkins - market president, Central Florida of Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida
* Robert Johnson -- founder of Black Entertainment Television, acquired Metro Bank in Orlando and renamed it Urban Trust, the first branch of a network that will serve African-American communities nationwide.
* Avido Khahaifa - senior vice president and general manager, Orlando Sentinel Communications
* Derek Lewis - senior vice president and general manager, Pepsi Bottling Corporation
* William Miller, Jr. - president and shareholder - Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A.
* Clarence Otis -- CEO of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, the largest casual dining company in the world, a Fortune 500 company and recently named as "one of the best companies for diversity" by Black Enterprise Magazine.
* Ronald Rogers - African-American Chamber of Commerce
* Mark Russell -- managing editor of the Orlando Sentinel.

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The Metro Orlando EDC believes it's important to even further diversify our region. That's why we started the Minority Channel initiative - it's aimed at recruiting minority-owned and led businesses to Metro Orlando. And, that is exactly what we'll be doing this weekend during the Florida Classic Game. This provides the opportunity for the EDC team to spend time with several c-suite executives interested in expansion opportunities. Similar EDC activities target other minority owned and led businesses on an ongoing basis.

The Metro Orlando EDC was recently recognized for our Minority Channel Initiative in the 2009 Beacon Awards which honor Central Florida organizations and leaders who make workforce diversity a priority.

In addition to the Metro Orlando EDC, several organizations assist in enhancing the local environment for minority-owned businesses:

* African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
* Black Business Investment Fund
* Florida Minority Supplier Development Council
* Metropolitan Orlando Urban League
* Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance

Doctor's offices throughout Lake County will be the testing ground for a new online physician referral service that could one day soon set the standard for patient referrals and monitoring. Visions@Work - a Clermont-based company that develops custom software - has a new product called Preffer, which they have offered free for one year to physicians throughout the county. The Preffer software has also been given to Lake-Sumter Community College for use in LSCC's new pilot training program for Electronic Health Records Support Technician.

Believe it or not, paper referrals are still the norm among doctors, a reality that can make tracking of patient care difficult once they are referred to a specialist. Visions@Work's online referral service eliminates manual system inefficiencies by allowing physicians to electronically manage referrals.

With one in six workers employed in the healthcare industry, Lake County rivals other major metros known for medical services. That makes this Central Florida community an optimal testing ground for a medical advancement which could ultimately lead to cost savings, improved patient satisfaction and stronger provider relationships throughout the healthcare industry, both here and worldwide.

This unique partnership was the brainchild of the EDC's Lake County Economic Development Advisory Council. The Council's Health and Wellness sub-committee identified the need to assist our healthcare community with electronic health record requirements and training that were legislated in 2004, and the Council's marketing and workforce sub-committees helped them connect to Visions@Work.

According to Dr. Chuck Mojock, President of LSCC and Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Council: "The project, which is funded through WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA's New & Emerging Industries Program, is a perfect example of creating partnerships that are win-win-win. Everyone benefits from the collaboration."

Several events of the past week reinforce again why Metro Orlando is so often envied for its unique collaborations; and how the University of Central Florida has earned its reputation as a leading "partnership university".

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer helped UCF Provost Terry Hickey welcome UF President Bernie Machen to downtown Orlando's growing "Creative Village" last week. Together they officially opened Citylab-Orlando, a research and teaching center from UF's College of Design, Construction and Planning, that will collaborate with UCF faculty. The new program - which is already involved with local urban design projects including redesigning space under Interstate 4 (dubbed "Orlando's Bridge District") - will be housed within UCF's Center for Emerging Media located in the former Orlando ExpoCentre in downtown Orlando. According to Dr. Machen: "Orlando has a special place in this state and indeed the nation. What's emerging here is a new fusion of culture, commerce, imagination and industry."

The fusion continued as Valencia Community College and UCF dedicated a new shared facility that allows the nation's third largest university to further expand its offerings on the west side of Orlando. The $23 million, three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility, located on Valencia's West Campus, accommodates classes offered by both institutions, with more than 40 classrooms, a state-of-the-art testing center, computer labs, study rooms, faculty/staff offices and a café. With this opening, UCF now offers complete bachelor's degrees in Nursing, Electrical Engineering, Applied Science, Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology through the campus on south Kirkman Road. Valencia's engineering programs are also housed in the building.