SEOP Online, a search engine optimization company headquartered in Ontario, Canada, has announced plans to establish Florida operations in Casselberry and create 200 new technology-based jobs within the next two years. The Metro Orlando EDC worked with Seminole State College and SEOP to prepare their successful Quick Response Training (QRT) grant application, which is a state program designed to provide new and existing Florida businesses with the necessary training for expansion.

SEOP specializes in website design and search engine optimization services. They have leased 5,000 square feet on Live Oak Blvd. in Casselberry.

Almost immediately after receiving the call last month from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for clean-up equipment, Okahumpka, Florida-based Vac-Tron, the world's largest portable industrial vacuum equipment manufacturer, sent a fleet of equipment to the Gulf Coast region. Now the company is gearing up to increase production of specially-outfitted oil spill cleanup equipment - including a product called "Beach Vac"- to be deployed immediately for the extensive effort in the Gulf and beyond.

"The industrial vacuum is a safe, simple and cost-effective method of cleaning oil from the surface of the water as well as tar balls that wash ashore," said Don Buckner, CEO of Vac-Tron. "Using a skimmer held above the surface, the Vac-Tron equipment rapidly collects oil into a tank which can then be transported to a processing facility."

The Lake County-headquartered company's products are distributed in all 50 states through 40 plus national dealers and 120 dealer outlets. Equipment is available for dozens of wet and dry industrial, private and municipal uses including physical location of underground utility lines; industrial cleanup, man-hole, lateral and storm drain clean-out; and natural disaster cleanup.

To view video of this local company's efforts in the oil spill cleanup, click here.

This week, Winter Park-based Full Sail University opened its much anticipated Full Sail Studios Gateway Project, a 2.2 acre landmark project.

The project includes:

• Full Sail Live Venue - a 22,000 square foot multi-purpose facility

• new complex with state-of-the-art game production studio and recording studio

• outdoor plaza courtyard

• expansion to the on-campus professional film studio backlot

The Live venue will offer students the chance to work behind-the-scenes on a variety of on-campus events to be held, including live productions, panels, guest lectures and more.

The film studio backlot is the final phase to the existing backlot that will now offer 19 different outdoor scenic environments.

Internationally renowned Full Sail University has 28 entertainment degree programs with more than 8,800 students.

Saab Training USA - an Orange County-based company that specializes in the development and manufacturing of advanced simulation training systems for the U.S. Military, Foreign Military, and Homeland Security - has expanded their operation in Orange County's Central Florida Research Park. The company, which currently employs 36, has also announced plans to add 33 new jobs within the next three years. Their capital investment in the 28,000-square-foot facility expansion is estimated at approximately $230,000.

In addition to companies such as Saab Training, the Central Florida Research Park is home to simulation and training commands and procurement agencies for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. This distinction has helped our region become the largest modeling and simulation cluster in the nation.

The EDC assisted Saab throughout their local expansion, facilitating the company's QTI incentive application process. The EDC also manages the Metro Orlando Military Affairs Advisory Council, which brings together our region's simulation industry, military and community leaders to support and build this important industry cluster.

As crowds line up to experience Harry Potter's Wizarding World at Universal Studios this summer, your Metro Orlando EDC is also touting the "magic" of innovation, ingenious minds, scientific research and the sheer benefits of doing business in our region. Here's a peek at some of the information we're sharing with media contacts worldwide:

There's a lot of wizardry that goes on in Central Florida, and it's not just happening within the community's acclaimed theme parks. Orlando's reputation for innovation has spilled over, like a vat of potions, into multiple industries located here. And, ingenious and innovative minds are brewing up real spell-binding solutions for things like diabetes and obesity, immersive training for soldiers and doctors, and digital theatre distribution.

Let us introduce you to a few of our most distinguished wizards:

• Dr. Randall Shumaker - Simulation wizard and IST 'headmaster', Shumaker is the director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation and Training (IST), where next-generation simulation systems are concocted for multiple industries, including the military, medical profession, education, transportation and more.

• Dr. Henry Daniell - Orlando's own Professor Sprout is transforming lettuce into a cure for diabetes. This professor and microbiologist at UCF's new College of Medicine has also pioneered an anthrax vaccine from tobacco leaves.

• Dr. Daniel Kelly - Acclaimed national scientist and researcher who's tackling diabetes and obesity from our region's newest Hogwarts Castle - the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research at Lake Nona - where spell-binding science is only just beginning.

• Dr. Vipul Patel - Orlando's 'Mr. Roboto', one of the world's acclaimed robotic surgeons, has performed more robotic prostatectomies than anyone else in the world. Dr. Patel hangs his wizard hat at the Florida Hospital Global Robotic Institute.

• Mary Spio - Like Potter's Professor McGonagall, Spio is a transfiguration specialist. Among many marvels, at 29 years old she engineered the technology that today delivers movies digitally to big screens worldwide. Recently the Vidaroo co-founder was recognized by NBC News and TheGrio as one of the "100 History Makers in the Making."

For more detail, interviews, b-roll and photography, interested media can contact the EDC's public relations team.