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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Orlando has received a plethora of accolades lately. From a "top place to start a business" to "where the jobs are" to "best place to live" and beyond. Here are a few of the rankings Orlando has received:

Entrepreneur magazine named Orlando as one of the "top ten places to start a business."

Money magazine ranks Lake County, FL #8 on their newest list of "where the jobs are," a compilation of the 25 counties that have experienced the most job growth over the last eight years.

The cities of Lake Mary and Oviedo are named among Money magazine's "Top 100 Best Places to Live" in the magazine's list of America's best small towns.

Forbes names Orlando a "best city for technology jobs", noting: "Where is the tech-sector growth? It's in less-celebrated areas of the country...By region, the fastest gainers turned out to be places like Orlando, Fla."

Florida ranks fourth in the nation in terms of high-tech employment, with 20,000 doctoral scientists and engineers and more than 276,000 high-tech workers, according to a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center.

Orlando is a "hotspot for young professionals" to live and work in the U.S. according to Next Generation Consulting. Since 1998, Next Generation Consulting has studied the relocation patterns of 20-40 year olds. Young professionals increasingly look for quality of life factors when deciding where to live. Next Generation Consulting ranked the cities based on a combined index of opportunities for earning, learning, vitality, around town, after hours, cost of lifestyle and social capital.

For more Metro Orlando rankings, click here.

Successful innovation is a driving force behind expanding and diversifying our economy. Every day in Metro Orlando, innovative local companies are putting imagination to work - pioneering new products, solving problems creatively, partnering in previously untried ways. Those are the success stories that our annual Innovation Awards program is designed to uncover and celebrate. We need your help in identifying these companies and their innovations.

The EDC is now seeking nominations for our 2009 William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation Awards, which will honor one innovative company from each county in the region - Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola - as well as the City of Orlando. Awards will be announced at a luncheon on Thursday, September 17th at the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland.

Click here for more information and to download the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m. on July 31st.

Away We Go, a feature film shot on location in Metro Orlando, premiered in theaters this past weekend. The movie, which filmed primarily at a home on Lake Harris in Leesburg, stars two popular actors, Maya Rudolph of Saturday Night Live and John Krasinski of The Office. It was directed by Sam Mendes, who received the Best Director Academy Award for American Beauty.

Originally dubbed "Farlanders," the story follows a thirty-something couple on a journey to find the best place to raise their child. The EDC's Film & Entertainment Commission worked closely with film producers on site selection, permitting and vendor identification. The movie was shot over two days, employing 120 local crew members, two local actors and six extras.

Interested in learning more about the impact of green initiatives on our lives and our economy?

The Magic of Landscapes conference, to be held on Friday, June 26th in South Lake County, will focus on how quality landscapes and other quality of life factors help our region differentiate itself as we compete worldwide for business investment and corporate locations.

For example, did you know:

• Trees and grass maintenance can increase the sense of safety in neighborhoods.
• Quality landscapes can reduce temperatures, remove air pollutants and improve water quality.
• Green space has proven to promote emotional and physical healing and to have a positive impact on children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
• A federal congressional committee recommended environmental immersion as the number one strategy for improving U.S. schools.
• Students taking standardize tests score higher when they have a view of green space.

To learn more or to register, click here.

Technology and research advances are being made every day in Metro Orlando. And the "clean tech" industry is a bright spot for innovation.

RubeLab, a Lake County think tank specialized in advancing environmentally-friendly innovations and solutions, has built a solar-powered recharge station for electric cars and golf carts in downtown Eustis.

The charging station - dubbed RubeStation - accommodates three slots for small electric cars and features a pedestrian bench and shelter. There is 200 square feet of photovoltaic array of panels that produce approximately 3,000 watts of energy from the sun.

Building Lake County's clean tech industry is a key objective of the county's recently adopted strategic economic development plan.

Two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2000) prove softball is very, very good to Dot Richardson. Singled out as a star with the first U.S. hit and the first softball homerun in Olympic history, she was an NBC commentator at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, delivering play-by-play as her former U.S. Women's Softball Team won its third consecutive gold medal.

However, as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Richardson has a more enduring and direct impact on the lives of other American and international athletes of all sports. That includes Central Florida residents who want to improve fitness and athletic prowess. As medical director of the National Training Center (NTC), part of a 300-acre sports, health and education campus in Clermont, Fla., west of Orlando, Richardson establishes the vision and goals for this nonprofit branch of South Lake Hospital. Her focus is on state-of-the-art facilities,
sports science, performance programs and research in adolescent obesity, activity levels and shoulder injuries.

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