Fast-growing, Orlando-headquartered Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS) has announced plans to expand its operations into a larger 23,000 sf facility in downtown Orlando. With this expansion, the company also intends to hire 75 new employees over the next three years, adding to their current workforce of 79.

iGPS is a global logistics company that has revolutionized the pallet rental industry by installing radio frequency identification tracking devices in their plastic pallets so that goods can be traced throughout the entire transportation process. These innovations have led to the company's rapid growth over the last few years. After considering relocation to Dallas, where iGPS also has an office, the decision was made to expand here in Orlando.

Together with the City of Orlando's economic development department and Enterprise Florida, the EDC worked with iGPS to ensure the company remained in the region and worked with them through the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) incentive process.

The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) has announced that Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, will expand their operations in Lake Mary, Florida.

Pershing currently has over 450 employees at their Lake Mary facility and will now add 300 new jobs over the next three years. The company will also add an additional 23,000 square feet to their existing footprint in Colonial TownPark with an expected capital investment of $4.5 million. Pershing is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey and has operated in Lake Mary since 2006.

Richard Brueckner, chief executive officer of Pershing LLC, said "After exploring other domestic and international locations, Pershing committed to expansion in Lake Mary as an optimum location to grow our business. The BNY Mellon enterprise will continue to realize benefits in support of our business in Lake Mary and the greater Orlando region through our collaboration with local agencies and by leveraging the skills of the local workforce. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships in support of the local community."

The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) provided assistance with Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund (QTI) and Quick Response Training (QRT) applications. The company will receive $900,000 in QTI tax refunds from Seminole County and the State of Florida. QRT is still in processing.

"We were pleased to work with Pershing to help ensure they stay and grow their operations here in Metro Orlando," said Ray Gilley, president and CEO of the Metro Orlando EDC.

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Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a leading global provider of financial business solutions to more than 1,150 institutional and retail financial organizations and independent registered investment advisors who collectively represent approximately five million active investors. Located in 20 offices worldwide, Pershing and its affiliates are committed to delivering dependable operational support, robust trading services, flexible technology, an expansive array of investment solutions, practice management support and service excellence. Pershing is a member of every major U.S. securities exchange and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Börse, the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available at www.pershing.com.

Several local companies working with the EDC have announced expansion plans that are expected to generate new Central Florida jobs.

Sanford-based Roses Southeast Papers will add 65,000-square-feet to their existing facility in Seminole County. This will allow the manufacturer, which specializes in tissue paper and napkin production, to add converting operations, enabling them to complete the finishing process locally rather than shipping rolls to their New Mexico headquarters for processing. The expansion will cost nearly $7.2 million and company executives indicate that they plan to add 50 jobs over the next two years. The EDC worked closely with the company to facilitate their Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) application process and approvals with the city and county.

The DiSTI Corporation, a defense simulation and training company located just outside Orange County's Central Florida Research Park near the University of Central Florida, has announced that they will remain in Central Florida and that they plan to add 30 new jobs within the next 36 months. Though courted by communities in other states, the EDC recently helped the tech company secure a Qualified Targeted Industry (QTI) incentive that will assist with their expansion here in our market. According to Joe Swinski, DISTI President: "Central Florida is a great location for our business. We're able to leverage our close vicinity to US Army PEO STRI and NAVAIR Orlando to gain a competitive advantage, and to draw from resources and talent at Kennedy Space Center."

On Monday, February 15, an independent feature film, "Homecoming", will begin shooting in Celebration. Produced by About the Logo, LLC, "Homecoming" is a story of an Army medic who is home on leave from Afghanistan. During her time home, she has to deal with changing relationships with her family, friends and community.

The film will be shooting February 15 - mid-March at locations mainly in Celebration but also in Kissimmee.

The film industry is very competitive and is largely driven by incentives. And as the Florida Legislature prepares to return for the 2010 Session, film industry professionals are focused on working to convert the current statewide incentive into a tax credit. For more information, visit http://filmorlando.com/Resources/hb697.stml.