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Metro Orlando is one of the
United States fastest growing business locations, and is
increasingly being considered as an expansion location for
international companies. The EDC works directly with international
companies looking at their global expansion options. This includes
assisting with the site selection process, connecting international
companies to small business assistance programs and helping
companies identify potential tax incentives.
Site Selection
The EDC assists international companies looking to expand into the
U.S. by helping to identify sites that meet specific project needs.
This includes identifying sites with access to transportation hubs,
qualified labor pools and specific market opportunities.
Small Business Assistance
Programs/Incubation Programs
Small businesses have specific needs, and the Metro Orlando region
has a sophisticated infrastructure of programs and organizations
geared to overcoming these challenges. This has led to the region
being ranked one of the top locations for entrepreneurs by
Entrepreneur magazine.
One of the region’s biggest assets is the presence of one of top
10 technology incubators in the nation. The UCF Business
Incubation Program is located in the Central Florida Research
Park, adjacent to the University of Central Florida’s main Orlando
campus. This facility provides early stage technology companies
with the tools, training, and infrastructure necessary to create
financially stable, high growth enterprises. Currently, the
facility houses more than 200 emerging technology companies and has
generated more than 1,600 new jobs and $200 million in annual total
economic output.
The region is also home to several other important facilities
such as the Seminole Technology Business Incubation Center, which
is a joint venture of Seminole County, Seminole County Port
Authority and Seminole State College of Florida. In 2003, Metro
Orlando also became home to the National Entrepreneur
Center, one of only two such facilities in the country. The NEC
brings together a network of service providers and other resources
in a one-stop shop for small businesses. Services include business
counseling, training, financial assistance, and access to a
software lab outfitted with research tools.
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