Economic development news from Orlando covering the past several months includes -

This year, the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission proudly celebrates 30 years serving our region and our citizens. Through the years, significant growth and success has resulted from the strong regional partnership that defines our approach to economic development.  Since 1977, the EDC and our many partners have successfully assisted thousands of companies relocate, expand and grow in Metro Orlando. This has led to the creation of more than 149,000 jobs; over $8.47 billion in capital investment; over 71 million square feet of office and industrial space leased or constructed; and more than 1,000 film and television production projects filmed here during the past 10 years alone.

Life science, biotech and medical technology industries are emerging. Thanks to several recent announcements and projects that include: The Burnham Institute for Medical Research’s new East Coast operations in Orlando; the University of Central Florida’s new medical school and health care campus; Florida Hospital’s new Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement (training facility on minimally invasive surgical techniques for surgeons from across the globe) as well as their new Global Robotics Institute; and leading R&D work coming out of UCF that includes an anthrax vaccine generated through the genetic engineering of tobacco plants, stem cells used from bone marrow to help treat Alzheimer’s and a protein to stop tumor cells from spreading. Because two of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation (Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare System) are located in Metro Orlando, the region is quickly becoming a global medical destination. The area is also home to the headquarters of several national pharmaceutical distributors and has a healthy number of medical technology companies that manufacture products that deal with tendon repair, spinal implants, bladder control and more as well as a company using cord blood to help save lives. A group of community leaders dedicated to accelerating life science in Central Florida has been dubbed bioOrlando and is actively pursuing initiatives that further grow this fast-emerging industry sector.

Orlando is becoming a center for digital media. The breadth of the software, simulation and entertainment industries here is fueling the growth of the digital media sector. Over 400 companies involved in digital media call Metro Orlando home, including Electronic Arts’ (EA) Tiburon studio, makers of one of the world’s top selling video games, EA Sports Madden Football, among numerous other best selling titles. EA recently announced a partnership with another local digital media company, XOS Technologies who develop coaching and fan-management technology for sports teams. Together, the companies will produce a training simulator for college and pro football teams. To meet the demands of an increasing workforce involved in digital media, community leaders established the University of Central Florida’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) to provide graduate level training in the interactive entertainment/gaming industry. The school is located in downtown Orlando’s new “Creative Village” which is centered around nationally-recognized east coast operations of House of Moves, who operates the only professional motion capture studio on the east coast with fully integrated film, video and audio facilities. Supporting further development are recent entertainment incentives offered from the State of Florida which include digital media projects for the first time.

Orlando companies are leading the way in homeland security. In addition to top defense contracts obtained by Orlando’s Lockheed Martin divisions, several home-grown companies are on the front lines of homeland security initiatives for the nation. These companies’ business lines include simulation (Industrial Smoke and Mirrors), land-mine detection (CyTerra Corp.), digital forensics (I.D.E.A.L. Technology Corp. and Florida Law Enforcement Electronic Evidence Team at the University of Central Florida), laser-radar systems (H.N. Burns Engineering Corp.) and thermal imaging systems (Digital Infrared Imaging Inc.). In a related field, several biometrics firms call Central Florida home, including Sequiam Biometrics, which has developed a residential door lock using fingerprint ID technology currently being used by Kwikset Corp., a subsidiary of Black & Decker Corp.

Technorati Tags: