Key Messages
Core Message
Everyone knows that Orlando is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations. But they don’t know the
half of it — the region is also home to thriving technology industries, a booming start-up scene, and billions of
dollars’ worth of real estate developments.
Top Supporting Messages
After leading the nation in job growth, Orlando is attracting some of the biggest names in business, creating
thousands of high-wage, high-tech jobs in a region traditionally known for tourism.
Strong talent pipeline. No matter what level of skill is needed — from just out-of-school graduates to seasoned
professionals — Orlando’s labor pool of more than 1.2 million people is well prepared to meet the needs of any
employer. Orlando also has plentiful talent well into the future with more than 500,000 students within a 100 mile
radius helping to make Florida rank among the top ten states in the nation for talent pipeline (U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Enterprising States, 2014).
Top-ranked infrastructure. Named the 8th best large city in the U.S. for infrastructure (fDi Magazine, 2014),
Orlando has perfected the art of getting to and from here with 62 million visitors in 2014. From exporting
products to meeting with clients throughout the world, Orlando offers businesses the efficiency and access they
need to grow.
Variety of real estate options. From ultra-modern high rises to undeveloped acreage and everything in
between, Orlando offers a diverse array of commercial and industrial real estate options giving companies any
option they can dream up. From a residential perspective, Orlando has it all from rolling hills and lakeside lots to
brick-lined streets with craftsman style homes to suburban communities named among the nation’s top places to
live.
Great environment for business. In a state that is both right-to-work and with no personal income tax, Orlando
also offers a business-friendly habitat complete with competitive incentives and unique opportunities for
partnership and collaboration.
Unbeatable quality of life. The region provides a rich lifestyle for residents through cultural opportunities, arts,
fashion, music, amateur and professional sports, favorable weather and abundant recreational activities.
Orlando’s Economy / Business Climate

Orlando ranks first in the nation in job growth (Forbes, 2014).

Orlando’s job market has fully recovered from the recession. Approximately 145,000 jobs have been added
since the labor market’s low in January 2010, surpassing the number of jobs lost by 30,000.

Orlando is the third most competitive U.S. location for business (KPMG, 2014).

Among major metros, Orlando’s year-over-year job growth is at 4.3 percent (Dec. 2014), the second highest
in the country.

Orlando has seen more than $3 billion in real estate investments over the past few years.

Orlando is the most visited destinations in the U.S. — attracting 62 million visitors in 2014. The tax revenue
generated from tourism enables substantial infrastructure investment that would otherwise not exist for a
market this size.

Orlando is home to a young, diverse, educated workforce. Three-fifths of the region’s residents are under
the age of 44 (the median age of residents is 36), and almost 30 percent have obtained a college degree.

The region is home to three international airports, including Orlando International Airport, which is the third
largest origin and destination airport in the U.S.

Orlando’s unemployment rate is at 5 percent, among the lowest in the nation.

The State of Florida’s favorable business tax structure, including no state personal income tax, government
policies and competitive costs help make the state — and Orlando — an attractive place in which to do
business.

Chief Executive Magazine named Florida the No. 2 best state in the country for business for two consecutive
years.

Orlando’s year-round sunshine, affordable cost of living and high quality of life make it an attractive location
for both companies and a talented workforce.

Orlando offers a diverse spectrum of industries:
1. Business Services
2. Advanced Technologies
3. Film & Digital Media
4. Life Sciences & Healthcare
5. Aviation, Aerospace & Defense
Orlando’s New Branding Campaign

Orlando recently launched a new branding campaign, “Orlando. You don’t know the half of it.” The campaign
is being led by Ken Potrock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club and
Adventures by Disney.

“Orlando is well known but poorly understood.” — Rick Weddle, president and CEO, Orlando Economic
Development Commission

Thanks to the region’s prowess in tourism and hospitality, Orlando has strong brand visibility worldwide.
Unfortunately, Orlando's strengths as a business location outside of tourism are not as well known – even by
those who live in the region.

Research revealed that Orlando only makes it onto the "short list" for consideration as a business location
about one-third of the time. Another third of the time, Orlando is initially on the list but is quickly dismissed
because people think they know Orlando’s assets because they come to the region for vacation. The last
third, Orlando is never on the list because of perception.

The goal of the campaign is to better inform out-of-state CEOs, site location consultants and other business
location decision makers on Orlando’s many assets beyond the city’s world-famous tourism sector in order
to get Orlando onto the “short list” more often for strategic business location decisions. The campaign’s
efforts are also focused on better educating Orlando residents and local influencers about the region’s
strengths as a business location.

Led by the Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC), branding financial partners include Orange
County, City of Orlando, Lake County, Osceola County, CNL, Duke Energy, Florida Blue, Florida Hospital,
Full Sail University, Greenberg Traurig, Harvard Development Company, Massey Services, Orlando Health,
Orlando Magic, Orlando Sentinel, OUC, Parkway Properties, SunTrust Bank, Tavistock Group, Tupperware
Brands Corporation, UCF, Walt Disney World and ZeroChaos. Many more companies have donated in-kind
opportunities for the campaign.

5-Year projected branding impact: (Based on EDC projects)
o 17% more jobs
o $600M in additional payroll
o $1B in new gross regional product
o $2.2B more in sales

Funding for the campaign is projected between $1.5 - 2 million per year over the next three years.

www.OrlandoEDC.com/branding
Real Estate
 From ultra-modern high rises in downtown Orlando to suburban Class A office space in Seminole County to
undeveloped acres in Lake and Osceola counties and everything in between, Orlando offers a diverse array
of commercial and industrial real estate options.
 This region's robust inventory includes over 150 million square feet of industrial space and over 85 million
square feet of office space. And unlike many other established business centers, Orlando can still
accommodate build-to-suits with a variety of developable land parcels in the region. The amount of space
and current associated costs are very competitive with other regions around the country — making Orlando
an affordable and attractive business location.
 Osceola County is home to the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (FAMRC), home to the
world’s first industry-led consortium for manufacturing of smart sensors – the International Consortium for
Advanced Manufacturing Research (ICAMR) which will provide a one-stop-shop for state-of-the-art
integration of semiconductor based processes, smart sensors and photonics devices.
 Seminole County is a hub for information technology companies — like FIS, FiServ, Harland, Temenos and
Optria — that are specialists in the software systems that drive the world’s banks and other financial
institutions.
 Lake County has four strategic growth corridors – the 470 Commerce Center, Health and Wellness Way,
Minneola Interchange and Wolf Branch Innovation District – in addition to a number of commerce and
industrial parks.
 Orange County is home to Central Florida Research Park, the 7th largest research park in the United States
by number of employees.
 Recently acknowledged by FORTUNE Magazine as a model for the next great American city, Lake Nona is
one of the fastest growing communities in America attracting more than $2.8 billion in construction across
7.1 million square feet with the development of two new hospitals, three college campuses, a nationally
recognized medical research institute, the USTA’s ‘New Home of American Tennis’ and thousands of new
homes. Adjacent to the Orlando International Airport, Lake Nona will feature more than five million square
feet of commercial space, 2,200 hotel rooms, 30,000 residents and more than 100 shops and restaurants.
Focused on sustainable design and healthy living, Lake Nona is recognized by Cisco as the only designated
“Iconic Smart + Connected Community” in the U.S. for its integrated gigabit network – one of only nine such
communities in the world.
Downtown Orlando


Downtown Orlando recently saw $2.5 billion invested in new construction, including a number of community
venues:
o
Amway Center — home to the Orlando Magic; opened in 2010; named the nation’s top sports venue;
o
Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts — a state-of-the-art, multi-theatre venue with outdoor
performance plaza and arts education rooms (opened 2014);
o
Rebuilt Citrus Bowl — capable of hosting world-class events with new club and premium spaces
throughout the stadium (re-opened 2014); and
o
Major League Soccer Stadium — new 19,500 seat stadium will open for the 2016 MLS season.
The Creative Village is a digital media hub and mixed-use development undergoing $1 billion worth of
construction.
o
Will encompass 68 acres of housing, retail, parks and cultural space.
o
The village’s anchor is the University of Central Florida’s downtown Center for Emerging Media, which
includes the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy – a graduate program for the interactive
entertainment/gaming industry.

The University of Central Florida plans to build a downtown campus that would enhance educational options
as well as promote growth and development. The university is currently seeking $200 million in funding for
the campus.

Also downtown, other major healthcare expansions taking place at Florida Hospital’s Health Village with a
planned 172-acre mixed use community designed to set the wellness standard for urban communities and
Orlando Health’s main campus.
Entrepreneur / Start-ups

From legendary Walt Disney himself to aviation pioneer Glen L. Martin, whose company eventually became
Lockheed Martin, Orlando has a long history of technology innovation and entrepreneurial activity that has
continued to this day.

Groundbreaking research at the University of Central Florida has earned that institution its Top 10 ranking
on IEEE's Patent Scorecard, which ranks technology innovations gained from patents.

Orlando is home to top entrepreneurial resources, including:
o
The National Entrepreneur Center — founded by Walt Disney World, Orange County Government and
The University of Central Florida, and one of only two such centers in the nation. The center offers easy
access to business assistance organizations for local entrepreneurs and leverages the resources and
skills of its resident organizations which include four chambers of commerce and several minority
business associations and funding organizations.
o
The Small Business Development Center at UCF offers workshops, individual counseling and special
business development programs for both start-ups and existing businesses.
o
The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which is ranked as one of the top
incubators in the nation that provides early stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to
create financially stable high growth enterprises.
o
Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship connects students and alumni with advanced
entrepreneurs who provide unprecedented access to learn and closely collaborate with top
entrepreneurial minds.
o
GrowFL, the State of Florida's pioneering "economic gardening" program, which is focused on identifying
and nurturing high-potential, mid-sized businesses in the second-stage of development.
o
Orlando Tech Association connects technology companies across the region through events, news and
an active network of individuals working to support industry growth. Orlando’s Digital Main Street is
modeled after the district structure of other Main Street communities but is more than a physical space,
rather, connects Orlando’s digital efforts.
o
A number of co-working spaces, including Canvs and Catalyst which help connect established
technology businesses with start-ups.
Higher Education

There are more than 35 post-secondary institutions based in the region with approximately 500,000 students
enrolled in programs within a 100 mile radius.

University of Central Florida
o
UCF is the nation's 2nd largest university, with more than 59,000 students.
o
Known as a “partnership university,” UCF collaborates with key industries to create enriching programs
designed to move graduates into high-wage positions with companies located in Orlando like Electronic
Arts, Siemens and Lockheed Martin.
o
UCF is also home to one of the nation's top business incubation programs and receives almost $130
million (2013) in research dollars, many of which are matched with company dollars in joint research
projects.
o
The College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) is the world’s foremost institution for research and
education in optical and photonic science and engineering.
o
UCF is located adjacent to the Central Florida Research Park, which is home to approximately 10,000
employees and 126 companies.

Full Sail University is a globally recognized, private, for-profit university located in Winter Park, geared
toward the entertainment industry and known for its around-the-clock schedule. The university is a recipient
of Apple’s Innovators in Education Award.

Rollins College — ranked No. 1 regional university in the south; Crummer Graduate School of Business No.
1 MBA program in the state, also recognized nationally and internationally by some of the most respected
organizations in the business world.

Orlando boasts three of the state's best state/community colleges — Valencia College (named the nation's
top community college), Lake-Sumter State College, and Seminole State College.

Orlando is also home to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the Florida A&M University School of Law,
Barry University School of Law, and the Ana G. Mendez University.
Business Services

The Business Services industry in Orlando is comprised of more than 12,500 companies and 121,900
employees with more than $7.9 billion in annual payroll.

The region is projected to add 21,000 jobs in the next 10 years in Business Services.

Companies in this industry include TravelClick, Verizon Communications, BNY Mellon, Chase Card Services
and Liberty Mutual to name a few.

Included in Orlando’s Business Services industry are: professional services, financial services, shared
services, management consulting, contact centers and IT services.

Recent announcements:
o
Verizon Corporate Resources Group opened a 220,000-square-foot finance and accounting “Center of
Excellence” creating 1,100 new jobs over three years with a $50 million capital investment in the
Orlando region.
o
Deloitte Consulting opened a 130,000-square-foot U.S. Delivery Center creating 1,000 new jobs over the
next four years with a capital investment of $24.6 million in Seminole County.
o
JetBlue opened a customer service center that provides bilingual sales and service to customers with
400 new workers by 2018 and a $200,000 capital investment in the Orlando region.
Advanced Technologies

The Advanced Technologies industry in Orlando is comprised of more than 190 companies and 5,300
employees with $405 million in annual payroll.

The average annual wage of workers in Advanced Technologies is over $75,000.

There are more than 1,800 annual graduates in this industry in Orlando.

Companies in the Advanced Technologies industry in Orlando include: LightPath Technologies, Lockheed
Martin, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Inc. and Siemens Energy, Inc. to name a few.

Included in Orlando’s Advanced Technologies industry are: optics and photonics, cleantech and energy
solutions, modeling simulation and training, smart sensors, advanced materials and emerging technologies.

Recent announcements:
o
Lockheed Martin located its Mission Systems and Training mission and flight simulator research and
development operations and optimized its facility creating 120 new jobs in Orlando and making a capital
investment of almost $83,000,000.
o
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. established its North American headquarters in Lake
Mary creaking 100 new jobs in the region.
o
Siemens Energy Americas is making a $7 million investment in the region with a new 40,000-square-foot
wind service training center creating 50 new jobs over three years.
Aviation, Aerospace and Defense

The Aviation, Aerospace and Defense industry in Orlando is comprised of 300 companies with more than
27,200 employees and an annual payroll of $1.9 billion in annual payroll.

Orlando has the largest identified cluster of simulation companies in the world — including more than 100
companies.

Included in Orlando’s Aviation, Aerospace and Defense industry are: defense industry, modeling, simulation
and training (MS&T), maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), optics and photonics, serious games and air
service development.

The Central Florida Research Park in Orlando is home to the nation's largest cluster of military training
companies.
o
The simulation procurement commands for the Army and Navy are headquartered here and there is also
a significant Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard presence. Collectively, they work together as Team
Orlando.

Orlando has a significant presence of industry powerhouses Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and SAIC
along with a number of other companies that often capture significant government subcontracts.

The National Center for Simulation acts as a link among the defense industry, government and academia to
expand the modeling and simulation community by promoting technology expansion, enhanced education
and workforce development.

The region has five airports including Orlando International Airport and the Orlando-Sanford International
Airport, with 174 nonstop destination to the world.

Aviation industry leaders in Orlando include Aerosim, Boeing, Cessna, Embraer, JetBlue Airways, Piper
Aircraft, Signature Flight Support / BBA Aviation, Silver Airways and Wipaire.

Recent announcements:
o
Lockheed Martin expanded its Mission Systems and Training, Training and Logistics Solutions facility to
create up to 200 jobs in Orlando that focus on advancements for military aircraft programs.
o
National Air Cargo, a global cargo logistics provider, located its headquarters from Michigan to Orlando,
adding 105 jobs.
o
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc. expanded its Technology and Training division in Orlando
adding 50 new jobs.
Film & Digital Media

The Film and Digital Media industry in Orlando is comprised of more than 1,700 companies that employ
17,800 people with an annual payroll of $1.2 billion. The average annual wage in the industry is more than
$71,000.

Orlando is home to companies like Adrenaline Film Productions, Echo Interaction Group, Monster Media,
The Golf Channel, Universal Studios Florida, Zynga and interactive entertainment software giant Electronic
Arts (EA).

The Orlando Film Commission, a division of the Orlando Economic Development Commission, provides
permitting services, assists with production site selection and helps connect crews with support services.

Orlando has a solid production infrastructure that includes state-of-the-art soundstages, post-production
houses, large motion-capture studio, television broadcast studios, and unique venues that have helped the
region become one of the busiest production centers in the United States. Year-round filming capabilities, a
highly-skilled local crew base, and supportive local communities have helped advance this region's
reputation.

Orlando specializes in looking like “Anywhere USA” with more than 4,000 square feet of swamps, lakes,
cities, small towns, and everything in between.

“Orlando Rising”, a documentary on Orlando’s emerging digital scene, gave the world a look inside one of
the city’s fastest-growing industries.

There are more than 4,300 annual graduates in film and digital media. Notable programs include:
o
o
o
o

World-renowned Full Sail University — private film and digital media school;
University of Central Florida’s Center for Emerging Media — which includes the Florida Interactive
Entertainment Academy — a graduate level program for the interactive entertainment industry;
Valencia College – the nation’s top community college (Aspen Institute) with specialized film and digital
media program; and
DAVE School (Digital Animation and Visual Effects School) offers complete immersion in the art and
science of computer animation.
Recent announcements:
o
o
o
IZEA, a social media sponsorship company, expanded to a new 17,000 square-foot facility making a $2
million capital investment.
Location of major Universal Pictures feature Sisters starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Major production location in North America for commercials ranging in everything from Canadian
beverages to Walmart.
Life Sciences & Healthcare

The Life Sciences and Healthcare industry includes more than 4,700 companies and employs 87,000
workers with $4.9 billion in annual payroll in Orlando.

Orlando is home to one of the nation’s largest specialty pharmacy clusters – companies like CuraScript,
Advance Care Scripts, Axium Healthcare, Legacy RX and more are here – and a growing medical device
industry.

Orlando is home to Lake Nona’s Medical City, a 650-acre health and life sciences park that includes:
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute; University of Central Florida's Burnett School of Biomedical
Sciences; Nemours Children’s Hospital; Orlando VA Medical Center; Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Simulation Center for Excellence; University of Florida Research and Academic Center; and
GuideWell Innovation Center.

Major healthcare expansions are taking place in Orlando’s core including:
o Florida Hospital’s Health Village
 The village is a unique 172-acre mixed-use development with housing and rail, a life sciences
research center, a hospital cluster and an upcoming hub of growing, young companies.
 Three upcoming BioResearch Centers are planned with office and lab space, including both wet and
dry labs.
o Orlando Health’s main campus
 University of Florida Health Cancer Center expanding care and treatment options.
 Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies undergoing significant expansion of its neonatal
intensive care unit.
o Wellness Way
 A planned 16,000 acre hub that with a variety of sectors including agriculture, leisure and hospitality,
human performance, sports medicine and training facilities as well as care regional parks, trails and
access to major thoroughfares.

Orlando is home to the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes — a partnership
between Florida Hospital and the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research with the goal to bring
fundamental and applied sciences to its healthcare approach.

Orlando is home to the National Training Center and its Human Performance Lab to help athletes —
including summer Olympics athletes — gain a competitive advantage through science testing.

Recent announcements:
o
o
DaVita Rx opened a 33,000-square-foot full-service pharmacy creating 190 new positions and making a
$8.8 million investment in the region.
Centene Management Group, a healthcare services and program provider, expanded its location
creating 75 new jobs and making a $600,000 investment in Orlando.