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Welcome to this week’s Regional Perspective. In this edition, we focus on the expansion of one of the world’s biggest brands in Orlando, the growth of yet another new Orlando company, the announcement of the Orlando Tech Council’s Executive Director, and more news stories you’ll want to share with your networks.
1) Amazon announces 800 new jobs in Orlando – Amazon continues to provide opportunities for full-time and part-time jobs as it expands in the Orlando region creating 800 new jobs . The company announced this as part of an overall expansion in Florida with 8,000 jobs across the state. With an average starting wage of more than $18 per hour, Amazon’s commitment to job creation and wage growth will create opportunities for our workers while strengthening our region’s economic recovery efforts. Another benefit, the company helps grow the skills of our labor force with programs that provide full benefits and access to education that ultimately transition workers to higher paying jobs and careers. Given the opportunities Amazon offers our regional workforce, the company is directly contributing to the advancement of our region’s collective goal of advancing Broad-based Prosperity™.
2) Lilium goes public – Lilium, a German-based startup developing a revolutionary on-demand air taxi service that is locating its flagship U.S. vertiport (vertical take-off and landing facility) as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and pilot headquarters in Orlando, announced it began trading on Nasdaq this week. It’s listing publicly as $LILM following its combination with Qell Acquisition Corp. When it opens its vertiport in Lake Nona, it will be the first electric vertical take-off and landing jet in the U.S. The commercial launch is slated for 2024. From innovative technology companies like Luminar ($LAZR), maker of lidar for autonomous vehicles, Skywater ($SKYT), the only U.S. pure play semiconductor foundry and leading destination company Travel + Leisure ($TNL), the pace of innovation and digital transformation in the Orlando region is off the charts.
3) Welcoming the new executive director of Innovation & Technology – I’m thrilled to announce that the Partnership has hired David Adelson as our new executive director of Innovation & Technology, who will oversee our efforts toward expanding the regional innovation economy. Adelson, a proven entrepreneur and experienced C-level tech business leader and investor, brings to the role a background in branding, strategic and customer acquisition and relationship management for global companies. Coming from what was once a startup and having exited what is now a global company, David has the background necessary to advise Orlando’s tech companies on how to best create, execute and deliver world class products and services to the global market and ultimately lead companies to exit. This is the perfect opportunity for him to articulate to the world what an advantage it is to be a tech startup in Orlando compared to other major markets. Welcome David!
4) Supporting our Modeling & Simulation industry – Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida awarded $3.4 million to communities throughout Florida through a number of defense industry-related grant programs that bolster military facilities, support economic diversification efforts for defense-dependent communities, and fund programs to improve military-community relations. The Orlando Economic Partnership received $85,000 of the $800,000 awarded through the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program to support Naval Support Activity Orlando, a nontraditional military base which is home to 14 federal government organizations with activities representing four of the five military branches. The National Center for Simulation manages this grant for the Partnership to support initiatives that are intended to help promote and protect the defense simulation business industry. As the home of the largest cluster of modeling, simulation and training companies in the world, this grant helps ensure the protection and growth of jobs in our region.
5) Ensuring tomorrow’s mobility requires your input today – Orlando continues to advance at a rapid pace both in terms of population and economic growth. In order to meet the demands of the future and remain competitive, we must have a thriving transportation network. As part of its planning process, Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is seeking input from key stakeholders throughout the region on its long-range Master Plan through the year 2045. CFX continues to play a significant role in our mission to advance Broad-based Prosperity™ by connecting customers to their destinations. That’s why your input is needed to help identify future transportation priorities, including new multimodal projects, capital investments and more. Please take a few moments of your time to help shape the priorities of our regional transportation infrastructure for years to come. Take CFX’s 2045 Master Plan survey today.
6) Improving the mental health of our community – The United Way, on behalf of Orange County and Mayor Jerry L. Demings, is in the process of conducting an analysis of the Mental and Behavioral Health System in an effort to provide recommendations for the improvement of service in the future. The Orange County Mental and Behavioral Health System Analysis – Employer Survey is an important part of this effort with a primary aim of understanding employee benefit offerings around mental health and substance use diagnosis and treatment and other behavioral health related initiatives. Please take some time to complete the survey by October 1, 2021.
Celebrating New, Upgraded and Renewing Investors
Please join me in recognizing Partnership investors that recently renewed or joined our mission to advance Broad-Based Prosperity™. Their engagement helps us to improve the region’s competitiveness while responding to the needs of communities, residents and businesses.
If you are interested in joining the Orlando Economic Partnership or becoming a sponsor of our regional efforts, please click here to review available opportunities.
Programs & Events
Leadership Orlando Class 101 // Enroll Today
Schwartz Innovation Award Nominations // Deadline to Submit: September 20 // Learn More
Orlando Regional Chamber Chair’s Chat (virtual) // September 24 // Member-Only RSVP
ART Educational Series: Investing Boldly // September 29 // Register Today
Orlando Innovation Week // October 9-15 // Learn More
Synapse Orlando presented by Truist // October 15 // Register Today
Learn how you can get your brand in front of thousands of innovators by sponsoring the region’s premiere innovation symposium!
Immerse // October 15-17 // Get Tickets
Florida Simulation Summit 2021 // October 19 // Save the Date
If you are interested in joining the Orlando Economic Partnership or becoming a sponsor of our regional efforts, please click here to review available opportunities.
ICYMI
HISTORY MADE: SpaceX launches 4 civilians on Inspiration4 mission from Florida – WKMG
Software company chooses Orlando over Albuquerque for placement of 600 new jobs – New Mexico Inno
Air-taxi startup Lilium begins trading on Nasdaq; receives $264M less than expected in SPAC deal – Silicon Canals
Amazon plans to hire 8,000 employees across Florida – Orlando Sentinel
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $3.4 Million in Awards through Military Community Grant Programs – Enterprise Florida
Census Figures Show Americans’ Incomes Fell in 2020 – The Wall Street Journal
How a new strategy filled Lake Nona business incubator with health tech companies – Orlando Inno
VenVelo rolls out second Central Florida startup fund – Orlando Inno
Onward, |
