TOP TEN REASONS TO DO BUSINESS OR LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

TOP TEN REASONS TO DO BUSINESS OR LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

There’s a reason that Metro   Orlando is consistently named among the hottest markets in the nation for   business and job growth. In fact, there are many reasons! Here are our top   ten for companies located here:

  1.   Young,   Diverse, Educated Workforce
  2.   Access.   Access. Access.
  3.   Top   Location for Entrepreneurs
  4.   Real Estate   Variety
  5.   Tech   Industry Hub
  6.   Innovation   Economy
  7.   Nation’s   2nd Largest University
  8.   Great   Neighborhoods
  9.   Partnership   Philosophy
  10.   The   “Livability” Factor
1. Young, Diverse, Educated   Workforce
Talk about the creative class …   Metro Orlando’s population diversity leads the rest of the nation by 35   years. Two-thirds of our residents are under the age of 44, and nearly a   third has obtained a college degree. People from all backgrounds and walks of   life call Orlando home.
2. Access. Access. Access.
With over 55 million visitors a   year, Orlando has perfected the art of getting to and from here. The region   is home to three international airports, including Orlando International   Airport which is the third largest origin & destination airport in the   U.S.; proximity to two deep water ports; and extensive road and rail systems   that connect here, in the heart of the nation’s fourth most populous state.   By 2014, SunRail, the region’s commuter rail system will be operational from   Volusia to Orange County. All of that connectivity is invaluable for   business.
3. Top Location for Entrepreneurs
From Walt Disney to Glen L.   Martin, Metro Orlando has a long history of entrepreneurial activity. Unique resources   such as the National Entrepreneur Center – one of only two such centers in   the nation – and the University of Central Florida Business Incubation   Program – ranked as one of the top incubators in the nation – help keep this   community among top locations for innovative companies and entrepreneurs.
4. Real Estate Variety
From ultra-modern high rises in   downtown Orlando to undeveloped acres in Lake and Osceola counties and   everything in between, Metro Orlando offers a diverse array of commercial and   industrial real estate options. This region’s robust inventory includes over   177 million square feet of industrial space and over 102 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.
5. Tech Industry Hub
Known across the globe as a   world-class place to visit, it comes as a surprise to many to discover that   our region’s second largest industry is technology. In fact, the region   boasts a high-tech ecosystem that has been building here since the 1960s, and   which today is a strong technology industry of 2,600 companies that employs   more than 42,000 people. Top sectors include film and digital media;   modeling, simulation and training; optics and photonics; aviation/aerospace;   and information technology. With the opening of the UCF College of Medicine   and the region’s ‘medical city’, we are also gaining a reputation as a   thriving center for the life science and biotechnology industry.
6. Innovation Economy
From training systems keeping our   soldiers and sailors overseas out of harm’s way, to medical advances in the   treatment of diabetes, to software driving financial institutions worldwide   … Metro Orlando lives up to its reputation as a place that is “Putting   imagination to work.” 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. But   this culture of innovation doesn’t stop at UCF … it continues through the   region’s modeling, simulation and training companies who perform research for   the Department of Defense and into the life sciences industry at places like   the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and M. D. Anderson Cancer   Research Institute. In addition, the region is helping to prepare the future   workforce through initiatives like the STEM initiative – science, technology,   engineering and math; through Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s “tech   path” program; and through magnet schools that offer advanced technology   based curriculums beginning at area middle and high schools.
7. Nation’s 2nd Largest University
The University of Central Florida,   with over 60,000 students, is now the second largest university in the United   States. The University is also home to one of the nation’s top business   incubation programs and receives more than $122 million in annual research   dollars, many of which are matched with company dollars in joint research   projects. And, the news gets even better; UCF is only one of more than 35   post-secondary institutions based in the area. Also here in Central Florida   are Rollins College – ranked #1 regional university in the south and #1 MBA   program in the state; and three of the state’s best in the growing   state/community college system – Valencia College (named the nation’s top   community college), Lake-Sumter Community College, and Seminole State   College; as well as Full Sail University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical   University, the Florida A&M University School of Law, Barry University   School of Law, and the first stateside campus of Puerto Rican-based Ana G.   Mendez University.
8. Great Neighborhoods
From rolling hills and lakeside   lots to a downtown core that boasts $1.8 billion in new residential   development – Metro Orlando truly offers a variety of lifestyle options that   meet just about everyone’s needs. Long called “The City Beautiful”   – Metro Orlando’s namesake city is known for its brick-lined streets, green   space and eclectic housing options. Further west and south are Lake and Osceola   counties respectively, which still offer “elbow room” and are   committed to preserving those environments. Heading north, Seminole County is   a thriving suburban area offering beautiful communities, including two of Money   magazine’s top 100 places to live – Lake Mary and Oviedo.
9. Partnership Philosophy
Orlando is a young, welcoming   community. Many newcomers to the region are surprised at how fast they become   “plugged in” to the community. Business leaders and elected officials have time   and again proven their willingness to work together for the greater good of   the entire region, whether the shared goal be commuter rail, a College of   Medicine, or a Performing Arts Center. In fact, there’s even a regional   approach to economic development as the Metro Orlando EDC serves Orange,   Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando.
10. The “Livability”   Factor
Year-round sunshine. Outdoor   recreation. Proximity to beaches, lakes, springs, parks, trails, and fields.   World-class entertainment. Distinctive neighborhoods. World-class shopping.   (Closets free of winter coats, scarves and gloves!) The region’s amenities –   natural and “man-made”– make Metro Orlando a great place to work   and to live.

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