Florida: News

Boeing will manufacture and test its Crew Space Transportation-100 (CST-100) spacecraft and locate its Commercial Crew program headquarters at Kennedy Space Center, creating 550 jobs by December 2015. (Read more)

Five Florida cities (Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami) have been named international innovation leaders. (Read more)

Florida lands at #6 in the Solar Foundation's 2011 National Solar Jobs Census, with 4,224 jobs in this growing sector. (Read more)

Advanced Magnet Lab, Inc. is among six awardees of a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the advancement of next generation wind turbine technology. (Read more)

IRX Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, is relocating from New York City to St. Petersburg by the year's end. The company will staff more than 280 positions within five years at a projected minimum average wage of $90,000 annually. (Read more)

Harris Corporation, a Melbourne-based international communications and information technology company, has received a $51.5 million delivery order for next-generation military satellite communications terminals that will provide the worldwide backbone for high-priority military communications and missile defense systems. (Read more)

UF's Office of Technology Licensing, startup technology companies, and service providers such as accountants, patent attorneys and venture capitalists, have begun moving into University of Florida's new 45,000-square-foot, $13.2 million hub, a business incubator. (Read more)

Florida is home to 4 of the 10 Best Amusement Parks in the United States. (Read more)

Florida invests more than $2.4 million in defense grant programs, demonstrating the state's continued support of military bases, military service members and their families, and the defense industry. (Read more)

Fla. high-tech businesses: Reserve display space at China High-Tech Fair

Contact: Stuart Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

Fla. high-tech businesses:  Reserve display space at China High-Tech Fair

Enterprise Florida coordinating exhibit pavilion, providing grants to offset cost

ORLANDO, FL (Oct. 10, 2011) – Enterprise Florida invites businesses to reserve display space at the upcoming China High-Tech Fair to promote their products, services and technological achievements.

This international tradeshow will be held November 16-21 in Shenzhen, China.  The reservation deadline for space in the Florida Pavilion is Friday, October 14.  Companies should contact:

 John Diep

Director, Asia/Pacific Region

Enterprise Florida Inc.

(561) 832-8339 or jdiep@eflorida.com

 The China High-Tech Fair, which started in 1999, is a venue for technology companies worldwide to showcase their innovations, network and explore business opportunities.  It is considered one of the most influential events for high-tech sectors on the Mainland.

Space in the Florida Pavilion is limited and will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis.  Florida companies that are unable to attend can be “catalog” participants, submitting promotional materials (e.g., brochures, product sheets, information kits, etc.) for display in the pavilion.  The fee for pavilion exhibitors is $2,500; for catalog participants, $300.

To help small to mid-size companies cover costs, Enterprise Florida will waive both the $2,500 fee for the first three pavilion registrants that meet exhibitor qualifications and $300 cost for the first 10 catalog participants.

“Our goal is to help Florida’s small and medium-sized companies gain access to the China market, the world’s second largest and fastest growing economy,” said Manny Mencía, who heads Enterprise Florida’s international trade division.  “By joining us, their representatives can meet face-to-face with decision-makers in that area and start establishing relationships that can result in business success.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, EFI’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high-growth industries.  In pursuit of its mission, EFI works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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Enterprise Florida has been awarded a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant for $780,786 to help Florida's small and medium-sized enterprises attend trade missions, develop global marketing plans & boost their exports. (Read more)

NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast are formally renewing their economic development partnership. (Read more)

The University of Central Florida is leading a team that just won $1.3 million in a national White House competition aimed at driving technology commercialization and entrepreneurship to support a "green innovation economy." (Read more)

The Ipe Clip Fastener Company LLC has moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations from South Carolina to Manatee County where the company plans to add 80 employees over the next five years. (Read more)

Enterprise Florida awarded SBA grant to increase state’s exporting

Contact: Stuart W. Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

Enterprise Florida awarded SBA grant to increase state’s exporting

     ORLANDO, FL (October 6, 2011) – Enterprise Florida has been awarded a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant for $780,786 by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)  to help boost export activity during the next year.

Enterprise Florida’s grant is one of many totaling $30 million that the SBA has presented tostates, territories and Washington, D.C. as a result of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act’sState Trade and Export Promotion Program.

“I am on board with the President’s vision that U.S. companies and workers can double U.S. goods and services exports during the next five years, which would help support good, high paying jobs in manufacturing, services, and in agriculture,”  says the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Administrator Cassius Butts.  “We are happy to be working with partners, such as Enterprise Florida and other partners across the United States to increase both the number of exporters and the number of countries they ship to.  The Step Grant exemplifies the dedication that Florida has to spurring economic growth and assisting entrepreneurs to thrive from the international market.”

In using its grant toward that purpose, Enterprise Florida has goals that include helping the state’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) diversify their target markets, and prompting infrequent and single-market exporters to expand their overseas trade activity.

“Furthermore, we will work to engage new SMEs, particularly manufacturers, in exporting,” emphasizes Manny Mencía, senior vice president of Enterprise Florida’s international trade division.  “The grant will enable more SMEs to take advantage of overseas tradeshows and missions because we will be able to provide them with funding to offset their costs.”

Enterprise Florida plans to fulfill these goals through following actions:

1) Conduct trade missions and tradeshows in countries representing key trade markets

2) Provide grants to SMEs for participation in overseas tradeshows.  “This strategy will helpour exporters reach new markets and increase activity among existing infrequent exporters,” Mencía explains. 

3) Partner with the SBA’s Florida Small Business Development Center Network to offer customized global marketing plans that will be tailored to the SME’s products, strengths and capabilities.  Once a marketing plan is complete, Enterprise Florida will provide the company with a two-day “Gold Key,” allowing the SME to focus on a local market by participating in a standalone Gold Key show. 

More information about Florida’s initiatives can be accessed here.

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (www.eflorida.com) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create globally competitive businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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This year's Annual Conference will take place in Tampa (Sunday, October 23 - Tuesday, October 25). The Conference is a three-day program with numerous features that make this the state's premier bioscience business, investor, partnering & science conference. (Read more)

Ascend Performance Materials is adding 102 new employees and making $50 million in improvements to expand its Pensacola nylon manufacturing operation, which is already the world's largest fully integrated nylon 6,6 manufacturing facility. (Read more)

Governor Scott Awards 2011-2012 Defense Grants

Contact: Stuart W. Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

             Governor Scott Awards 2011-2012 Defense Grants

ORLANDO, FL (October 3, 2011) -- Today, Governor Rick Scott and Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope announced $2,431,245 in defense grants to local communities and organizations that support Florida military installations. These funds will continue to enhance and maintain Florida’s reputation as the most military friendly state in the nation.

“I am proud that Florida continues to support our military bases, military service members and their families, and the defense industry through the defense grant programs,” said Governor Scott.  “Additionally, these programs work to protect a $65 billion economic impact, and the over 686,181 direct and indirect jobs, which the defense industry annually infuses into Florida.

The 2011-2012 Defense Reinvestment Grants, totaling $850,000, have been awarded to 11 defense communities in support of military base retention and economic diversification.  The program help communities develop and implement base sustainment and economic diversification strategies.

This year, awards were given to the Orange County Research and Development Authority, The Beacon Council, Inc., Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, The Bay Defense Alliance, City of Tampa, City of Jacksonville, Clay County Chamber of Commerce, TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, and Highlands County.

Nine projects have been awarded 2011-2012 Defense Infrastructure Grants totaling $1,581,245.  This program addresses infrastructure needs of communities that host military installations.  Grants provide economic development organizations funding for projects associated with encroachment, transportation and access, utilities, communications, housing, environment and security which support their communities and local military installations.

Infrastructure grants were awarded to the Bay County Board of County Commissioners, Highlands County Economic Development Commission, TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council, City of Jacksonville, Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, City of Tampa, and Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

Scott explained, “State support of local infrastructure enhancements is vital to base retention efforts during this difficult economic period in our country.”

Both programs are administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc.  The grants are awarded annually, on a project priority basis, to communities hosting military installations.

See http://www.floridadefense.org/grants.asp for a breakdown of grants per recipient.

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (www.eflorida.com) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create globally competitive businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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