Florida's Top Assets P

Home , Butterfly World, GE Wind Energy, Jacksonville Armada FC, Lion Country Safari, Optym, Port of Panama City

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF Business FLORIDA 2019 Opportunity......

GUIDE• Florida's Top Assets p. 10 • Regional Round-Ups p. 38 • Points of Contact p. 79 What is big? With more than 67,000 students, the University of Central Florida is one of the biggest universities in the nation. Big is U.S. News & World Report ranking 25 UCF graduate programs in the top 100 of their fields. It’s being named one of the “Most Innovative Schools” in the country — and the only one in Florida. And it’s being recognized among the top 20 best online programs in the nation. But being big goes beyond our size, statistics and accolades. It’s in our classrooms and labs, from cyber security to the performing arts. It’s in our students and professors, who come from around the U.S. and all over the world. Learn more at ucf.edu. What is big? With more than 67,000 students, the University of Central Florida is one of the biggest universities in the nation. Big is U.S. News & World Report ranking 25 UCF graduate programs in the top 100 of their fields. It’s being named one of the “Most Innovative Schools” in the country — and the only one in Florida. And it’s being recognized among the top 20 best online programs in the nation. But being big goes beyond our size, statistics and accolades. It’s in our classrooms and labs, from cyber security to the performing arts. It’s in our students and professors, who come from around the U.S. and all over the world. Learn more at ucf.edu. Table of Contents Business 2019 FLORIDA OPPORTUNITY GUIDE FLORIDA

Publisher ANDREW P. CORTY An Official Welcome Deputy Publisher DAVID G. DENOR 6 Gov. Rick Scott and Florida’s economic development leaders Associate Publisher JANICE G. SHARP share how they are working to create the number one place for families and businesses to succeed. EDITORIAL & DESIGN Editor JANET WARE Design Director ANNE MEYER Florida’s Top Assets A Florida Trend Designer MARY ANN UPHAM WILL 10 Choose Florida NOW Special Report p.23 Researcher LESLIE VASBINDER

Florida Trend’s Contributors JOHN ANNUNZIATA, AMY MARTINEZ, 12 Join the Best MIKE VOGEL Copy Editor TIM MEYER 14 Supporting Growth Research FLORIDA ADMINISTRATION 16 Driving Success From the ocean depths to space flight simulation, cutting-edge research is Business Manager KRISTIE STRADER underway throughout the state. 18 Trading Up Staff Accountant JENNY SHEA IHMC expands its research 20 Training for Excellence and presence in Pensacola. PRODUCTION Over his long career, Ken Ford has amassed a raft of accolades in the world of science. An expert in the field of Director of Production JILL SOUTH artificial intelligence, he won NASA’s highest honor after heading its scientific advisory board. A member of several scientific societies, he’s a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, from which he’s won two prestigious awards. 22 Living Large He holds two patents, belongs to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and was in the inaugural class of the National Acad- emy of Inventors. He’s served on boards that advised the nation’s military on science and intelligence-gathering. Over the course of his career, Ford has brought in $25 million in federal DISTRIBUTION R&D money, written or edited seven books and authored or

photo: Matthew Coughlin photo: Matthew co-authored hundreds of articles in scientific journals. Ken Ford co-founded an institute that made Not least, he co-founded the Florida Institute for Human its name in artificial intelligence, robotics and & Machine Cognition, a highly regarded research outfit that Audience Development Director KAREN TYSON engineering. put Pensacola on the research map nationally and has helped revive the city’s downtown. Regional Round-Ups Print/Fulfillment Supervisor CONNIE GREENBLATT www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 23 38 Dynamic Sites Customer Relations MARSHA ALMODOVAR Florida Map and Regional Statistics ADVERTISING 40 East Central Cocoa · Daytona Beach · Kissimmee Senior Market Directors Melbourne · Orlando · Sanford · Titusville Central, Northeast & East Central Florida LAURA ARMSTRONG Southeast 46 North Central Alachua · Cedar Key · Gainesville · Jasper Florida ANDREEA REDIS-COSTE Lake City · Live Oak · Ocala Tampa Bay & Northwest Florida CHRISTINE KING 51 Northwest Destin · Fort Walton Beach · Panama City Advertising Coordinator RANA BECKER Pensacola · Port St. Joe · Tallahassee WEBSITE 54 Tampa Bay Bradenton · Clearwater · Lakeland · North Port Digital Manager JOYCE EDMONDSON Sarasota · St. Petersburg · Tampa · Winter Haven Digital Publishing Specialist ROBB LEE 61 Northeast Fernandina Beach · Jacksonville · Palatka PUBLISHED BY TREND MAGAZINES INC. Ponte Vedra · St. Augustine Chairman PAUL TASH 66 Southeast Boca Raton · Fort Lauderdale · Hollywood · Jupiter President ANDREW P. CORTY Key West · Miami · Port St. Lucie · Stuart · Vero Beach · West Palm Beach Secretary KRISTIE STRADER Treasurer ANDREW P. CORTY 74 South Central Arcadia · Clewiston · LaBelle · Lake Placid Okeechobee · Sebring · Wauchula © Copyright 2018 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved. Business Florida is published in partnership 76 Southwest Cape Coral · Estero · Fort Myers · Naples · Punta Gorda with Enterprise Florida Inc. Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information herein. However, Trend Magazines and Enterprise Florida are not responsible for any errors or omissions that might occur. Also, Points of Contact advertising material and information is the responsibility of the individual advertisers and appearance in Business Florida does not necessarily reflect endorsement of the 79 Business Leaders Largest Public and Private Companies product or service by the publisher or Enterprise Florida; nor are the publisher and/or Enterprise Florida responsible for the contents of the individual advertisements. Repro- 80 Assistance & Funding Business Incubators, Venture Capital Firms, duction in whole or in part of any text, photography or illustration without written permission from the publisher Florida SBDC Network Regional Offices is strictly prohibited. 83 Economic Developers Florida Trend Custom Publishing Division 490 First Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL USA 33701 Phone +1 727 821-5800

2 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com

WITH 15 DEEPWATER PORTS, INCLUDING A SUPER POST-PANAMAX PORT, FLORIDA WILL OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

Success today requires global access. And no other state can expand your reach like Florida. We offer one of the most extensive multi-modal transportation systems in the world, and are home to one in ﬁ ve U.S. exporters. Because when your business can be everywhere, there’s no limit to how far you can take it. Discover what a future in Florida means for your business at ﬂ oridathefutureishere.com/markets or call 877-YES-FLORIDA. WITH 15 DEEPWATER PORTS, INCLUDING A SUPER POST-PANAMAX PORT, FLORIDA WILL OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

Momentum Governor Rick Scott I am proud of Florida’s amazing turnaround story, and we “Our playbook Chairman, will never stop fighting so every Floridian can get a great job, Enterprise Florida of cutting taxes put their children in world-class schools and live in safe by more than communities. When I became Governor in 2011, Florida’s economy was in terrible shape. Florida families lost more than $10 billion and 800,000 jobs, and by December 2010, state debt and unemployment eliminating had skyrocketed. Today, Florida’s economy is booming and has become the 17th largest thousands of economy in the world. Since December 2010, Florida’s private sector has created nearly 1.6 million jobs, with more than 88,000 new businesses burdensome opening in the past seven years. We’ve paid down more than $10 billion regulations has in state debt, and Florida serves as a model for the nation’s economy. Our playbook of cutting taxes by more than $10 billion and eliminating created real thousands of burdensome regulations has created real momentum in momentum in Florida. Nearly 80 percent of Florida businesses don’t pay business taxes, which means companies can invest more in creating new job Florida.” opportunities. ~Florida Governor Working with the Florida Legislature, we established the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to provide funding for public infrastructure and Rick Scott workforce training projects across the state. These targeted investments pay huge dividends for local economies. By focusing on return on investment, we have ensured that Florida’s economy can continue to grow. As Florida’s economy keeps booming for Floridians and bringing thousands of families to Florida, the entire country is taking note. I’ll never stop fighting to make sure Florida is the best place for families to succeed. PHOTO COURTESY JON M. FLETCHER PHOTO COURTESY JON M. FLETCHER

6 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com OUR ENERGY EXPERTS CAN HELP YOU BECOME AN EXPERT, TOO.

FPL smart tools and a free Business Energy Evaluation can help your business save up to $500 a year. Schedule your evaluation today at FPL.com/BizEasyToSave. Helping Businesses Find Success

Florida’s economy continues to expand and diversify thanks to our state’s low taxes and common sense regulation championed by Gov. Rick Scott and the state legislature. Those policies, coupled with Florida’s highly-skilled workforce, expansive infrastructure and global access, mean business leaders find everything they need to exceed expectations in the Sunshine State. Joe York Workforce: Florida’s diverse and talented workforce of more than 10 Vice-Chairman, Enterprise Florida million helps businesses meet customer demands and stay on the cutting President, edge of innovation. For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World AT&T Florida, Puerto Rico, Report ranked Florida the No. 1 state for higher education, ensuring the U.S. Virgin Islands state’s talent pipeline will continue delivering a strong workforce. Infrastructure: The state’s expansive, multimodal infrastructure continues to grow thanks to billions in funding from Governor Scott and “Enterprise Florida the Legislature. Florida’s airports, deepwater seaports, rail and highway systems support both the state’s 21 million-plus residents and more than is committed to 115 million annual visitors. working with you Global Access: Long known as the gateway to business in Latin America and the Caribbean, Florida’s global reach continues to grow. Increased to better meet investment and trade opportunities with Europe, Africa and Asia mean more customers for Florida companies. your business Florida’s reputation as a business friendly state and an ideal location expansion and for companies and their workforces continues to grow. More than ever, executives and site selection professionals across the nation are looking to location needs Florida as their next location and expansion opportunity. Enterprise Florida is committed to working with you to better meet while helping you your business expansion and location needs while helping you find the find the resources resources to be positioned for great success. Consider Florida … you’ll be glad you did! to be positioned for great success.”

In today’s business world, you have to stay relevant. You also have to stay one step ahead. That requires you to continually evolve in a place that will evolve with you. In Florida, we offer boundless opportunities to grow, innovate, discover and explore. We also offer a top-ranked enterpriseflorida.com/contact business climate, a highly skilled workforce and an expansive (877) YES-FLORIDA infrastructure that helps companies create and achieve their goals in a growth economy. Enterprise Florida Inc. exists to help businesses expand and locate to the state where we pave the way for your success. Discover what a future in Florida can do for you. Contact us for confidential business location and expansion assistance.

8 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Florida’s economic development partners are allied and working toward the common goal of making your firm’s transition to a permanent home in Florida as worry-free as possible. A call to any one of these partners sets the wheels in motion.

In collaboration with our partners, the The mission of CareerSource Department of Economic Opportunity’s Florida is to connect employers mission is to assist the governor in advancing with qualified, skilled talent and Florida’s economy by championing the Floridians with employment and state’s economic development vision and career development opportunities by administering state and federal programs to achieve economic prosperity. and initiatives to help visitors, citizens, businesses and communities. careersourceflorida.com (850) 692-6887 floridajobs.org (850) 245-7105

VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official Space Florida was created to strengthen tourism marketing corporation, serves Florida’s position as a global leader as Florida’s official source for travel in aerospace research, investment, planning to visitors across the globe. exploration and commerce. As Florida’s VISIT FLORIDA is not a government aerospace economic development agency, but rather a not-for-profit organization, we are committed to corporation created as a public/private attracting and expanding the next partnership by the Florida Legislature generation of space industry businesses. in 1996.

SpaceFlorida.gov (321) 730-5301 visitflorida.com (888) 735-2872

floridaSBDC.org floridaresearch.org sunbiz.org fedconline.org (850) 898-3479 (850) 425-5223 (850) 245-6000 (850) 601-0870

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 9 3rd Largest POPULATION in the U.S. 20.98 million

3rd CIVILIAN Largest LABOR FORCE 10.1 million in the U.S.

4th TOTAL Highest PERSONAL INCOME in the U.S. $1.0 trillion

2nd PER CAPITA Highest in the PERSONAL INCOME Southeast $47,684

4th GROSS DOMESTIC Largest PRODUCT $1.0 trillion Choose in the U.S. Florida NOW Florida has always been a magnet for dreamers and doers. It was, after all, to this place that explorers from the old world came to plant their first permanent settlement in the new. And it was from this place a little more than four centuries later that another band of explorers left to plant their footprints on the moon.

Today, dozens of dreamers and doers stake their futures on Florida each year by relocating or expanding their businesses here. Why here, why now? Because few states can match the assets Florida has to offer: top business climate, unparalleled infrastructure efficiency, easy access to global markets, an abundant and talented workforce and, above all, a quality of life that simply has no equal. The anticipation of success draws new companies to Florida; a proven history of it keeps existing firms here for the long term.

Selecting a site in which to launch or grow a business is neither For specific an easy process nor a quick one. But as you weigh the pluses and information minuses of the sites to consider, know this: the companies now about how your realizing success in Florida once wrestled with your same concerns. business can They found homes here; you can too. be a part of We believe that you belong in Florida. Read on to learn more, then Florida’s success join us. We look forward to welcoming you home. story, call Enterprise Florida at (407) 956-5647. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, 2017; Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2017; Florida Chamber Foundation

10 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com R P O W E I N G BUSINESS

SO, WHY ARE COMPANIES PICKING FLORIDA AHEAD OF OTHERS AS THEIR NEW HOME BASE?

IT COULD BE

FPL’s special incentive rates on reliable power that drive low energy rates lower for growing businesses

Consistent ranking near the top of all states in new business formation and small business survival

An extensive multi-modal transportation network that provides seamless access to global markets

No personal income tax and favorable corporate tax climate

CONTACT US TODAY 888.488.7703 | [email protected] PoweringFlorida.com Aviation & Information Join the Best Aerospace PEMCO World Air Services / Tampa Technology Saft Batteries / Jacksonville Few states can match the scale and scope of Florida’s industry assets. The state’s competitive costs, large talent pool, comprehensive infrastructure, global connectivity and huge market have supported the growth of a robust economy, with particular strength in the following key areas.

Aviation & Aerospace Financial & Information Technology Professional Services nd in aviation and aerospace st high-tech employment 2 establishments rd largest insurance 1 in the Southeast 3 industry in the U.S. billion in exports annually rd most fiber miles $7.6 by aviation and aerospace th largest financial 3 among states businesses 4 services industry (61,000+) in the U.S. Florida has long been the world’s Florida has remained at the forefront premier gateway to space, Florida’s diversifed economic of IT innovation since the birth of the undisputed air traffic hub for the structure has enabled it to be IBM PC in Boca Raton. Today, Florida Western Hemisphere, a major center a global player in the provision boasts the nation’s third largest tech for flight training and MRO and home of high value-added services industry. The state’s IT strengths are to manufacturing of aircraft and in architecture, accounting, wide ranging — from software to aviation/aerospace components. consulting, engineering and more. photonics to modeling, simulation and training.

Defense & Homeland Security Life Sciences Osprey ❝Biotechnics is state for space state for largest medical device happy to call nd th nd and defense Department manufacturing industry Florida home. 2 5 2 systems of Defense in the U.S. We are fortunate manufacturing contract to have all of the awards nd largest pharmaceuticals necessary elements 2 manufacturing industry to continue to grow Florida is home to one of the nation’s largest our business in a defense and homeland security industries, and th largest biotech R&D few states can even come close to matching industry in the U.S. place we lovingly the scale and scope of its network of major 5 call paradise.” contractors and suppliers. From satellites to Innovation is written into Florida’s encryption technologies, Florida companies DNA, and as a result, cutting- Lauren Danielson are at the leading edge of all major military edge breakthroughs in medical CEO & President and government markets. treatment, pharmaceutical Osprey Biotechnics development and biotech research thrive here.

12 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Life Logistics & Clean Saft Batteries / Jacksonville Max Planck Florida Institute Cheney Brothers / Punta Gorda GE Wind Energy / Pensacola Sciences for Neuroscience / Jupiter Distribution Technology

Logistics & Distribution Corporate Headquarters st for air cargo with Latin st best tax climate nd best state for 1 America and the 1 in the Southeast 2 business Caribbean th best tax climate personal nd largest Foreign Trade 4 nationwide 0% income tax 2 Zone network in the U.S. A low corporate tax burden, no personal income tax and modern rd largest cluster infrastructure provide the perfect climate for business. 3 of logistics and distribution establishments in the U.S. When we decided to expand our company, As a leading international trade we❝ had many options — but, we liked what Florida center, Florida excels at getting people, products and services had to offer. Florida is a business friendly state with anywhere — fast. Most key global a superior workforce and quality of life that cannot shipping lines and airline alliances be matched. We are excited to expand and grow in (including specialized cargo operators), 3PLs and VALs have a the Sunshine State.” presence in Florida. Sara and Tim Hale, Co-founders and Managing Partners Coastal Cloud, LLC

Florida is a Manufacturing Clean Technology ❝great place to do business from every best state for future fastest-growing perspective: rd job growth through rd solar state a strong pro-business 3 2019 3 environment, a Floridians understand skilled workforce and best state for rd workforce diversity the undeniable link an important mix of 3 between sustainability industrial capabili- and the economy ties to run a global Florida’s manufacturers produce and are harnessing a wide variety of goods innovation and operation.” including aerospace products, the state’s strong batteries, food and beverages, entrepreneurial spirit Marco Túlio Pellegrini, communications equipment, to build one of the President & CEO pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, nation’s leading clean Embraer Executive boats and more. technology hubs. Jets

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 13 1st BEST TAX CLIMATE Supporting Growth IN THE SOUTHEAST To say that Florida is a great place to do business is th neither idle boast nor fluke. Nationally recognized 4 publications and think tanks consistently place this BEST TAX CLIMATE state among the nation’s top tier for businesses and NATIONWIDE entrepreneurs looking to relocate and thrive.

If you are considering a move, consider this: For the past three years, TaxFoundation.org has ranked Florida’s tax climate No. 1 in the Southeast and No. 4 nationwide. In 2018, Chief Executive magazine named Florida the nation’s No. 2 Best State for Business for the seventh consecutive year. And, for female entrepreneurs in particular, there’s more good news. Florida is No. 2 among all U.S. states for growth in women-owned businesses over the past 20 years. According to a study by American Express OPEN, the number of women-owned companies in Florida jumped from 388,000 in 1997 to just over 1 million in 2017. This kind of success is no accident. Florida has worked hard to position itself as an economic development powerhouse. If you still think of Florida as simply a nice place to vacation (which, of course, it is!), take a look at the advantages awaiting your business in the Sunshine State:

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY BUSINESS-FRIENDLY Government Permitting Florida’s government and economic Florida’s businesses need certainty, development leaders work closely to ensure predictability and efficiency in that this state’s business climate remains government regulations. That’s favorable to companies of all sizes and why regulatory agencies and local configuration — from multinational corporate governments here stand ready to provide headquarters with hundreds of employees quicker, less costly and more predictable to hometown, two-person startups. Some permitting processes. 2,800 burdensome regulations have been cut across the board in recent years.

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY Support BUSINESS-FRIENDLY Bring your business to Florida, you will Tax Structure never have to go it alone. A wealth of people PERSONAL Business dollars simply go and resources awaits you here. Among the INCOME further in Florida for two reasons: opportunities: one-on-one counseling at TAX low corporate taxes and zero more than 40 Small Business Development personal income tax. And thanks Centers; low-cost space and business to a history of responsible services at dozens of high-tech incubators, spending decisions, Florida has accelerators and university-based research earned the highest available bond parks; customized workforce training; and rating — AAA. Businesses thrive ready access to funding through venture here and so do employees who capital companies, financial institutions and enjoy a bit of extra money in their federal and state programs. pockets.

14 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com s IDA’ FLOR

Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur From start-ups to local pillars of business and SUNNY relocating companies, see why businesses are thriving CAREERS in Tampa Bay. Explore their stories firsthand and learn why everyone, from bankers to bakers, loves doing business in Tampa Bay — and you will, too. MAKE IT See why MakeItTampaBay.com

MAKE IT

tbcvb_37126_11_corporate_campaign_ad_M.indd 1 8/22/18 12:18 PM

MAKE IT No. 1 INFRASTRUCTURE SOURCE: 24/7 Wall Street

2 Commercially Driving Success Licensed Spaceports (2 of 8 in the U.S.) This elongated peninsula — closest American land mass to the Southern Hemisphere — is home to one of the nation’s most extensive multimodal transportation systems.

15 Deepwater In Florida, raw materials flow in to manufacturers and finished Shipping Ports products flow out to end-users by land, sea and air with the greatest of ease. For businesses looking to boost their logistics and distribution capabilities, Florida simply has to offer what other states do not. Is it any wonder that major players in logistics and distribution are flocking to Florida? Since 2014, mega online retailer Amazon has opened fulfillment/ 20 Commercial sortation centers in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami and Tampa Bay Airports — nearly a dozen in all. FedEx and UPS have beefed up operations (including 2 of the world’s at ground distribution centers in Florida’s Northwest and North busiest - Miami and Orlando) Central regions. And earlier this year, Wayfair Inc., one of the world’s largest online retailers for home goods, announced plans to open new distribution centers in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Also adding distribution facilities and/or staff in recent months: Walmart, AutoZone, Cheney Brothers, Chewy.com and Total Quality Logistics. The interconnected transportation systems to serve these companies, 130+ Public-Use as well as any potential new arrivals, are also in growth mode. Seaports Airports are expanding to meet the needs of ever bigger cargo ships and cruise liners, while airports add gates and lengthen runways. In Orlando, work continues on “I-4 Ultimate,” a $2.3-billion project to improve the highway that is the backbone of central Florida’s transportation system. The fast passenger train Brightline runs between Palm Beach and Miami, and as construction begins on its Miami to Orlando segment, there is talk of extending the line to Tampa. 3,000 Miles of Freight Florida’s interconnectedness reaches cyberspace too. The Network Rail Tracks Access Point in Miami serves as a major switching station for internet traffic coming into and out of Latin America, while other high-speed networks, such as Florida Lambda Rail and LA Grid, facilitate R&D efforts. In addition, Florida has some of the fastest and most widely available wireless networks.

122,000+ Miles of Highway

16 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com In Florida, we’ve invested billions of dollars to increase efficiencies in our multi-modal freight delivery network of seaports, airports, highways and rail lines.

We can reliably handle diverse cargo shipments with less congestion and more connectivity to the Southeast and markets around the world, resulting in greater performance for your business. When you think business, think Florida first.

502 East Jefferson Street | Tallahassee, Florida 32301 | flaports.org Trading Up IN 2017, FLORIDA EXPORTED TO MORE THAN 190 COUNTRIES Florida enjoys a strategic geographic location. And that position in the world, combined with state-of-the art, multimodal infrastructure, a multilingual workforce and a heavy concentration of corporate and financial resources, facilitates a ready flow of people, goods and services over IN 2017, FLORIDA-ORIGIN oceans and across international borders to and EXPORTS REACHED $55 BILLION from the Sunshine State.

International Trade In 2017, goods valued at $147.7 billion entered or exited the United States through Florida’s two U.S. Customs Districts. Widely recognized as a global hub for the Western Hemisphere, Florida accounts for 31% of U.S. trade with Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil, China and Chile led the list of trading partners. Top merchandise commodities traded through Florida include motor cars, civilian aircraft, engines and parts and electrical apparatus for line telephony.

Florida is home to 60,000 exporting companies — second only to California — and the nation’s second largest Foreign Trade Zone network with 21 facilities. One of every five U.S. companies that exports is located in Florida.

Florida ranks 8th in the nation in state-origin exports (i.e., commodities actually produced, or with significant value-added, in the state). In 2017, those exports totaled $55.1 billion. Brazil, Canada and Mexico were the top three recipient countries with civilian aircraft, engines and parts leading the list.

Foreign Direct Investment GROSS Thanks to its booming economy (4th largest in the U.S. and Ireland 17th largest in the world if Florida were a nation), stable business $304 B U.A.E. DOMESTIC $348 B PRODUCT environment and multinational workforce, Florida is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment, ranking 4th among all U.S. states in employment by majority foreign-owned firms. Miami has become Switzerland a leading U.S. center for international banking with both foreign and $668 B domestic financial institutions eager to establish a presence here. Florida To facilitate FDI, Florida’s EB-5 Regional Centers offer foreigners the $1.0 T opportunity to obtain permanent U.S. residency while investing in Florida through the EB-5 Investor Visa program.

Florida’s population is both multiethnic and multilingual. A full 20% of the state’s population is foreign-born, and 28% of households speak a language other than English at home.

18 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com WeyerhaeuSer IS INduSTrIal STreNgTh.

Presenting Two Incomparable Sites in North Central Florida.

A Weyerhaeuser Industrial Community A Weyerhaeuser Industrial Community

PRefeRRed locaTion APPROVED U.S. OPPORTUNITY ZONE APPROVED U.S. OPPORTUNITY ZONE In Alachua County, just 15 minutes from Gainesville In Lake City/Columbia County, boasting three and bordered by U.S. 301 and S.R. 20, connecting miles of frontage on U.S. 90, with Interstates 75 to Interstates 75 and 10 and 10 within 15 minutes; JAXPORT Foreign Trade Zone #64

suPeR-sized and shovel-Ready

Over 1,000 zoned acres, with 634 shovel-ready Over 2,600 shovel-ready acres, certified as a acres including utilities and infrastructure; McCallum Sweeney Industrial Park; certified as a CSX Select Site; 500-acre Catalyst Site for the approved for 3.5 million square feet State of Florida Rural Area of Opportunity; approved for eight million square feet

accessible Rail Served by Class I Railroad CSX, with its main One of only two sites in Florida served by two north-south freight line through the state Class I Railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern connecting to JAXPORT and Port Tampa Bay

Ready To WoRk Labor force over 300,000 within a one-hour Labor force over 800,000 within a one-hour commute and served by CareerSource North commute and served by CareerSource Florida Central Florida Crown

PRoximiTy To ReseaRch, innovaTion and Technology Alachua County is home to University of Adjacent to Florida Gateway College and near Florida (Top 10 in U.S.) and Santa Fe College University of Florida (Top 10 in U.S.) and (#1 in U.S. by The Aspen Institute) Santa Fe College (#1 in U.S. by The Aspen Institute)

hawthorneindustrypark.com nfmip.com

learn more at weyerhaeuser.com and weyerhaeuser.com/land/development-projects 3rd LARGEST CIVILIAN Training for Excellence LABOR FORCE Growing businesses need skilled workers, and Florida has plenty. At 10.1 million, Florida’s civilian workforce is third largest in the nation and one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse. One-fifth of Floridians were born outside the U.S. and nearly one-third speak a language other than English at home.

Florida’s workforce is also highly trained. In 2017, Business Facilities magazine named Florida No. 6 among U.S. states for workforce training, and no wonder. A combination of superior educational resources and practical training programs that may be customized to individual company and/or industry needs makes it possible for employers to readily connect with skilled workers at all levels.

Educational Excellence Florida is home to 12 public universities and College — are finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize for 28 state and community colleges, plus dozens of Community College Excellence. And two Florida private colleges, universities and technical schools universities were among the top 15 worldwide for — and no Floridian lives more than 50 miles from the number of U.S. utility patents awarded in 2017 at least one of them. In 2018, U.S. News & World — University of South Florida ranked No. 12 with Report ranked Florida best in the nation for higher 116 patents; the University of Florida was No. 13 education for a second consecutive year, citing with 111 patents. such factors as the time it takes for students to At the local level, Florida schools earn accolades complete two- and four-year programs and the cost too. Florida was among the first states to offer of tuition and fees. voluntary pre-kindergarten and was the only state Florida’s colleges and universities, to show significant improvement in grades 4 and 8 Florida is among the nation’s top producers of mathematics and grade 8 reading scores between a leader STEM graduates, receive consistently 2015 and 2017 on the National Assessment of in number of high marks for their academics and Educational Progress tests. School districts in STEM and other research activities. Three Florida Duval, Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties Bachelor’s colleges — Broward College, Indian earned top spots for performance among large Degrees River State College and Miami Dade urban school districts. Fifteen Florida high schools were named among FL the nation’s top125 on U.S. News & World Report’s 100,000 TOTAL BACHELOR’S “2018 Best High Schools” list and, overall, Florida AND STEM DEGREES ranked 4th best state. AWARDED ANNUALLY

80,000 Customizable Training Training programs available through TOTAL CareerSource Florida, the state’s innovative MA 60,000 VA partnership for workforce training, make it NC possible for business owners to become fully GA operational and profitable in less time and at lower cost. The agency’s Quick Response Training TOTAL

40,000 TOTAL

TOTAL and Incumbent Worker Training grants help new and existing companies keep pace with changing TOTAL technologies as they recruit and train employees in cutting-edge skills. The Employ Florida

20,000 STEM Marketplace provides an online platform aimed STEM STEM

STEM at helping job seekers find work and employers

STEM connect with prospective job candidates.

SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

20 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Take a look at Palm Beach County from a whole new perspective: Our educated workforce, multilingual skilled labor, training programs, incentives, intelligent infrastructure, appealing corporate tax structure – against the backdrop of an unparalleled lifestyle.

For a personalized, confidential look at our competitive assets – and how they can work for you – call Kelly Smallridge, President, at 561.835.1008 or visit bdb.org/InnovationLocation

310 Evernia Street West Palm Beach FL 33401 561.835.1008 bdb.org/InnovationLocation

BACKDROP: Bird’s-eye view of Singer Island, Florida. To hear Pam’s views on our county please visit bdb.org/InnovationLocation

BDB2157 2018 Ad Campaign: B+P share the same view - Pub: Florida Trend. Issue: Oct. Size: full page [trim]: 8.125” x 10.75” Color: full PLEASE NOTE: RIGHT PAGE READ Living Large Yes, Florida has an outstanding business climate, state-of-the-art infrastructure, seamless global connections and abundant workforce … but so do some other states. What sets us apart from the rest is this: Florida is the best place to live.

Culture Ground Zero for Fun Florida’s thriving arts scene includes Many of the world’s most visited theme eclectic galleries in Miami Beach, Bradenton, parks and attractions are here, including Naples and Key West; original works by Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Salvador Dali in St. Petersburg and Louis SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, Comfort Tiffany in Winter Park; and a truly LEGOLAND Florida and the Kennedy amazing collection of paintings, sculpture Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape and circus memorabilia amassed by John Canaveral. So are pro sports franchises in and Mable Ringling in Sarasota. baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer; the headquarters of many sporting organizations and their world-class events, Natural Wonders including NASCAR, the USTA, ATP and Florida’s numbers tell this story: WTA tennis tours; and Grapefruit League 1,197 miles of coastline, 663 miles baseball, which drew 1.5 million fans in of beaches, 7,700 lakes, 1,711 2018. And Florida is a golfer’s paradise with rivers and streams, 700 natural 1,250+ courses — the most of any state — and springs. Add to these: three opportunities to witness PGA tournament national parks, Everglades play at many sites. and Biscayne — both located within Miami city limits — and Dry Tortugas, 70 miles off Climate Key West; 175 state parks; Florida’s average annual temperature and six of TripAdvisor’s 2018 is 75°F (24°C). And no matter where top 10 U.S. beaches, one of you choose to settle, a sandy beach and which (Clearwater Beach) is saltwater are no more than 90 minutes away. the only U.S. site on its top 10 world beaches list.

22 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Florida Trend’s Research FLORIDA From the ocean depths to space flight simulation, cutting-edge research is underway throughout the state.

IHMC expands its research and presence in Pensacola. Over his long career, Ken Ford has amassed a raft of accolades in the world of science. An expert in the field of artificial intelligence, he won NASA’s highest honor after heading its scientific advisory board. A member of several scientific societies, he’s a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, from which he’s won two prestigious awards. He holds two patents, belongs to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and was in the inaugural class of the National Acad- emy of Inventors. He’s served on boards that advised the nation’s military on science and intelligence-gathering. Over the course of his career, Ford has brought in $25 million in federal R&D money, written or edited seven books and authored or

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 23 Research FLORIDA

The institute’s name is meant as a In 2016 the institute add- common denominator for research ed a three-story brick office that explores how humans seek to building to its location in amplify their abilities. Its research a renovated former city po- into “human-centered systems” lice station and jail building in encompasses robotics, computing, downtown Pensacola. The vibe cybersecurity and human-machine downstairs is urban tech startup Ken Ford interaction in general. — lots of young people, lots of pro- Like other research labs, the in- gramming, headsets, concrete, lap- stitute’s major customer is the fed- tops and senior investigators. eral government, with the Defense At present, the institute has 130 Keto Fame Department and NASA leading the researchers and staff. Most are in Renowned in scientific circles, Ken Ford has way, followed by other agencies Pensacola, with a few in Ocala and never been as well known as he now finds himself and private industry. The institute Silicon Valley. — famous for his knowledge, personal use and grew initially under the auspices of The institute gets annual recur- advocacy of a high-fat, high-protein, essentially the University of West Florida be- ring funding of $2.7 million from no-carb keto diet. fore becoming independent with the state, but most of its revenue When he gave talks on artificial intelligence, its own board under the State Uni- comes from grants for research, Ford says, “I would get a few questions on A.I. versity System. along with some funds from li- and a hundred ketone questions, and the talk “Ken certainly brought a na- censing proceeds and donors. In wasn’t even on ketones.” tional profile and tremendous re- 2016, the institute reached a re- In the process, Ford found himself in a new search programs that made Pen- cent-year peak. spotlight. “Ford is the hub of the current ketones conversation,” Outside magazine said of him sacola a research destination and For Ford, the new building, the in an extended 2016 piece. He’s been visible put Pensacola into conversations scientists and the revival of Pen- enough during the keto-craze that a stranger in a it wasn’t in before,” says John C. sacola’s downtown are all aspects restaurant in Jackson, Wyo., recognized him from Cavanaugh, who was University of of the culture he’s tried to create a podcast about ketones. West Florida president from 2002- for the institute. He wanted the in- “A huge societal phenomenon,” Ford says. 08 and now is CEO of the Consor- stitute in a livable, walkable down- His institute is studying synthetics that boost tium of Universities of the Wash- town and made it a pioneer in the ketone levels, which interests both the military ington Metropolitan Area. downtown renaissance. and private manufacturers.

IHMC’s new brick building addition is designed to evoke downtown Pensacola’s warehouse days. photos: Matthew Coughlin photos: Matthew

24 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com IHMC Research

Alberto Cañas Concept mapping software Shepherded by institute co-founder, associate director and senior research scientist Alberto Cañas, this software is now used around the world, especially in education. Using Paraplegic Mark Daniel, a research intern at IHMC, tests a powered technology in education is exoskeleton. His team came in second in a powered exoskeleton Cañas’ passion. Cmaps help competition at Cybathlon, a 66-team competition in Zurich for disabled visualize how subjects relate athletes using wearable robotic devices. to one another.

Understanding speech Peak performance Bonnie Dorr leads a concentration of people at Joe Gomes, former Oakland Raiders the institute’s Ocala branch devoted to machine head strength and conditioning coach understanding of human speech — not just but also a Defense Department pioneer speech recognition, but allowing computers to in human performance, recently joined understand humans. Recently, she was named the institute to take his insights on peak a fellow of the Association for Computational performance for gridiron and battlefield Linguistics. warriors in new directions, especially in helping high-performance people maintain their careers. In similar research, Dawn Kernagis, a 2016 inductee into the Women Linking people and automation Divers Hall of Fame, studies how Computer scientist Bill Clancey, who took classes to optimize performance for divers, in 13 different departments at Rice from music high-altitude aviators, astronauts and to philosophy, developed Brahms, an AI system others in extreme environments. The for testing and managing complex environments Office of Naval Research has funded involving both people and automated systems her work, and she won an award — interactions among air traffic controllers and Dawn Kernagis from the American Heart Association pilots and autopilot systems during flights, for for developing a neuroprotective example. It’s been used for communication therapeutic for acute brain injury. between the International Space Station and NASA. He holds six patents and founded two software companies. photos: IHMC top right and left

www.BusinessFlorida.com photos: IHMC BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 25 Research FLORIDA

Droning On Florida companies, entrepreneurs and schools are capitalizing on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of drones registered Licensing, Training, with the FAA more than doubled to about 110,000, according to DroneDeploy, a commercial drone software company based Advanced Degrees in San Francisco. It predicts there will be more than 600,000 Becoming a commercial drone pilot isn’t expensive registered drones by 2022. or difficult. The FAA’s commercial drone licensing The industry expects to create 100,000 jobs from 2015 to program requires operators to pass a multiple-choice 2025, according to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle test and pay $150. As of July, there were more than Systems International, a robotics trade group. Florida ranks 95,000 FAA-certified drone pilots in the U.S. fourth for projected drone-related job growth, behind California, Experts say job opportunities for commercial drone pilots are growing. Pay can range up to $250 Washington and Texas. an hour or more, depending on the work, location Drone use is widespread throughout Florida industries, as and skill level required. Drone training programs evidenced by the folllowing projects. have proliferated in Florida since the FAA legalized commercial drone operations two years ago. At St. Petersburg College, students can now Coastal Defense take a four-week, 10-hour course to prepare for the FAA’s drone pilot test. Fred Tucker, the college’s The U.S. Navy is looking drone program coordinator, says most students to the day when robotic, are entrepreneurs looking to start a drone services unmanned boats will launch business or professionals wanting to add drone-flying aerial and submarine drones for skills to their resume. The college also offers a drone- coastal defense. related course on mapping technology and a course In May, the Navy awarded a for police and fire departments that see a use for $1.25-million contract to Florida drones in their operations. This month, the college will Atlantic University’s College add a course on editing and producing video shot with of Engineering and Computer drone cameras. Science. During the next five In 2011, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in years, FAU researchers will help FAU is helping to develop an unmanned Daytona Beach became one of the first in the U.S. the Navy develop an unmanned surface vehicle that will serve as a to offer a bachelor’s degree in unmanned aircraft ocean platform to support a command and control platform for other maritime drones. systems. Embry-Riddle also offers a number of range of underwater vehicles master’s degrees and specializations focused on and aerial drones at sea. drone operations and engineering. Students typically An autonomous mothership for drones could offer key advantages over the Navy’s other seaborne platforms, including lower operational start out doing contract work with the Department of and maintenance costs, near-constant surveillance and data collection, Defense before landing jobs in the private sector. and reduced safety risks. “It avoids putting sailors in harm’s way,” says Manhar Dhanak, an FAU engineering professor and director of the FAU SeaTech Institute for Embry-Riddle Ocean and Systems Engineering. offers a The researchers plan to create software to conduct bachelor’s mapping. Improved sensors will help the vehicles in drones. avoid collisions. The project also will provide training and education for graduate and undergraduate Manhar Dhanak students in ocean engineering. photo: David Massey bottom right Massey photo: David

26 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Fast forward
Keeping America globally competitive, moving forward and growing strong requires a commitment to high-speed broadband IP technology that reliably delivers dynamic services.

IP innovation. It's one of the ways everything works together so you can

connect to your world, faster.

© 2018 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T, Globe logo, Mobilizing Your World and DIRECTV are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
the speed of These industries were directly affected space by discoveries through space research. IMPROVING THE WORLD THROUGH SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Discoveries through space technologies and research have led to a multi-billion-dollar global innovation marketplace. The application of technologies initially HEALTH CARE RENEWABLE ENERGY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY tested or discovered beyond the earth’s atmosphere Bio-Sensors, Electric, Solar, Wind, Quantum Cryptography, is present in the everyday lives of citizens around Stem Cell Therapies, Hydrogen and Microprocessors, Advanced Diagnostics Ocean Wave Cloud Computing the world. Groundbreaking health research, superior telecommunications, data sharing, robotics and artificial intelligence are just a few examples of how space technology is forging a bold new future on earth.

Space Florida is the leader in enabling and inspiring cutting-edge aerospace and aviation companies to reach their potential in Florida, connecting the brightest minds with the most advanced resources. ADVANCED MATERIALS GLOBAL DEFENSE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION Carbon Nanotubes, Electromagnetic-Weaponry, Mesh Networks, SPACEFLORIDA.GOV Plastic Transistors, Laser/Broad-Based Global Interconnectivity, Graphene Countermeasures Radio ID Tags/Sensors

SES-12 Mission Launch from Cape Canaveral Spaceport’s SLC-40 the speed of These industries were directly affected space by discoveries through space research. IMPROVING THE WORLD THROUGH SPACE TECHNOLOGY

SES-12 Mission Launch from Cape Canaveral Spaceport’s SLC-40 Research FLORIDA Real Estate One of the more common uses for drones is in real estate marketing. “Drones add a dramatic perspective, something new, Brian Balduf Drones at Work something different,” says Brian Balduf, CEO of Chicago-based marketing Some industries where drone pilots are finding work ... firm VHT Studios, which hires drone pilots to shoot listings for Realtors nationwide; Florida is its third-largest market. “Any home where the property itself is a major feature — if you’re backed up to a golf course, the ocean, a lake or a park — drones Farmers already help convey the whole picture.” use drones to Balduf says he sees a day when potential keep track of crop production. homebuyers put on virtual-reality goggles to view listings from the perspective of a drone. “We’re really just at the beginning of seeing the impact.”

very expensive,” says Gary Reshefsky, Insurance president of Unmanned Vehicle Having already spread beyond their Insurance, a Boca Raton-based division military origins to recreational use, of Century Programs. drones are now being put to work by So far, UVI’s claims volume has businesses. That can involve risk that been low, he says. While businesses insurers are willing to cover. today use drones largely for aerial Last year, Unmanned photography and surveying, he Vehicle Insurance launched anticipates more commercial an online portal where drone applications to come. commercial drone operators “Fire departments are using can buy up to $5 million in drones to monitor brush fires liability insurance backed and those types of things,” by Lloyds of London. The he says. “In agricultural areas, insurance covers damage Gary Reshefsky drone technology is becoming Drones were used to inspect Jade Signature. to a policyholder’s drone more affordable.” and payload while in flight as well as Farmers already use drones to take Construction damage to someone else’s property in inventory of crops and spot failing the event of an accident. plants early. In the not-too-distant Using a drone, builders can identify where “Drones can cost as little as $2,000, future, he says, drones will be used construction work might be falling behind or but their payloads” — especially to spray pesticides, fertilizer and keep track of materials. Aerial data from a drone cameras and video equipment — “are water on crops. also can be used to create a 3-D map to show the progress of a project to clients. Recently, Suffolk Construction hired a company to use drones to inspect the build-out of Jade Energy Signature, a 57-story condominium in Sunny Isles Utilities are using drones to search for Beach. Suffolk’s COO for Florida’s east coast, Joe power lines that have been damaged. Fernandez, says drones offer a faster, cheaper After Hurricane Irma in 2017, FPL con- and safer way to inspect hard-to-reach places. ducted more than 1,300 drone flights in Ordinarily, “we would use a helicopter or a couple South Florida. of guys with radios walking all over the site,” “Let’s say the area is flooded, and some- he says. “Now, one drone operator can capture one can’t get to it safely. We could use a information relatively fast, within five or drone to access the area and assess the 10 minutes, and give it to the rest of the team.” damage without putting anyone in harm’s “They provide a whole bunch of new data way,” says FPL spokeswoman Nina Frick. that’s going to allow us to build smarter,” says The utility also uses drones for routine Lance Dengerud, Suffolk’s Miami smart lab power line inspections. director and a senior project manager. photo: St. Petersburg College bottom left photo: St. Petersburg

30 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Right here in Florida, we are the promise of medicine.

WE ARE JOHNS HOPKINS For local families and beyond, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital provides advanced specialized care for kids. As the only pediatric hospital in Florida with the Johns Hopkins name, we combine over 90 years of compassionate care with the innovation and experience of one of the world’s leading health care systems. Throughout our regional network of care, we combine that legacy of medical innovation with a relentless commitment to the cure and prevention of childhood disease. In all the communities we serve, we are better outcomes for kids. HopkinsInFL.org Research is...

Florida’s economic engine

Research spending at the University of Florida reached a record $801 million in 2017, helping to secure UF’s position as a Top 10 public research university. Across campus, UF researchers are addressing Florida’s most pressing challenges.

College of Medicine researchers are using National Institutes of Health funding to study Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Researchers in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are using a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to ensure economic sustainability of agriculture and forestry in north Florida and help protect water quantity, quality and habitat.

Researchers in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering are using U.S. Department of Transportation funding to develop advanced technologies for autonomous vehicles, smart devices and sensors.

Dr. Lily Elefteriadou Director of the UF Transportation Institute research.ufl.edu/trend Barbara Goldsby Professor of Civil Engineering Research is...

Florida’s economic engine

College of Medicine researchers are using National Institutes of Health funding to study Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Researchers in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering are using U.S. Department of Transportation funding to develop advanced technologies for autonomous vehicles, smart devices and sensors.

Dr. Lily Elefteriadou Director of the UF Transportation Institute research.ufl.edu/trend Barbara Goldsby Professor of Civil Engineering Research FLORIDA Patent Leaders

Five Florida universities placed in the top 100 worldwide for U.S. utility patents in 2017. Utility patents, or invention patents, cover products, processes and machines, as opposed to design patents.

University Rank Patents University of South 12 116 Innovation Briefs Florida University of Florida 13 111

Florida International 61 42 University Game of Tag University of Central 67 39 Florida Sharon Marie the Tiger Shark, at Tagging sharks with GPS trackers Florida State 79 34 last report, was feeding off the New has become both scientifically im- University

England coast at a spot east of Cape portant to Florida institutions and a Source: National Academy of Inventors, Cod and due south of Nova Sco- way to generate public interest and Intellectual Property Owners Association tia. Tagged by University of Miami funding for marine research. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Nova Southeastern University Atmospheric Science researchers in and Jacksonville University, for ex- April in the Bahamas, Sharon Marie ample, also are in the tagging game. NSU’s Guy Harvey Research In- made her way up the Gulf Stream to A Nova-tagged shark, Advanced stitute/Halmos College of Natural South Carolina, circled around there Roofing 3 the Mako Shark, was off Sciences and Oceanography has for awhile then made a beeline for Atlantic City in July, having swum satellite-tagged 291 sharks of the north. nearly 8,000 circuitous miles from various species in the last decade. In 2017 alone, UM spent nearly near Maryland when first tagged in Data led to conclusions that ma- 100 days sampling, took along more 2017 south to Wilmington, N.C., and kos are overfished in the western than 1,100 participants and caught, as far north as the doorstep of New- Atlantic, and the overall mortality tagged and released more than 450 port, R.I. You can track it at ghritrack- rate in the northwest Atlantic is 10 sharks. ing.org. times what was previously thought.

Tagged shark photos: George Schellenger / Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation

34 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Zhenli He’s method uses Rethinking Meds for Kids naturally Psychiatrist John Newcomer — senior author of the study who is a occuring organic professor at FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt material blended Overprescribed anti-psychotic College of Medicine. “Rather, it is with phosphate meds are causing a rise in part of a national phenomenon where rock powder. childhood obesity. children who have non-psychotic disorders with disruptive behaviors For treating serious conditions are increasingly being treated with such as pediatric schizophrenia, anti-psychotic medications.” A Friendlier Fertilizer bipolar disorder and certain severe Knowing that anti-psychotic use in Phosphorus, the second most common autism behaviors, anti-psychotic adults can lead to diabetes, Florida fertilizer used after nitrogen, has been one of drugs are a first-line method. But Atlantic University med school Florida’s key natural resources. But there’s a doctors seeking a solution for kids researchers working with colleagues limited amount of high-quality phosphate rock. with ADHD and other non-psychotic from Washington University in St. University of Florida Institute of Food and behaviors have been prescribing Louis measured changes in whole Agricultural Sciences researcher Zhenli He — a anti-psychotic meds “off-label.” body and abdominal fat and insulin soil and water science professor at IFAS’ Indian Whatever the meds may be doing to sensitivity in 144 children taking anti- River Research and Education Center Fort address the child’s issues, one thing psychotics for the first time. Pierce — has found a way to extend the resource they may be doing is making the kids Even just 12 weeks of treatment by turning low-grade phosphate rock into fat and setting them on the road to with anti-psychotic meds can “environmentally friendly phosphate fertilizer.” diabetes, according to a new study increase body fat and decrease the He’s method involves dolomite phosphate out of Florida Atlantic University’s body’s sensitivity to insulin, the study rock, a low-quality byproduct of traditional med school. found. phosphate production. It uses naturally occurring “Over the past two decades, the “We believe it is time to really organic materials blended with phosphate rock U.S. has seen a dramatic increase in hit the brakes on the common first powder to activate the phosphorus in the rock. the use of anti-psychotic medications line use of these medications in The resulting fertilizer is slow release, which in children, and it’s not due to an children with non-psychotic behavior should mean less leaching — at least 80% to epidemic of childhood schizophrenia disorders and to implement more 90% less — into soil. or other conditions where anti- consistent front-line use of behavioral He is hunting funding for the next step in psychotics may be lifesaving,” says treatment options that are available commercialization. John Newcomer, a psychiatrist and and effective,” Newcomer says.

Sea-Level Contributor It’s likely you’ve never heard of inches of sea-level increase Rossby waves. They’re planetary along the U.S. southeastern ocean waves caused by the rota- coast since 2011 came from tion of the Earth and are so slow natural atmospheric pressure moving they can take years to cross variations, possibly explaining the ocean. Turns out, they’ve been the severity of nuisance flood- contributing to nuisance flooding in ing in places such as Miami Florida and across the southeast U.S. Beach. coast, according to a new study by Wahl says knowing the role UCF Professor University of Central Florida coastal of Rossby waves could help Thomas Wahl engineering professor Thomas Wahl coastal cities better predict High-tide flooding — known as nuisance cites waves flooding — in Miami caused by the and colleagues at other institutions. and take measures to miti- Earth’s rotation The waves contribute to seasonal gate nuisance flooding. as contributing fluctuations in sea level, including “We found that in some years the “These unusually large seasonal to higher tides. an “extreme event” in 2008-09 that seasonal fluctuations are much larger fluctuations were poorly understood, was probably unprecedented in the along the Gulf and U.S. southeast and Rossby waves appear to be the history of tidal gauges in the U.S., coasts than in others, causing more missing piece.” their study says. The study comes nuisance flooding and increasing just a year after separate University flood risk from storm surges during of Florida research found four to six the hurricane season,” Wahl says. photos: IFAS top right; UCF bottom left photos: IFAS

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 35 Research FLORIDA Experiencing Space Flight Little Fish Florida Institute of Technology’s Human In 2017, University of Miami scientist Spaceflight Lab has come up with a new Daniel Benetti won a nearly $1-million simulator that director Ondrej Doule thinks federal grant to spur a partnership with will provide a space flight experience for a private company Aqquua to create an fraction of the cost of current simulators and affordable supply of little fish through parabolic airplane flights. captive spawning, with an eye toward The simulator was built with the idea eventual aquaculture production of at least of an emergency rescue pod in mind — one of three species — red snapper, Nassau passengers having to control the craft while grouper and hogfish. Benetti, a professor dealing with high levels of acceleration — and aquaculture director for UM’s Rosenstiel but people inside can experience the range School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, of suborbital flight from takeoff to landing, says the nation’s young marine aquaculture including microgravity, through 360-degree industry needs to develop commercially motion and the hyperbaric environment of a available seed stock of ecologically and space suit. economically important species and a way Doule worked with Sanford-based Servos to live-ship that stock. “This project aims & Simulation to develop the simulator. “I to resolve these issues and will allow for FIT worked with Servos think we are opening a completely new commercial producers to have access to & Simulation in Sanford area of simulation of human spaceflight low-cost, reliable supplies for the culture of a to create a new simulator because we don’t need parabolic flight or to variety of native marine finfish,” Benetti says. that makes a space flight pay $5,000 or $10,000 for this, and we are experience cheaper. approaching the general public,” Doule says. photo: FIT

AT&T Here and now.

Contact AT&T, lead sponsor of the Research Florida Initiative, and the other outstanding organizations whose messages appear in Research Florida to learn more about innovative research initiatives and opportunities in Florida.

36 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com CHART A POWERFUL COURSE

Located in the center of a thriving global transportation network, Port Everglades is investing in the future with $1.6 billion worth of capital improvements. Visit us at porteverglades.net or call 800-421-0188.

• New cargo berths • New state-of-the-art International • Super Post-Panamax Gantry Cranes Logistics Center • Ultra-modern cruise terminals • Last-mile Intermodal Connectors • Deeper, wider channels for larger ships • Sustainable environmental initiatives

FLORIDATREND.COM SEPTEMBER 2018 37

PEG911_Florida Trend Bus FP Compass_02_mech.indd 1 8/23/18 7:38 PM LF O GU F M E X IC Ideally Sited O for Success Florida is an eclectic mix of eight economic development regions, at least one of which is right for you and your business. From Naples up to Jacksonville and from Pensacola down to Miami and the Florida Keys, this state boasts a blend of cutting- edge innovation and kickback style that is second to none. In any region of Florida, you are never more than 50 miles from a postsecondary educational institution or 90 miles from a deep water port. It’s a good bet you’ll find a golf course, theme park, shopping mall and/or sandy beach within close proximity too. So are you ready to take a closer look at Florida? Turn the page to learn more about each region’s economic advantages and everyday life. But be forewarned — selecting just one site for your company’s future growth could well be your toughest challenge. MAP TERESANNE COSSETTA RUSSELL TERESANNE COSSETTA MAP

38 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS

Population 20,984,380 Labor Force 10,094,268 Households 8,528,264 Total Earnings $539.4 bil. Total Retail Sales $339.9 bil.

NORTHWEST p. 51 NORTHEAST p. 61 Population 1,468,387 Population 1,688,954 Labor Force 680,982 Labor Force 829,624 Households 598,263 Households 691,590 ATLA Total Earnings $35.17 bil. Total Earnings $46.0 bil. NT IC O Median Per Capita Income $35,665 Median Per Capita Income $43,705 C E Total Retail Sales $20.92 bil. Total Retail Sales $24.76 bil.

NORTH CENTRAL p. 46 EAST CENTRAL p. 40 Population 915,342 Population 3,762,850 Labor Force 386,427 Labor Force 1,853,483 Households 389,204 Households 1,477,482 Total Earnings $17.41 bil. Total Earnings $95.07 bil. Median Per Capita Income $31,790 Median Per Capita Income $46,659 Total Retail Sales $11.74 bil. Total Retail Sales $64.51 bil.

TAMPA BAY p. 54 SOUTH CENTRAL p. 74 Population 4,728,199 Population 262,862 Labor Force 2,213,349 Labor Force 98,518 Households 2,003,003 Households 105,534 Total Earnings $115.9 bil. Total Earnings $3.67 bil. Median Per Capita Income $43,205 Median Per Capita Income $28,004 Total Retail Sales $70.83 bil. Total Retail Sales $2.69 bil. .

SOUTHWEST p. 76 SOUTHEAST p. 66 Population 1,294,137 Population 6,863,649 Labor Force 577,790 Labor Force 3,454,095 Households 551,241 Households 2,711,947 Total Earnings $28.03 bil. Total Earnings $198.2 bil. Median Per Capita Income $48,592 Median Per Capita Income $73,564 Total Retail Sales $21.71 bil. Total Retail Sales $122.68 bil. .

Sources: US Census Bureau, 2017; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, 2017; State Profile: Florida, Woods & Poole Economics, 2018 projections

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 39 East Central

COUNTIES •BREVARD •LAKE •ORANGE •OSCEOLA •SEMINOLE •SUMTER •VOLUSIA Securely Anchored

uExtending over seven ride, opened in October. Meanwhile, the new Toy Story Land is up and running at counties, East Central offers Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Universal some of Florida’s natural Orlando has opened its Fast & Furious: best: 118 miles of Atlantic coastline on Supercharged ride as well as a sixth one side, green rolling hills and a chain of on-site hotel. lakes on the other. And with a workforce While the theme parks typically get the of close to 1.9 million, four commercial bulk of tourist attention, some uniquely airports and one seaport, this region is Florida attractions along this region’s heavily business-minded. Atlantic coast pull in visitors too. In Brevard East Central made its mark on the County, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor world with fantasy flights at theme Complex logs about 1.5 million tourists parks and real rocket flights from Cape each year who come to see the Saturn V Canaveral. Today, a half-century since rocket that helped propel astronauts to men first walked on the moon and Walt the moon and the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Disney envisioned EPCOT, tourism and Just up the coast in Daytona Beach, technology remain primary economic attractions include the iconic beach itself drivers here. and Daytona International Speedway, famous for NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and While tourist hot spots like Las Vegas Coke Zero 500 races and the “24 Hours of and New York City were logging visitor (t to b) Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach; Daytona” endurance event. Daytona Beach; Magic Kingdom at Disney World; counts of 42 and 63 million respectively Stand-up paddle boarding in Ponce Inlet in 2017, Orlando was on its way to Behind the most visible manifestations becoming the first U.S. city to break the of Orlando’s booming tourist industry, 70 million mark. The very name “Orlando” companies with niche tourism interests is synonymous with theme park fun. are also hard at work. Disney, Universal and SeaWorld have In June 2018, the timeshare company massive operations here, all of which are Wyndham Destinations announced it continuing to expand. will open its first global headquarters in At SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park, the Orlando and create 200 jobs. And Orlando- 60-foot-tall Ray Rush water slide/raft ride based Skyline Attractions, maker of a began operations in May, and Infinity Falls, dueling, looping two-car coaster that is said to be the world’s tallest river rapids said to offer the speed and loops of a big

40 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com • Located in Osceola County less than 20 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and within a mile of Florida’s Turnpike • 100,000 square feet of Class A ofﬁ ce space, available January 2019 • Entitled for up to 11 million GSF of mixed-used spaces • Home to BRIDG, one of the most versatile 200mm microelectronics research and development lab/fabs

• Nearly 60,000 square feet of total cleanroom/laboratory manufacturing space • Infrastructure and R&D capabilities for semiconductor manufacturing processes with space to accommodate a variety of partner-funded activities • Strategically positioned for manufacturing development with industry and university collaboration • Learn more at GoBRIDG.com Photo credit: Seamus Payne; courtesy Skanska

neocityfl.com East Central

(l to r) Orlando roller coaster, but at a lower price and 133,000-sq.-ft. hangar and a rocket Port Canaveral remains the International with a much smaller footprint, debuted garden. world’s second busiest cruise Airport; Kennedy its first Skywarp coaster in summer port, with an anticipated 4.6 Space Center Also gaining attention along the Visitor Complex; 2018 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in million passengers in 2018. It is Space Coast is Blue Origin, created Port Canaveral; Vallejo, Calif. also Florida’s third largest port by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, SpaceX's Falcon by operating revenues, which Heavy Test Flight As important as tourism is to which began moving into a portion are expected to exceed $100 Orlando, so is technology to Brevard of its massive rocket factory at million in 2018. Some of the County, or what is commonly referred KSC’s Exploration Park in December world’s largest and most sophis- to as Florida’s Space Coast. Since 2017. Full occupancy of the facility ticated cruise ships call here, birthing America’s aerospace industry is expected by the end of 2018, with and to better accommodate in the 1950s, this slice of East Central first launch of the New Glenn rockets these mega-vessels, the port is has become a hotbed of high-tech to be built here by 2021. building a $150-million cruise innovation and activity. This region And at OneWeb Satellites, where terminal complex. boasts 48 engineers per 1,000 workers, more than any other Florida metro or, work continues on a $70-million In 2017, nearly 6 million tons for that matter, any of the nation’s 25 satellite assembly facility at Kennedy of cargo moved through Port most populated metros. Milken Institute Space Center, plans are being made Canaveral, a 9% increase over ranks Brevard County 1st in Florida to open an antenna assembly, the previous year. For 2018, and 6th in the U.S. for the most highly storage and testing facility at the the port projects cargo-related concentrated high-tech economy. And Port Canaveral Logistics Center in revenue to reach $9.2 million, this economy is not just about the Titusville. OneWeb aims to produce due in large part to growth in development of computer hardware small satellites that will beam petroleum-related shipments. and software or cellphone apps; broadband internet to anyone with a Another new cargo source: it’s about satellites and deep space small access terminal. space-related shipments. In exploration too. Tourism and technology may January 2018 the port committed The space shuttles may no longer look very different on the outside, to the development of a fly, but NASA remains this region’s but both require good connections “spaceport” for SpaceX, Blue heavy-hitter with regard to space to succeed. East Central has them Origin and other commercial access. And coming alongside to aid in by air and by sea. space companies. Plans the development of new technologies The region boasts four interna- call for creating a dedicated are numerous private aerospace tional airports — Orlando Interna- area for transferring rockets companies. tional, Orlando Sanford, Orlando and equipment to nearby commercial space facilities and Perhaps the most prominent is Elon Melbourne and Daytona Beach. providing berth space for marine Musk’s SpaceX, which launched its With 46.1 million passengers vessels transporting space unmanned Falcon Heavy to Mars in in 2017, Orlando International mission components. February 2018 with a Tesla aboard and became Florida’s busiest airport hopes of one day taking passengers and 11th busiest in the nation. Coming in 2019: three “Super to the Red Planet. In June, Musk Driving the increase was the Post-Panamax” gantry cranes announced plans for a SpaceX campus addition of international carriers that can reach across 22 at Kennedy Space Center to include a such as Norwegian Air, Edelweiss, containers and handle stacks of launch-and-landing control center, a Aeromexico and Interjet. containers eight units high.

42 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com KISSIMMEE MEDICAL ARTS DISTRICT

Checks All the Right Boxes

Located in 2nd fastest

growing county in Florida Kissimmee OSCEOLA Also growing in East Central are several (a county of medical need) COUNTY small companies with focused IT interests. These include: rd • World Property Exchange Group, 3 largest medical cluster a globally emerging real estate fintech company, bringing its global headquarters in Central Florida to Orlando with plans to hire more than 100 highly skilled personnel over the next three years. 150-plus medical related companies; • Sanford-based Next Horizon, a 4,000 employees technology firm specializing in IT managed services, application development and digital marketing solutions, expanding to a new corporate headquarters in Seminole $200 million private sector County and creating more than 20 jobs. medical investments • Payment technology provider Fattmerchant, nearly doubling its staff in Orlando over the next 18 months thanks to a $10.5-million investment from an 5 economic development incentives Atlanta venture capital firm, and creating 50+ jobs. speciﬁ cally for medical businesses • Denver-based aerospace engineering and software firm Red Canyon Software, planning to open its first regional office in Historic Downtown Titusville with 20 jobs. Kissimmee Medical Arts District is home to: • Know 2 Solutions, an aviation • Osceola Regional Medical Center engineering firm that connects aircraft worldwide through satellite • Florida Hospital Kissimmee communications hardware and services, Park Place Behavioral Center relocating from Hillsborough County to • Kissimmee Gateway Airport. { } • Kissimmee-based research consortium BRIDG, which has entered into a partnership with the German industrial We are willing to work with you to make Kissimmee giant Siemens to develop virtual replicas the new home of your medical business. of physical assets for the semiconductor industry. These “digital twins” will allow researchers to test processes that could Belinda Kirkegard affect physical objects without harming Economic Development Director them. (407) 518-2307 [email protected]

KissimmeeMedicalArts.org

www.BusinessFlorida.com East Central

(l to r) Merritt Island Some of the very reasons tourists point: the "Under i," a five-block urban use a $1-million grant from the U.S. National Wildlife love East Central Florida also make this park with soccer fields, basketball Department of Commerce to establish Refuge; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; region a great place to live. With 118 courts, a splash pad and more that an aviation and engineering research Florida Institute of miles of Atlantic coastline, including is being considered as a way to center in Volusia County. And Valencia Technology; Mount Dora Canaveral National Seashore and "beautify" the space beneath a stretch College, which in 2011 won the lighthouse; (bottom) Nemours Children's the nearly 1,000 inland bodies of of I-4 in downtown Orlando. “Aspen Prize for Community College water that give Lake County its name, Hospital Living in East Central Florida opens Excellence,” has opened its sixth East Central is packed with plenty of the door to many educational options central Florida campus in Poinciana. natural beauty to enjoy. Check out the and some exceptional health care On the secondary level, six East lemurs, rare albino alligators and other too. Brevard County, birthplace of Central high schools earned gold peculiar creatures at Wild Florida in America’s aerospace industry, attracts medals in U.S. News & World Report’s Kenansville. Wander through Merritt 11 patents for every 10,000 workers, “2018 Best High Schools” ranking – Island National Refuge and marvel at according to the Brookings Institution. two were among the nation’s top 75 the bald eagles, armadillos and otters. And with 39 U.S. utility patents granted Join a sanctioned turtle-hatching high schools. in 2017, the Orlando-based University expedition after dark. Or paddle of Central Florida is ranked 27th Pediatric health care in Orlando is rivers with tongue-twisting names among U.S. public institutions and growing and earning accolades too. like Econlockhatchee, Ocklawaha and 67th worldwide for patent production. U.S. News & World Report ranked Withlacoochee. In addition, a consortium led by UCF Orlando Health’s Arnold Palmer The innovation that spawned recently won a five-year, $20-million Hospital for Children among the a space industry and related contract to take over management of nation’s 50 “Best Children’s Hos- technologies here touches on the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, pitals 2018-19” in five specialties; recreational opportunities too. Case in a mammoth radio telescope that has Florida Hospital for Children earned been used for important astronomical a top 50 ranking in one. discoveries. At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Elsewhere in this region, which opened just six years ago Melbourne’s Florida Institute of in south Orlando, a $21.7-million Technology is the recipient of a $246- expansion is underway to finish million grant from Siemens to better out the facility’s sixth floor with the equip students for STEM careers by addition of 30 critical care beds, offering hands-on experience with a cardiac operating room and the product lifecycle management catheterization lab. The project will software used by companies in the add 40,000 square feet of working aerospace, automotive, electronics space and 60 full-time employees. and other high-impact industry Coming soon: a new pediatric resi- sectors. In Daytona Beach, Embry- dency program. The first class of 12 Riddle Aeronautical University will arrives in 2019.

44 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Make a

MOVE TO ORLANDO WITH OUC Total Energy and Water Solutions for Your Business Businesses relocating to Orlando can count on OUC – The Reliable One as a partner every step of the way. From electric, water and sustainable services under one roof to a variety of shovel-ready sites at our fingertips, we can help make any move seamless. And, our location is second-to-none. Central Florida boasts beautiful weather year-round, access to a wealth of transportation options, top-rated universities with an endless talent pool and so much more. Learn how we can help at oucpowersgrowth.com.

Visit OUCPowersGrowth.com, an online resource to help you along the way as you make your power move.

OUCPOWERSGROWTH.com

OUCEconomicDevelopment_FL Trend_2018-07_8-125x10-75.indd 1 7/25/18 10:45 AM North Central

Forward Focused

university supercomputer in the and logistics industries. Optym COUNTIES uNorth Central Florida U.S., it’s no surprise to find that was founded in Gainesville in 2000 •ALACHUA — where innovative technology companies of all sizes and has since grown to include •BRADFORD companies are born thrive here. offices in Armenia, Australia, •COLUMBIA and workforce talent In 2018, UF consolidated its Chile and India. Originally housed •DIXIE commercialization efforts under at the Gainesville Technology thrives — is home one name. The new organization Entrepreneur Center, Optym moved GILCHRIST • to the University of — UF Innovate — includes: Tech into its freestanding headquarters HAMILTON • Florida, the nation’s 8th ranked Licensing, which commercializes in 2015 and added another 10,000 •LAFAYETTE public university, 12th most discoveries; Ventures, which helps square feet to that headquarters •LEVY prolific patent earner worldwide, create startup companies; and in 2017 with plans to hire 100 •MADISON recipient of a record $837.6 two incubators — The Hub and employees through 2018. Sid Martin Biotech. Located in MARION million in research funding in FY Software developer Info • downtown Gainesville, The Hub •SUWANNEE 2018 and a catalyst for economic Tech is another North Central development. Many who were recently doubled in size adding technology success story. TAYLOR • drawn here first for study have office and laboratory space. Sid Founded in Gainesville in 1977, •UNION become permanent residents and Martin Biotech in nearby Alachua Info Tech develops software used business owners, helping to fuel has twice been named Global by transportation agencies and the region’s growing technology Science and Technology Incubator highway contractors to manage and advanced manufacturing of the Year by Business Innovation road construction projects and industry sectors. Another plus: I-10 Center and has launched more maintain integrity within the and I-75 intersect in this region, and than 100 biotech, biomedicine and competitive bidding process. Info companies in need of seamless bioagriculture startups since its Tech today employs 250 and in May logistics are taking notice and founding in 1995. 2017 moved into its stand-alone moving in. Privately-owned technology headquarters complete with a solar Given that the University of companies are finding success here electric power system and 2,400- Florida (UF) is one of the nation’s too. Among them is Optym, a global sq.-ft. green roof. leading research institutions and leader in providing optimization Companies looking to increase home to the third most powerful solutions for the transportation their logistics and distribution

46 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com efficiency will find North Central a grocery distribution center to service "natural" location. I-75 bisects this convenience stores. As a result, up to region on its way north from Miami to 125 full-time jobs are anticipated. Atlanta, and Greater Gainesville is the Manufacturing is another growing halfway point. Just half an hour north industry sector in Florida’s North at Lake City is I-10, providing ready Central, and goods manufactured access east to Jacksonville and west in Gainesville range from medical to Pensacola. And in close proximity devices and drones to air cylinders are two deepwater ports: JAXPORT (85 and life-saving gear used by first miles east) and Port Tampa Bay (130 responders. Exactech, a medical miles south). device manufacturer with facilities In recent years Marion County in five European countries, Australia has become a hub for heavyweight and Japan, has been headquartered in companies in the logistics and Gainesville since its founding in 1965. distribution sector. FedEx Ground was Meanwhile, in Ocala, two very the first to put down roots at Ocala/ different manufacturing firms are Marion Commerce Park just off I-75 in expansion mode. In fall 2017, with the opening of a 450,000-sq.-ft. snack foods manufacturer Mestizo distribution center in 2016. Within Foods announced plans to locate a year, two more followed. At the its headquarters and primary same site in 2017, AutoZone opened manufacturing facility in Marion, with (l to r) Downtown Gainesville; a distribution center to serve its Santa Fe Zoo Technology Program, the promise of a $20-million capital retail stores throughout Florida and Cade Museum of Creativity and investment and 200 full-time jobs. Innovation; FedEx Ground truck; Puerto Rico, and online pet products Also expanding operations and adding Sid Martin Biotech lab; The Hub; retailer Chewy built a 600,000-sq.-ft. 50 manufacturing jobs is Cardinal Solar panels distribution center, its first in Florida LG, a leader in the development of and sixth nationwide. To date, the three residential glass for windows and facilities account for nearly 1,000 new doors. The firm has broken ground jobs, with the promise of more to come. on a 300,000-sq.-ft. building which it The latest player to enter this market expects to complete by early 2019. is Texas-based McLane Company, Cardinal’s next-door neighbor and which is spending an estimated $26.5 a customer for its laminated and million to triple the size of an existing low-E glass, is growing too. Custom building in the Ocala International Window Systems recently completed a Commerce Center and create a 150,000-sq.ft. expansion.

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 47 SPONSORED REPORT

Gainesville makes strides across industries ainesville has long been known as the Prospects are not only strong for entry Gstate’s premier destination for high- level positions; these same industries are er education — a reputation that was only also looking to attract mid-level and senior bolstered when the University of Florida managers to the area to help accelerate was named the ninth best public university their plans for growth. in the nation by U.S. News in 2018. (Santa Fe College, Gainesville’s other public insti- Meanwhile, businesses are working with tution, was named the winner of the 2015 the area’s educational institutions to Aspen Prize for Community College Excel- prepare students at all levels for the jobs of lence by the prestigious Aspen Institute.) tomorrow — jobs that can be found today in and around Gainesville. More recently, however, the city has become Gainesville known more for what happens after college. All of this is on top of a sophisticated tech- Gainesville is giving its graduates more and nology and startup infrastructure that THE NEW AMERICAN CITY more reasons to “stay in the swamp.” While includes one of the nation’s top-ranked traditionally, more than half of UF graduates technology transfer programs and the 2017 stay in the state, only a small percentage Incubator of the Year award winner. remained in Gainesville. This is changing. Situated in the heart of a region known Industries like healthcare, biotechnology, for its beautiful springs and other natural high tech, manufacturing, logistics and resources, Gainesville isn’t just a great place agricultural science continue to grow in to work or grow your business. It’s a great the region, and are successfully challenging place to live and play too, as exemplified the city’s reputation as just a “college town.” by San Felasco Tech City, just one of many significant economic development projects In fact, the job outlook is so strong in planned for the area to bring in new talent Gainesville that career placement firm Zip- and business. pia just named the area Florida’s best place to start a career.

San Felasco Tech City One of the Gainesville area’s many planned live/work/play centers his 55-acre development just outside www.gainesvillechamber.com TGainesville will include a mix of work space, living space and recreational areas. With over 42,000 square feet of office space already under agreement, the live/ work/play multi-use development is designed to attract businesses to the site’s lower infrastructure costs and strong talent base, and residents to the inspirational setting that connects up with 7,200 acres of nature and 30 miles of bike paths.

For more information, visit www.gainesvillechamber.com.

gainesville chamber ad.indd All Pages 10/3/18 11:33 AM SPONSORED REPORT

For more information, visit www.gainesvillechamber.com.

gainesville chamber ad.indd All Pages 10/3/18 11:33 AM North Central

With plenty of sunshine For the fifth consecutive year, Gulf of Mexico, this region is home and wide-open spaces, three Ocala is ranked No. 8 by Forbes to Florida’s 175th state park. Just North Central counties have magazine on its list of “Top 10 20 miles northwest of Gainesville, proven ripe for solar energy Metros for Future Job Growth.” Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park development. In November With an anticipated rate of boasts six natural springs. And 2017, Duke Energy Florida growth more than double the as long as you’re headed west began operations at its new national average, Ocala is the toward Gilchrist County, pop on 9-megawatt Suwannee Solar only Florida city to make the list down to Cedar Key on the Gulf Facility near Live Oak. Then, five years in a row. coast in Levy County for a bowl in early July 2018, Duke broke of Tony's award-winning clam Gainesville earns accolades ground on a 74.9-megawatt chowder. While you’re there, too. The website Livibility.com solar facility in adjacent take time for a stroll around this named Gainesville No. 38 Hamilton County near Jasper. A picturesque fishing village. It’s a nationwide (and No. 1 in Florida) month later, Duke announced rare glimpse of “old Florida.” on its 2018 list of the Top 100 (l to r) Cedar Key; Tony's; plans to site a second 74.9- Best Places to Live, citing its Sites of interest in Gainesville Gainesville Autonomous megawatt facility in North Transit Shuttle (GAToRS); ready access to education and include the Florida Museum of Central — this time in Columbia kayaking on Lake Norris; affordable housing. In 2017, Natural History and the Samuel Black bear cubs County — with construction Gainesville snagged the No. 15 P. Harn Museum of Art on the expected to begin in spring slot on Livability.com’s list of Best UF campus. General admission 2019. Cities for Entrepreneurs due to to either is free; the Butterfly Also looking to capture its affordability, commute time Rainforest is extra but well power from North Central’s and easy access to broadband. worth a visit. Also in Gainesville: sun is Florida Power & Light And getting around town the 10-acre Santa Fe College Company (FPL), which in August is easier than ever since the Teaching Zoo, one of only two 2018 began construction on self-driving shuttle service teaching zoos in the nation, and its Sunshine Gateway Solar GAToRS began operation in May the newly opened Cade Museum Energy Center. Located near 2018. Each driver-less shuttle for Creativity and Invention the intersection of Interstates transports up to 12 passengers honoring inventors from all fields, 10 and 75, the 74.5-megawatt at a speed of up to 25 mph including its namesake, Dr. Robert facility is slated for completion in through downtown Gainesville Cade, the inventor of Gatorade. early 2019. and to/from the University of For a glimpse of real Florida North Central Florida is a Florida campus. wildlife, board a glass-bottom great place to settle down Beyond Gainesville and boat at Silver Springs State Park and grow a business. One Ocala, North Central Florida in Ocala or take a hike along one reason why can be summed offers much much more to see the many trails through the Ocala up in the triumphant tales of and do. Known for its scenic National Forest. Watch out for its two largest cities, Ocala and rivers, hiking/cycling trails and bears! Gainesville. spectacular sunsets over the

50 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Northwest

COUNTIES •BAY •CALHOUN •ESCAMBIA •FRANKLIN •GADSDEN •GULF •HOLMES •JACKSON •JEFFERSON •LEON •LIBERTY •OKALOOSA •SANTA ROSA Flying High •WAKULLA •WALTON uThere’s a lot to like about Florida’s •WASHINGTON Northwest, but two assets in particular stand out — some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and a heavy military presence. The white sugar sand and gently lapping waves along the Gulf coast make this a great place to live and visit; the 6,000 military retirees who join the workforce here annually make it an even better place to do business. Northwest has plenty of space for new companies and no shortage of skilled workers to staff them. Aviation and technology are primary industries here, and most of the Southeast U.S. is within a day’s drive. Northwest Florida is home to six major military installations, including NAS Pensacola, Eglin AFB and Tyndall AFB. Not only do these half-dozen facilities themselves account for 60,000 military and civilian jobs, they attract privately owned aerospace manufacturers, suppliers and Department of Defense contractors who bring with them additional job opportunities for highly skilled personnel.

(t to b) Blue Angel flight over A case in point: Alabama-based VT Mobile Aerospace Pensacola Beach; University of Engineering, which found the ideal site for a hangar on 19 West Florida cybersecurity class; acres of land adjoining Pensacola International Airport. IHMC "Atlas," the firefighting robot Large enough to accommodate two Boeing 777s or six Airbus A-320-sized aircraft and at least 400 personnel, the facility opened in June 2018 and first-hires included graduates from the Escambia County School District’s newly created aviation technology career academy. In Bay County, GKN Aerospace has hired 40 employees and will add 130 more by the end of 2020 for its manufacturing facility at Venture Crossings near Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. The U.K-based firm is a leading builder/supplier of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies.

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 51 Northwest

Other players in Northwest’s comprehensive “Cybersecurity aviation/aerospace sector include: Strategic Plan for Greater The Boeing Company, Lockheed Pensacola.” Martin, BAE Systems, InDyne and Elsewhere in the technology On-Point Defense Technologies. In sector: 2017, aviation services company ONVOI Global Services moved its • The Pensacola-based headquarters to Defuniak Springs Institute for Human and Machine Municipal Airport in Walton County Cognition’s ground-breaking for its proximity to I-10 and to projects include the development better serve its military clientele. of a robot to fight fires in buildings and aboard ships and extensive And coming soon to this sector: research into ways to extend • Butterfly Training, a France- the capabilities and resilience of based firm that develops and humans in extreme environments. manufactures e-learning and • Panama City-based DeTect cloud-based aviation training has installed its radar system, courses focused on airport which detects drones and birds security, safety and dangerous that could pose a hazard to goods, plans to site its U.S. aircraft, at Northwest Florida headquarters in Panama City. Beaches International Airport, for • Sheltair Aviation will double what is said to be the first system its capacity with the addition of of its kind at a U.S. airport. a second hangar at Northwest • In Pensacola, the startup Florida Beaches International firm VetCV has developed a web Airport. application that veterans and Not surprisingly, given its high their families can use to store and concentration of military assets, share medical histories and other Northwest Florida is positioning personal data. itself to take advantage of a Florida’s Northwest — aka technology issue that’s on Florida's Panhandle — is readily everyone’s minds these days accessible by road, rail, air and — cybersecurity. Leading the sea. I-10 bisects this region east to charge is the University of West west providing easy connections Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity. to I-65, I-75 and I-95, which put 12 With an eye to growing Escambia of the Southeast’s major metros County’s cybersecurity industry and 58 million potential customers cluster, FloridaWest Economic within an eight-hour drive. Four Development Alliance is commercial airports offer direct partnering with UWF to create a flights to more than 30 U.S.

52 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com cities, and a Class 1 CSX rail line economic activity on a daily basis, into such wide-ranging areas as (top l to r) Panama City connects to several short lines and this region is largely a laid-back nuclear science, climate change bridge; Cascades Park fountain; Palafox Street the region’s three deepwater ports kind of place where daily life and the effects of deep space in downtown Pensacola; for streamlined freight delivery. is a lot like being on vacation. travel on human health. Florida State University There are dozens of small towns (left page) GKN engineer; Significant developments This region boasts a full Sturgeon AquaFarms; VetCV to explore. Bascom in Jackson in Northwest's logistics sector calendar of special events and County — which until now has include: festivals plus a wealth of natural been known primarily for being beauty in the form of winding • Construction of a 260,000- the birthplace of actress Faye rivers, abundant pine forests and sq.-ft. East Terminal warehouse Dunaway, is cultivating fish eggs for the storage of wood pulp, Kraft in hopes of becoming the “Caviar crystal-clear springs. linerboard and other dry goods at Capital of America.” Florida’s Tourism is big business all the Port of Panama City. capital city — Tallahassee — is over Florida’s Northwest. The • Construction of a dry dock here too, as is one of America’s University of West Florida’s Office facility at the Port of Port St. Joe oldest, Pensacola, where five of Economic Development and where Panama City-based Eastern different flags have flown since its Engagement estimates that 15% of Shipbuilding will build ferry hulls founding in 1559. all visitors coming to Florida each for the Staten Island Ferry Service. And speaking of Tallahassee, year head for the Northwest — 17.5 million in 2017. • The formation of a “Gulf to in 2017, personal finance website Gadsden Freight Logistics Zone” WalletHub.com named it the The draw? Weather for one to plan and fund infrastructure 16th most educated city in the thing, luring tourists from the improvements to connect U.S. Nearly half of all Tallahassee miserably cold north in winter Northwest’s landlocked northern residents over the age of 25 have for the sunshine and from the counties to its Gulf-front southern a bachelor’s degree or higher, sweltering south in summer for counties with deepwater access. compared to 30% nationwide. Two Gulf breezes. And word about of Florida’s 12 public universities what’s to see and do here is • Allegiant Travel Company are located in Tallahassee — getting around. The Travel Channel plans to house two Airbus aircraft Florida A & M University, ranked named Tallahassee-Leon County at a year-round base at Destin-Fort 6th among historically black one of “10 Great Small Towns Walton Beach Airport; 65 jobs colleges and universities by U.S. for Big Vacations” in 2018, and and new routes to five cities are News & World Report in 2018, Shipwreck Island Waterpark in expected as a result. and Florida State University, Panama City Beach ranked No. 3 • The opening of Coca-Cola the nation's 26th-ranked public on Trip Advisor’s 2018 Travelers’ Bottling Co. UNITED’s sales and university and a research Choice Awards for Amusement distribution center in Valparaiso heavyweight. In 2017, FSU was No. Parks and Water Parks. Northwest from which 3 million cases of 33 among U.S. public universities hotels fared well too. The Pearl beverages will be delivered for patents granted in 2017 (34 in Hotel in Rosemary Beach was No. annually. all), and in FY 2018, its researchers 1 on Travel & Leisure’s “World’s received more than $226 million 10 Best Hotels in Florida,” closely While Northwest’s primary from federal, state and private followed by The Henderson in industry sectors bustle with sources to support investigations Destin at No. 3.

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 53 Tampa Bay

COUNTIES •CITRUS •HERNANDO •HILLSBOROUGH •MANATEE •PASCO •PINELLAS •POLK •SARASOTA

(t to b) Tampa skyline; Tampa International Airport; Growing the Future Port Manatee; CSX cargo uTampa Bay — Food Services, O’Reilly Auto Services, Amazon, Walmart and Florida’s second most Wayfair and third-party logistics populated region providers like Blue Grace Logistics, and home to such corporate Integrity Express Logistics, Quality heavyweights as Tech Data, Jabil Distribution and Total Quality Circuit, Raymond James and, Logistics have all chosen to site soon, The Mosaic Company — facilities here. is on a roll. In 2017, the Tampa- Tampa Bay is just plain easy to St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA was get into and out of: No. 15 on Milken Institute’s “Best Performing Large Cities” list, up 18 • By Air: Three commercial points from the previous year. And airports serve this region. Tampa at No. 16, Tampa is the only Florida International is the largest, metro to make WalletHub’s 2018 handling 19.6 million passengers list of the top 20 “Best Big Cities to and 156.4 million tons of cargo in Live In.” In Tampa Bay, companies 2017, and offering 250 flights daily, prosper, connections are seamless, including nonstops to most major downtowns are alive, educational U.S. cities and to London, Zurich, institutions earn accolades … and Frankfurt, Panama City, Reykjavik the welcome mat is always out. and Amsterdam. Also providing air passenger and cargo service: Tampa Bay has all the elements Sarasota-Bradenton International required of a successful logistics Airport, serving 1.2 million and distribution sector: the state’s passengers in 2017, and St. Pete- largest seaport and its closest Clearwater International Airport, deepwater ports to the Panama which in 2017 surpassed 2 million Canal; a top-rated international passengers in a single year. airport; superior rail connections; and an extensive interstate • By Sea: Port Tampa Bay is highway network that puts 33 Florida’s largest port by physical million consumers within an size (5,000+ acres) and cargo eight-hour drive. It’s no wonder, tonnage. It is also among the then, that distributors like Gordon nation’s most diversified, handling

54 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com REROUTE YOUR THINKING™

SERVING FLORIDA’S LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING CONSUMER MARKET.

Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest and most cargo diverse port in the state’s largest and fastest growing region. That means proximity to market which translates to significant savings in trucking costs and greater efficiency. That’s why shippers, freight forwarders, 3PL’s and manufacturer’s alike are looking for new, more efficient supply chain alternatives in Florida - and they’re finding it with Port Tampa Bay.

Serving the 10th largest economy in the U.S. (Tampa/Orlando 1-4 Corridor) and beyond, Port Tampa Bay handles a variety of break bulk cargoes including steel, forest products, bagged cement and fertilizers, not to mention its expanding container, RoRo, and bulk business. Our capacity includes more than 6,000 square feet of berth and over 700,000 sq ft of on-dock warehouse space and laydown area.

Make the better call - contact us today and put us to work for you.

1101 CHANNELSIDE DRIVE, TAMPA, FLORIDA 33602 WWW.PORTTB.COM | 800-741-2297 Tampa Bay

all major cargo categories, including liquid and onto trucks and a warehouse available and dry bulk, containers, commodities to industrial users needing storage space. and automobiles. In FY2017, 38.1 million • By Road: Interstate systems I-4, I-75 tons of cargo passed through the port, and I-275 directly link Tampa Bay to Miami, including 56,555 TEUs of containerized Orlando, Jacksonville, Pensacola and all cargo. During the same period, Port Tampa points in between and beyond. A new truck Bay welcomed 226 cruise ships and 960,901 ramp from Port Tampa Bay leads directly cruise passengers, an 18% increase over to and from I-4, which connects to I-75 less the previous year. On the southern edge of than 10 miles away. Tampa Bay, Port Manatee shattered cargo records, moving 39,276 TEUs in 2017 for a Tampa Bay is at the epicenter of medical 52% increase over the previous year, and 7.8 innovation and cutting-edge patient care. million total cargo tons, its best year ever. In Some 14% of Florida’s biotech companies 2017, Port Manatee upgraded its 625-foot- and 22% of its pharmaceutical and long Berth 9 to accommodate loads of up to medicine manufacturing workforce call this 1,000 pounds per square foot. region home. A long-standing success story here is WellCare Health Plans. Founded in • By Rail: Tampa Bay offers 500 miles Tampa more than 30 years ago, WellCare of railroad and siding tracks operated by provides government-sponsored managed- Florida-based CSX, which maintains a major care services to some 4.4 million members rail yard, intermodal terminal, TRANSFLO nationwide. In September 2018, WellCare terminal and automotive distribution center acquired Michigan-based Meridian Health in Tampa. CSX is also the major player at Plans and, as a result, has become Tampa Florida’s Gateway in Winter Haven. Formerly Bay’s biggest company by market value. known as the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center, this inland port features Over the last five years, significant wide-span cranes to lift containers off trains developments across this sector testify to its growing strength in Tampa Bay. Bristol- (t to b) Amgen; USF patent wall Myers Squibb got the ball rolling in 2014 with the opening of its North American Capability Center in Tampa and, within a year, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to establish a global services center here too. That facility, which opened in 2016 with 240 employees, is on track to add another 300 employees by 2020. On the heels of these developments have come Aimmune Therapeutics, which in 2017 established a manufacturing facility in Clearwater for the development of biopharmaceuticals to treat life-threatening food allergies, and Amgen, which in February 2018 opened a capability center for drug research and testing in Tampa. Job opportunities in the life sciences sector are on the rise too. Greenway Health, an IT vendor of integrated electronic health records and management solutions for health care practices nationwide, and Corin USA, an orthopedic device manufacturer, have announced plans to add 100 jobs each at their Tampa-based headquarters. Tampa Bay’s thriving health care sector includes an education component. In 2012, the University of South Florida opened CAMLS — Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation — in downtown Tampa to provide state-of-the-art, hands-on learning opportunities for practicing physicians and medical students. Nearby, USF is constructing a medical school in close proximity to its teaching partner, Tampa General Hospital. USF Morsani

56 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Exceptional Talent. Exceptional Results.

Tampa Bay offers everything your company needs to thrive. A robust pipeline of top “DTCC has grown from quality talent. A business-friendly environment where government, corporate and 250 employees in 2005 academic leaders collaborate to keep the economy growing. An outstanding quality of to more than 1,100 today. life. Home prices that are among the most affordable in the state. Our ability to successfully recruit and hire talented Call us to schedule a visit and see what the buzz is all about. You’ll quickly see staff has hinged upon why companies like Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, TransferWise, the exceptionally strong BlueGrace Logistics and Bertram Yachts chose Tampa Bay. We’re confident you will, too. workforce that comes from the local market.” Marie E. Chinnici-Everitt Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer & Regional Administrative Manager, DTCC Tampa Steve Morey, SVP of Business Development 813.518.2630 [email protected] I Tampaedc.com

24545 FL TREND October ad.indd 1 8/23/2018 2:53:28 PM Tampa Bay

(l to r) Homosassa Springs College of Medicine and Heart Also worth noting is this Florida’s No. 2 hospital and earned Wildlife State Park; Tampa Bay Rowdies; Seminole Heights; Institute is scheduled to open in its region’s excellence in patient accolades in six specialties. downtown location by early 2020. care. Two Tampa Bay hospitals are mural in downtown St. Petersburg; Johns Hopkins All Children’s Straz Center for the Performing listed among the nation’s top 50 And coming soon to Clearwater: Hospital in St. Petersburg earned Arts; Clearwater Beach according to U.S. News & World The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of top 50 rankings on U.S. News & Report’s “Best Hospitals 2018-19.” Osteopathic Medicine as part of World Report’s “Best Children’s Moffitt Cancer Center, a National Nova Southeastern University’s Hospitals 2018-19” list in five Cancer Institute-designated new Tampa Bay Regional Campus. specialties. Comprehensive Cancer Center, Construction of the complex began was cited as No. 8 for cancer care 2017 was a good year for in spring 2018. Anticipated opening and No. 40 for gynecology. Tampa tourism on both sides of Tampa Bay. date: summer 2019. General Hospital was named Hillsborough County’s tourism tax

Less than 30 minutes to Tampa Competitive“brand new” Access to over International Airport & Port Tampa Bay industrial & office space 1.9 M labor force

CALL TODAY 888-60-PASCO WWW.PASCOEDC.COM 58 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com revenue jumped 8% over 2016 for a total of $32.3 million. Pinellas County fared even better with collections of more than JACKSONVILLE $56 million, up 8.5% from the previous year. Helping to fuel these increases was the combination of a long winter storm season in the north and thousands of Clemson and Alabama fans drawn to Tampa for the college football national ORLANDO championship game. TAMPA Thanks to a host of new attractions, POLK COUNTY 2018 looks promising tourist-wise too. Recently opened are the new James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg and the nation’s first Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel. Coming soon DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MIAMI are three hotels on Clearwater Beach; a virtual reality roller coaster and a second hotel at LEGOLAND Florida; and $6 million in upgrades for ZooTampa at Lowry Park. To say that Tampa Bay beaches are America’s best is no exaggeration; it’s FLORIDA fact. Clearwater Beach took the top prize within on TripAdvisor’s “2018 Top 25 Beaches, U.S.” and ranked 7th worldwide (the only REACH U.S. beach to make its international list).

Also earning spots on TripAdvisor’s U.S. REGIONAL ACCESS list: Siesta Beach just south of Sarasota at There’s a reason why Publix Super 9 No. 2 and St. Pete Beach at No. 7. A fourth MILLION PEOPLE Tampa Bay beach — Caladesi Island State Markets, LEGOLAND® Florida WITHIN 100 MILES Park in Dunedin/Clearwater — snagged Resorts and Florida’s Natural all call the No. 7 spot on Stephen Leatherman’s (aka “Dr. Beach”) 2018 list of America’s Polk County home. With its strategic 10 best beaches for the second year 3 central location, Polk delivers the DEEPWATER in a row. And for swimmers who value connectivity, competitive costs SEAPORTS safety over sand, another win: Manatee WITHIN 75 MILES County’s 15-member lifeguard team, and workforce talent your business which oversaw more than 2.7 million needs to thrive. Our team is eager to beachgoers in 2017, was named “Beach sit down, chat and learn about your 2 Patrol of the Year” by the Florida Beach INTERNATIONAL Patrol Chiefs Association. business firsthand. Ready? We are. AIRPORTS WITHIN 60 MILES Elsewhere in the region, work continues in North Port on a spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves. 300+ The project, which includes a 6,200-seat MILES OF RAIL stadium, a 360-degree concourse IN POLK COUNTY walkway, luxury suites, six full- and two half-sized practice fields and 750 parking spaces, is on track to host the Braves’ final spring training game in 2019. CONNECT TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES CFDC.ORG • (863) 937-4430

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 59 Tampa Bay

Coincidentally, North Port and in St. Petersburg, 17 major Good things happened at neighboring Sarasota were construction projects are other Tampa Bay educational among the nation’s top 50 best underway downtown — from institutions too. Florida’s small cities to start a business, high-rise apartment buildings newest accredited university according to a recent report to a new police station — for a — Florida Polytechnic in from Verizon. total of $500 million. Likewise, Lakeland — graduated its Clearwater is moving ahead first four-year class in May Meanwhile, the Tampa with “Imagine Clearwater,” a 2018. At Florida Southern Bay Rays unveiled plans $555-million redevelopment College — best-known as for a ballpark they hope to plan to transform the city’s home to the world’s largest build in Tampa’s Ybor City downtown waterfront and single-site collection of Frank neighborhood. Cost to construct Coachman Park areas with the Lloyd Wright architecture — the stadium, which would addition of public gardens, a the Barney Barnett School of feature a translucent roof over concert venue, gateway plaza Business and Free Enterprise the outfield and 28,216 seats, is and walking paths overlooking was included for the first time estimated at $892 million. While Clearwater Harbor. in The Princeton Review’s details are finalized, including “Best Business Schools.” And how to pay for the project, the Tampa Bay’s largest in Sarasota, the newly created Rays will continue to play at university — the University of Cross College Alliance allows Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. South Florida — is having quite the 16,000+ students enrolled a run. In 2017, USF received a Downtowns across the region at New College of Florida, USF record 116 U.S. utility patents, are coming alive, too. Activity Sarasota-Manatee, Ringling propelling the university to is ramping up at Water Street College of Art & Design, State No. 5 in the nation — and Tampa, the $3-billion, mixed-use College of Florida Manatee- No. 12 worldwide — among redevelopment project taking Sarasota and FSU/Ringling public universities for patent shape in downtown Tampa’s Museum to cross register production. In June 2018, USF Channel District. In April, the first for classes and compete was designated a “Preeminent phase of vertical construction for internships and job State Research University” by began with a groundbreaking opportunities countywide. the Florida Board of Governors. for the 26-story JW Marriott The long-sought title held by At the high school level, four luxury hotel. Over the coming just two other schools — UF Tampa Bay schools earned year, developers anticipate and FSU — rewards high- gold medals in U.S. News & construction to be underway achieving universities based World Report’s “Best High on 10 of Water Street’s planned on 12 metrics, including Schools 2018” rankings. At 22 buildings, with openings graduation rates, research No. 19 nationwide, Pine View anticipated as early as summer expenditures and patent School in Osprey was Florida’s 2020. production. And in August, USF top-rated high school; Tampa’s Tampa isn’t the only became home to a chapter of Plant and Robinson high (top l to r) World rowing championship downtown venue undergoing the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa schools and Newsome High at Nathan Benderson Park; Port transformation. Across the bay Society. School in Lithia also were cited. Tampa Bay; Riverwalk (bottom t to b) Busch Gardens; Strawberry Festival; Tampa Bay Lightning

60 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Northeast

COUNTIES •BAKER •CLAY •DUVAL •FLAGLER •NASSAU •PUTNAM •ST. JOHNS

(t to b) Jacksonville; JAXPORT; Jacksonville International Airport; Florida East Coast Railway Big and Bold

uThere’s nothing shy or Elsewhere in the metro area, two global laid-back about Florida’s professional services firms are launching new facilities. Ernst & Young has opened a Northeast. Positioned along I-95 just client services delivery center to provide south of the Georgia state line, this region’s technology, business process support signature city — Jacksonville — looms large and other services to its clients in the in many ways. At 840 square miles, it is the banking, insurance and asset management biggest city by area in the continental U.S. industries with the expectation of adding and one of only eight nationwide where 450 employees by 2020. Similarly, the city and county governments function as international digital delivery firm Genpact one. Driving growth in this region are three has begun providing residential mortgage Fortune 500 companies and the national loans processing, underwriting and closing or divisional headquarters of more than 80 services for financial institutions from other firms, all of which have been attracted its 37,000-sq.-ft. office at Capital Plaza in to the Northeast for its young and vibrant suburban Jacksonville with an estimated workforce and a multi-modal network of 200 jobs expected. exceptional land-sea-air connections. And soon to join Jacksonville’s financial Financial services is a particularly strong services sector: Zikher. The San Francisco- industry sector here, boasting a list of key based fintech firm has announced plans players that reads like a who’s who in wealth to site its East Coast headquarters in management. The U.S. financial firms Bank Jacksonville and hire 20 employees in 2018. of America/Merrill Lynch, Citi, JP Morgan Chase, Fidelity National Financial, FIS (Fidelity Logistics and distribution are also among National Information Services), Black Knight, Northeast's most active and lucrative Wells Fargo and VyStar Credit Union all have industry sectors — and with good reason. a significant presence in Jacksonville, as do According to the website jaxusa.org, Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank and Sydney- more than 61 million people live within an based Macquarie Group, and many are on eight-hour drive of Jacksonville. That kind of the grow. proximity to Southeast markets, say county officials, has drawn the attention of heavy VyStar Credit Union, for example, is hitters needing ready access to customers. making plans to relocate its corporate headquarters from suburban Jacksonville Mega online retailer Amazon, for to a 23-story office tower downtown. VyStar example, has committed to Florida’s is the nation’s 17th largest credit union with Northeast in a big way with four new nearly 1,400 employees and assets of more facilities to date. Two fulfillment centers than $7.6 billion. opened here in fall 2017, and close on

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 61 Northeast

their heels have come a 237,000-sq-ft. In 2011, France-based global battery sortation center at Westside Industrial manufacturer Saft opened its North Park and, in north Jacksonville, a 63,000- American headquarters and a factory for sq.-ft. facility where packages are sorted the production of lithium-ion batteries for last-mile delivery to customers. in Jacksonville. Other heavy-hitters in this sector include: Johnson & Johnson UPS is investing $196 million to Vision Care, Jacksonville (contact lenses); expand its Northwest Jacksonville Northrup Grumman, St. Augustine distribution center with the addition of (military aircraft); Georgia Pacific, Palatka 375,753 square feet of shipping space, (pulp and paper operations); Pilot Pen, three loading wings and advanced Jacksonville (writing instruments); automation technology with the GE Oil & Gas, Jacksonville (industrial expectation of processing 80,000 equipment); Embraer, Jacksonville (light packages per hour. And Jacksonville- attack aircraft for counter-insurgency); based malt beverage distributor GRACE Aerospace, Jacksonville (aircraft Champion Brands has broken ground on components); Hans-Mill Corp., Jacksonville a 38,000-sq.-ft. corporate headquarters (stainless steel trash cans). on the city’s Southside. Burkhardt Distributing, a fixture in St. Johns County Why have so many manufacturing since 1989, has opened a 113,000-sq.-ft. facilities elected to settle here? Officials headquarters and distribution center. credit the region’s strong military presence. With four facilities, including Meanwhile, JAXPORT continues to the Navy’s Southeast Headquarters Fleet break records. In fiscal year 2017, the Readiness Center, and 75,000 active duty, port moved more than 1 million TEUs, reserve and civilian men and women, the a 7% increase over 2016, and Asian military is Northeast’s largest employer. container trade — its fastest growing And of the military personnel that retire container cargo segment — increased here each year, more than 3,000 choose by 19%. Thanks to strong auto sales to stay in the region, bringing a strong across the Southeast and the continued work ethic and military-honed skills to growth of JAXPORT’s three auto local employers. processors —AMPORTS, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and Southeast Among new arrivals in Northeast’s Toyota Distributors — a record 693,000 manufacturing sector is China-based vehicles passed through the port in JinkoSolar Holding Co., which in March 2017. 2018 announced plans to build a state-of- the-art solar panel manufacturing facility Manufacturing is a prominent and at Jacksonville’s Cecil Commerce Center long-standing industry sector here that will serve as its North American too. Northeast Florida has been in the headquarters and create 200 jobs; business of manufacturing for more than estimated opening: late 2018. a century, and the proof can be found in Jacksonville’s skyline, where the iconic And in June 2018, LignoTech Florida, “good to the last drop” Maxwell House a joint venture between the Norwegian coffee cup has been glowing since 1910 bio-chemical firm Borregaard and U.S. atop what is today one of the world’s specialty pulp manufacturer Rayonier (top l to r) Downtown Jacksonville; Amazon fulfillment center; Flagler College; Mayo Clinic Jacksonville largest coffee plants. Advanced Materials, began production (left t to b) Fleet Readiness Center Southeast; Burkhardt Distributing; Sailors at Naval Station Mayport

62 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com of lignin products at a new facility adjacent to Rayonier’s existing cellulose mill in Fernandina Beach. The lignin products produced at the new plant JAXPORT are designated for sale primarily to the construction industry. Investing for Your Future Meanwhile, Rayonier continues to grow its footprint across Northeast Florida with the opening of a new headquarters building to serve as $1.5B has been invested in Northeast Florida’s the keystone for a brand new, self- contained community called Wildlight. transportation network, with another This 2,900-acre development is to $1B pledged for the future. include a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, rental apartments, offices, shops, restaurants and other family- oriented amenities as well as 200 acres of open space for the pursuit of healthy activities like walking and biking. Several homes are already occupied, and a new neighborhood school — Wildlight Elementary — opened with 600 students in fall 2017. While north of Jacksonville this brand new community is being created, a really old one — St. Augustine — continues Florida’s No. 1 Container Port to thrive. Spaniards came ashore near what is today St. Augustine 55 years before the Brits touched ground at Plymouth Nation’s No. 2 Vehicle Port Rock, leaving behind plenty of significant evidence for present-day visitors to enjoy. Worth exploring here: Castillo de San Marcos (oldest masonry fort in Specialty Cargo Experts the continental U.S.), the oldest house, oldest wooden schoolhouse in Florida and more. Deepening for the Big Ships And speaking of history, the Civil War looms large in this region too. Florida’s bloodiest Civil War confrontation — the Battle of Olustee — took place in what is today Baker County in 1864; a live reenactment commemorates the battle each February. JAXPORT.COM

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 63 Northeast

Other attractions in northeast has invested nearly $500 million in Florida include the Cummer Museum major reconstruction projects and of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, more than doubled its space over historic downtown Fernandina Beach the last three years, plans to spend (400-plus historic homes, churches another $144 million to add two and commercial buildings) and Flagler buildings at its 400-acre Jacksonville Beach, named one of America’s campus. “Coolest Small Towns” by Budget Also nationally recognized for Travel magazine. health care by U.S. News & World Northeast Florida is a golfer’s Report: Flagler Hospital in St. delight too, with more than 80 Augustine at No. 49 nationwide for courses, including TPC Sawgrass in diabetes and endocrinology care. Ponte Vedra where the Players PGA In addition, Wolfson Children's Tournament is held annually in March. Hospital in Jacksonville earned And coming in 2020: PGA Tour’s accolades on U.S. News & World new headquarters that will bring an Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals, anticipated 300 new hires, plus the 2018-19” list, ranking No. 47 and 800 employees working at 17 sites No. 49 respectively nationwide around the region, under one roof in for pediatric neurology and St. Johns County. neurosurgery and cancer care. Beyond golf, this region has plenty Northeast has schools worth of other sports to cheer for: NFL boasting about too. Six of this Jacksonville Jaguars, AFL Jacksonville region’s high schools earned Sharks, Minor League Baseball’s gold medals in U.S. News & World Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, NASL Report’s “Best High Schools, 2018,” Jacksonville Armada FC and one of and one school district — St. Johns college sports’ biggest rivalries, the County — ranked No. 1 statewide Florida-Georgia Football Classic each for the ninth consecutive year. fall in downtown Jacksonville. With 53 undergraduate and Health care in this region is 28 graduate degree programs, superior and growing. Mayo Clinic the University of North Florida Jacksonville was named Florida's in Jacksonville has been named No. 1 hospital on U.S. News & World a “best regional” university for Report’s “Best Hospitals 2018-19” seven consecutive years by U.S. list, earning top 50 rankings in News & World Report, and in 2017, six specialties: gastroenterology UNF’s Coggin College of Business and heart surgery, geriatrics, was recognized by The Princeton (top l to r) Black Creek; Jacksonville cancer, gynecology, neurology and Review as one of the nation’s best Riverwalk; St. Johns River; Center Street in Fernandina Beach; Castillo neurosurgery, and cardiology and business schools for the 11th year de San Marcos in St. Augustine; (left heart surgery. Mayo Clinic, which in a row. t to b) THE PLAYERS Championship; Jacksonville Beach; Marineland Dolphin Adventure

64 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Jacksonville Ranked #2 Most Up-&-Coming City in America - TIME and #5 Most Popular City to Which Millennials are Moving - SMARTASSET

Clarity. Creativity. Productivity. They are what 1,100 miles of shoreline across our river, Intracoastal, preserves and the Atlantic Ocean inspire in our people. Come make them your people and see why the breadth and diversity of our waterscape creates enormous benefits to business operations.

BAKER I CLAY I DUVAL I FLAGLER I NASSAU I PUTNAM I ST. JOHNS jaxusa.org Southeast

COUNTIES •BROWARD •INDIAN RIVER •MARTIN •MIAMI-DADE •MONROE •PALM BEACH •ST. LUCIE Worldly Wise uSoutheast stands out opened a 100,000-sq.-ft. customer port to the Panama Canal. In 2017, among Florida’s regions service center in Hollywood; online the port moved 1.02 million TEUs home goods retailer Wayfair opened of containerized cargo and 9.2 for many reasons: largest a 47,320-sq.-ft. distribution center million tons overall. During the population, largest labor pool, earlier this year in Pompano Beach; same period, PortMiami reaffirmed longest ocean coastline, most and an 855,000-sq.-ft. Amazon its position as the world’s busiest seaports, closest to Latin America, fulfillment center is expected to cruise port, welcoming a record- home to three national parks and open in Opa-Locka before the end breaking 5.3 million cruise the world’s busiest cruise port. And of 2018. passengers and signing its third with so many business advantages International trade is one of this agreement with a major cruise — including ready proximity to region’s primary industry sectors line in recent years to build a global markets, a multicultural and and, not surprisingly, the Miami new terminal. Royal Caribbean’s multilingual workforce, superior metro — which spans Miami-Dade, Terminal A is scheduled for educational institutions and an Broward and Palm Beach counties completion in October 2018, with exceptional quality of life — the — plays a pivotal role. A new Norwegian’s Terminal B to follow challenge for companies considering research brief from FIU + CCG | in fall 2019. Completion of a third relocation to one of these seven Miami Urban Future Initiatives terminal is anticipated by fall 2022. counties is less about finding the ranks Miami first — ahead of Los Just up the coast in Fort right site than it is about choosing Angeles and New York — among just one. Lauderdale, Port Everglades large U.S. metros according to the retained its standing as Florida’s With five deepwater ports, amount of merchandise goods, No. 1 container port in 2017, moving four international airports and a commodities and cargo that it 1.08 million TEUs in 2017 and multimodal network of rail and roads transports internationally (1.5 million helping to boost the port’s total connecting them all, the Southeast tons in 2016). Additionally, at $33.3 tonnage from 6.7 million in 2016 billion in 2015, Miami is No. 7 — region can rightly be called Florida’s to 7.3 million. And with 3.7 million ahead of Dallas, New Orleans and gateway to the world. It’s no wonder multiday cruise passengers, Port San Francisco — among large U.S. that companies bearing familiar Everglades ranks as the world’s metros for its exports (goods and names and in need of seamless third largest cruise port. Business services that are produced locally logistics are drawn to Florida’s was also brisk at the Port of Palm and sold internationally). Southeast: Online pet retailer Beach, where 260,324 TEUs and Chewy,com is headquartered in PortMiami is the closest U.S. 502,876 cruise ship passengers Dania Beach and has recently East Coast deepwater container moved through in 2017.

66 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com The airways over Southeast as no surprise that this region is Florida are equally impressive. home to the corporate headquarters Miami International ranks first for of many logistics and travel-related international freight and second — companies, including Carnival just behind JFK and ahead of LAX — Corporation, Norwegian Cruise Line, among large U.S. airports for number Royal Caribbean Cruises, FedEx Latin of international passengers served. America, Ryder Integrated Logistics, In 2017, MIA handled 2.2 million total SEACOR Holdings and Spirit Airlines. tons of freight, and in early 2018, was And more are on the way: granted foreign trade zone status by • Virgin Voyages, a new cruise the U.S. Department of Commerce. company from global Virgin brands, A total of 44.1 million passengers — plans to site its headquarters and 300 49% of them international — passed jobs in Plantation. Virgin Voyages’ first through MIA in 2017, and that figure ship, weighing in at approximately is almost certain to increase. MIA has 110,000 gross tons, is scheduled to recently added service from Qatar, arrive at PortMiami in 2020. Istanbul, Dublin, Reykjavik and Tel Aviv to its roster of markets served and is • German-based global auto rental making plans to add direct service to company Sixt, which opened its first Asia by the end of 2018. U.S. location at Miami International Airport in 2011, will locate its new Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and expanded North American International served 32.5 million headquarters in Fort Lauderdale with passengers in 2017, an 11% increase the expectation of 300 jobs. over the previous year and the airport’s fourth consecutive year of • In May 2018, JetBlue selected Fort double-digit growth in international Lauderdale as the home for its JetBlue traffic. Palm Beach International Travel Products subsidiary, and Spirit Airport recorded a passenger increase Airlines is growing in Miramar, adding of just under 1% in 2017 for a total of 26,287 square feet to its corporate headquarters. (top l to r) Fort Lauderdale Marina; Port Miami; 6.3 million passengers. Brightline; El Al Airlines at Miami International Considering Southeast Florida’s A thriving technology sector in Airport; Miami Beach, The Breakers Palm Beach; Nova Southeastern University; (bottom) Seven Mile stellar connections, It should come Southeast Florida is proof that Silicon Bridges in the Florida Keys

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 67 Southeast

(l to r) Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport terminal; Ultimate Software

Valley isn’t this country’s only source Meanwhile, all across the region, Recognizing that a growing of cutting-edge innovation. In 1980, new tech companies are continuing to technology sector needs a well- a team of engineers in Boca Raton form and older companies to expand: trained workforce, Florida International designed and built a computer that University in Miami began offering a • United Technologies’ UTC Center bachelor’s degree in the Internet of would change workplaces forever. It for Intelligent Buildings opened in Things in 2018. The degree is designed was the first IBM PC. In the nearly 40 April 2018 in Palm Beach Gardens. The to prepare students for careers as years since, Florida’s tech industry $115-million facility serves as both a hardware and software engineers, has grown to become third largest headquarters for UT’s Climate Controls wireless communications specialists in the U.S. and one of the Southeast and Security division and a showcase and cybersecurity professionals. region’s primary economic drivers. for the latest innovations in HVAC and Similar degrees are offered at a handful Long-time leading players in this refrigeration systems, building controls of universities throughout the world; sector include two Broward County- and fire and security systems. The FIU’s degree is the first from a U.S. based companies: Citrix and Ultimate project, which has already created 380 university. Software. jobs, is expected to add another 100 by 2021. Southeast Florida has long been Founded in Fort Lauderdale in touted as a great place to live and • Plantation-based tech company 1989, Citrix aims to simplify digital work; now there’s proof. Responding Magic Leap, which has raised more than access to apps and data in order to a recent survey for the staffing $2 billion in venture capital over the last to help businesses take advantage firm Robert Half International, 80% of two years to create sophisticated 3D of cloud, collaboration, networking south Florida professionals rated their software, has brought its first product and virtualization technologies. Citrix work-life balance as either “excellent” to market. The Magic Leap One Creator serves more than 400,000 businesses, or “good.” And no wonder, given this Edition retails for $2,295 and is currently including 99% of Fortune 100 firms, region’s wealth of options for things to available in six cities, including Miami. and, in 2017, posted annual revenue see and do. of just under $3 billion. • Health care IT company Browse the eclectic galleries and Modernizing Medicine is on track Ultimate Software, a Southeast boutiques in Miami’s artsy Wynwood to create 838 jobs as it expands Florida fixture since 1990, develops neighborhood. Take an airboat operations in Boca Raton. Founded in software to manage time, labor, ride through the Everglades. Go 2010, the firm currently employs 550. payroll and other human resources beachcombing on Jupiter Island. Shop tasks. The Weston-based company • Belcan, a global supplier of for designer goods along Worth Avenue employs 1,700 workers in south engineering, technical recruiting and in Palm Beach and for outlet goods Florida and in 2018, topped Fortune IT services for the aerospace, defense at Sawgrass Mills. Get up close and magazine’s list of “Best Workplaces in and industrial sectors with more than personal with a giraffe at Zoo Miami, a Technology” for the third consecutive 8,000 employees worldwide, is adding rhino at Lion Country Safari or 20,000 year and its “100 Best Workplaces for 200 employees at its West Palm Beach butterflies at Butterfly World in Coconut Millennials” list in 2017 and 2018. location. Creek. Take a leisurely drive down U.S. 1

68 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com

SPONSORED REPORT

FLORIDA’S HOLLYWOOD ■ DESTINATION: DOWNTOWN For almost a century, downtown WHERE IS FLORIDA’S HOLLYWOOD? Florida’s Hollywood Hollywood and its iconic Young Circle have been both a bustling business hub is located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Transportation Timeless Charm, Modern Appeal and residential community. options include the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International

CIRC Hotel and Residences Airport and Port Everglades, Interstate 95, US-1 / Federal Highway From the downtown to the beach, Florida’s Hollywood is a timeless destination “Hollywood enjoys a and Florida’s Turnpike as well as Tri-Rail and Amtrak. enjoying a modern makeover for businesses, residents and a record number of multiplier effect where tourists. every new investment Downtown Hollywood boasts a thriving daytime population of young creative elevates the entire professionals and families escaping higher rents and congestion elsewhere in South downtown-to-beach Florida. They’re finding luxury living and traditional and unique office options like the soon-to-open co-working space Büro. corridor. From downtown Families and downsizing empty-nesters are discovering residential projects • CIRC Hotel and Residences. On businesses to our resort featuring concierges, valet parking, pools and fitness centers. Appetites are sated by the northeast side of Young Circle, properties, we’re riding restaurants like Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine, which owner John Anthony calls one this 111-room boutique hotel with a wave of confidence. of the area’s “unique places that draw in people of all ages.” Cultural options include 386 luxury rental apartments offers Cinema Paradiso art-house theater, the Art & Culture Center of Hollywood, the shopping, Olivia Restaurant & Bar And it shows.” and Muse Rooftop Bar & Lounge. 10-acre ArtsPark at Young Circle, galleries and the acclaimed Downtown Hollywood Part of this $200-million mixed-use Mural Project (DHMP). Jorge Camejo redevelopment is a new, modern, Executive Director Property owners, prospective developers and city leaders have invested close to a 48,000-square-foot Publix grocery Hollywood Community half-billion dollars in private- and public-sector projects encouraged by the financial store. Redevelopment Agency commitments made by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Additional incentives are available through the Federal Opportunity Zone program. Historic Great Southern Hotel

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort ■ DESTINATION: BEACH Hollywood boasts some six miles of beautiful Atlantic shoreline and a 2.5-mile Broadwalk pedestrian promenade. Beach projects include … • Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. The $147-million, 349-room resort hotel has reignited the beach • Historic Great Southern Hotel. This with record numbers of affluent travelers from across the iconic 1920s landmark will become the U.S., the Americas and Europe — even South Floridians face of the mixed-use development on looking for a weekend getaway. the southwest curve of Young Circle. The 19-story tower will feature a Hilton • Costa Hollywood Beach Resort. A celebrated spring Garden Inn, luxury apartments and opening delivered a 307-room resort hotel with studios ground-level retail. to three-bedroom suites ideal for families. The rooftop Beach & Downtown Development Opportunities Costa Hollywood Beach Resort pool deck and poolside restaurant/bar overlook both the • Parc Place. The conversion of the Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterway. historic Hollywood Bread Building on the southeast quadrant of Young Circle Vibrant Beachfront • Dynamic Downtown & Commercial Corridors • Diplomat Beach Resort. With a recent $100-million will bring luxury rental apartments, Located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale renovation and the addition of a 400-room hotel, this stores and a new parking garage. Easy access to I-95, international airport and seaport historic resort spans the ages like its pedestrian bridge spans A1A to the Intracoastal. From downtown to the beach, Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency • Street Improvements. Public upgrades include Florida’s Hollywood is bustling with 1948 Harrison Street, Hollywood, FL 33020 pedestrian crosswalks and widened sidewalks, lush tropical opportunity. For more information, 954.924.2980 • www.HollywoodCRA.org landscaping, increased lighting and buried utility lines. visit HollywoodCRA.org

HollywoodCRA-FINAL.indd All Pages 10/3/18 11:47 AM SPONSORED REPORT

HollywoodCRA-FINAL.indd All Pages 10/3/18 11:47 AM Southeast

to Key West for great history, A+ for academic excellence aviation management sunsets and underwater and ready availability. programs and one of only adventure — the world’s Twenty Southeast Florida four designated Cessna pilot third largest coral barrier reef high schools garnered gold training programs nationwide. system is just a few miles medals in U.S. News & World Health care in Florida's offshore. Play a round of golf, Report’s “2018 Best High Southeast is top-notch too. then watch the pros compete Schools” rankings; 10 were For the 15th consecutive in your favorite team sport; named among the top 125 year, Miami-based Bascom depending on the season, nationwide. Miami-Dade is Palmer Eye Institute was there’s football, hockey, this region’s largest school named best hospital for baseball, basketball, soccer district and fourth largest ophthalmology on U.S. and even polo here to enjoy. in the U.S. It is also one of News & World Report’s Best Or just sit beside the sea with the most improved. In 2017, Hospitals 2018-19. Also cited: a good book in one hand and two-thirds of all Miami-Dade Cleveland Clinic in Weston a con leche or Cuba libre in schools earned grades of A for gastroenterology (No. 25) the other. or B. and orthopedics (No. 42) and And speaking of the ocean, This region is also home to University of Miami Hospital Southeast Florida offers 20 not-for-profit institutions for ear, nose and throat plenty of open spaces and of higher education, including (No. 41). Two Miami-based natural wonders for your the University of Miami, hospitals were named among enjoyment too. This region ranked No. 46 on U.S. News the nation’s top 50 on U.S. boasts three national parks: & World’s Report’s “Best News & World Report’s Best Biscayne (surrounded by Colleges 2018” and No. 18 Children’s Hospitals 2018-19: water but within the Miami on its list of “Best Colleges Holtz Children’s Hospital for city limits); Everglades (just a for Veterans,” and Florida diabetes and endocrinology short drive west of the city); Atlantic University, which is and Nicklaus Children’s and Dry Tortugas (70 miles partnering with Max Planck Hospital for cardiology, from Key West and accessible Florida to launch a first-of-its- neonatology, neurology and only by boat or seaplane, kind undergraduate honors neurosurgery, orthopedics, but worth the trip). Also in program in neuroscience. pulmonology and urology. this region: some two dozen Also in this region: Nova Four Southeast counties state parks for hiking, fishing, Southeastern University, are among the top 10 kayaking, camping and more, began training M.D.s at its counties in Florida for health plus three of TripAdvisor’s new allopathic medical school outcomes according to a (top l to r) Broward Center for the Performing 2018 “Top 10 Travelers’ in fall 2018; Broward College, recent study. Rankings by Arts; Norton Museum of Art; International Polo Choice Beaches in the U.S.” — Club; Miami Marlins spring training; (left t to Indian River State College the University of Wisconsin South Beach in Miami-Dade b) Scuba diving near Fort Lauderdale; Flagler and Miami-Dade College, all Population Health Institute Arts & Technology (FAT) Village ArtsUp art County (No. 4) and Fort installation; Lion Country Safari finalists for the 2019 Aspen and Robert Wood Johnson Lauderdale and Hollywood Prize for Community College Foundation put Martin in beaches in Broward County Excellence; and Florida the No. 3 position statewide, (Nos. 6 and 8, respectively). Memorial University, offering followed by Miami-Dade at Southeast Florida's one of just 34 AABI accredited No. 5, Palm Beach at No. 8 and educational options earn an bachelor of science in Broward at No. 10.

72 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Follow the Leaders. Follow Florida Trend.

Follow the 250,000 business, government and civic leaders who rely on Florida Trend each month to deliver the latest news, information and developing trends in Florida business.

Subscribe now and receive a special introductory offer! floridatrend.com/subscribe South Central

PHOTO MATTHEW BAKER At a Crossroads uSouth Central offers the ideal environment for that is believed to be the first solar power generation. In 2009, in the U.S. to fully integrate Florida has no ocean Florida Power & Light chose to battery technology with a major coastline, no theme site the state’s first solar power solar power plant in an effort to parks. What it does plant — DeSoto Solar Energy increase overall energy output. Center — in this region. With For the Citrus plant, this means a have are wide open the addition of FPL’s Citrus Solar potential increase of more than spaces, quaint Energy Center in 2016 and its 500,000 kilowatt-hours delivered country charm and an Wildflower Solar Energy Center to the electric grid per year. In enviable geographic in 2018, DeSoto became Florida’s addition to immediate energy “solar capital,” generating more delivery, the system provides position: dead center. solar power than any other increased capacity to store COUNTIES Consequently, 86% of Florida’s county in the state. energy for dispatch to the grid at entire population is within a later time. •DESOTO A fourth FPL facility — a 150-mile radius via three Companies making everything •GLADES interstate highways, Florida’s Hammock Solar Energy Center — opened in Hendry County in from nutritional supplements HARDEE Turnpike, four U.S. highways and • 2018, further solidifying South to fertilizer have found the right •HENDRY the Okeechobee Waterway, a sites and a ready workforce system of navigable rivers and Central’s statewide preeminence •HIGHLANDS in renewable energy. With 74.5 in South Central Florida. Many canals linking Florida’s east manufacturers have chosen to megawatts of solar capacity •OKEECHOBEE and west coasts through Lake cluster at the 264-acre Hardee each, the Citrus, Wildflower and Okeechobee. This is Florida’s Commerce Park, offering Hammock plants collectively heartland, where citrus groves low-cost utilities, easy proximity generate enough electricity to and subtropical foliage thrive to rail and highway connections power 45,000 homes. alongside manufacturing — even a sheriff’s substation facilities and solar power plants. And while no new solar providing 24/7 security. It’s a great place to raise a family; facilities are planned for South Tenants and their products it’s an ever better place to grow Central, improvements at include: Seychelles Organics a business. existing facilities continue. (nutraceuticals); PFMan (rotary Thanks to an abundance of In early 2018, FPL unveiled a engine-powered generators available land and sunshine, solar-plus-storage system at for institutional use); Pacer Florida’s South Central region the Citrus Solar Energy Center Group (electrical supplies for

74 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com (l to r) Sunset Pier; Solomon's Castle; Solar panels; Streamsong Resort; Lake Okeechobee; Arcadia All Florida Championship Rodeo

boats); Florikan (controlled- And in Hendry County, a Streamsong Resort in Bowling “Granddaddy of Them All,” the release fertilizer) and KeyPlex former sugar cane refinery is Green; antiquing in Arcadia; four-day Arcadia All Florida (plant nutrients and biocontrol undergoing transformation into browsing among quirky Championship Rodeo, which products). Employment in the an aluminum recycling and sculptures made from “junk” draws some 30,000 riders and park is estimated at 400. manufacturing plant operated at Solomon’s Castle near their fans to DeSoto County by ATIO USA. Scheduled to begin Wauchula; clowning around in in March. In 2018, the event Manufacturers are finding operations in late 2018, the plant Lake Placid at a school where celebrated its 90th anniversary success next door in Highlands will convert scrap and waste dozens have trained; getting to in the newly constructed Mosaic County, too. CitraPac, maker aluminum into parts for the know the first Floridians from Arena; the 2019 event is set for of FruitPearls real fruit healthy global automobile industry and the things they left behind at March 7-10. One week later, snacks, is settling into its OEM suppliers. Big Cypress Seminole Indian the spotlight shifts to Highlands 44,000-sq.-ft. facility in Sebring. Reservation in Clewiston; County where sports cars, The firm’s President Gregg Called one of America’s top 10 and staying up past dark to along with their drivers and Harshman is a South Central most picturesque small towns by enjoy some of Florida’s best teams from 20 countries — plus native who brought his business theculturetrip.com, Sebring has stargazing at remote Kissimmee thousands of race enthusiasts to the region because, he says, snagged another honor. Using Prairie Preserve State Park. — gather for the “Mobil 1 “the operating costs are low, recent data on personal income Twelve Hours of Sebring” and the people are great.” At and the cost of living from the Enjoy a full calendar of endurance race. The race itself Sebring Multimodal Logistics Bureau of Economic Analysis, festivals too, many of which lasts just one day; the activities Center, a 2,000-acre commerce Business Insider named celebrate this region’s native surrounding it go on for four. The park adjacent to Sebring Sebring among its top 10 “Least flora and fauna, such as: swamp 67th annual event is scheduled Regional Airport, Diversified CPC Expensive Places to Live in cabbage (LaBelle); speckled perch for March 13–16, 2019. International is constructing a America” for 2018. And consider (Okeechobee); caladiums (Lake 6,000-sq.-ft. combined office this: A recent study conducted Placid); sour oranges (Lakeport); And just in case neither auto building and warehouse. The by Site Selection Group found and alligator hatching (Palmdale). race nor rodeo appeals, South Illinois-based manufacturer operating costs in Highlands Each spring, while most Central offers another four-day of specialty gases, aerosol County to be 10-15% lower than of the country is consumed event to consider. The annual propellants, alternative fuels, nearby metro areas. with brackets and basketball, outdoor Okeechobee Music NGL refrigerants and foam South Central is a slice of South Central presents its own & Arts Festival, which draws blowing agents plans to use the “old Florida” with plenty to see brand of “March Madness” in about 25,000 to an 800-acre facility as a distribution terminal and do: paddling down the the form of two iconic back- site in Okeechobee County, is to serve customers in the Peace River; circumnavigating to-back events: an auto race scheduled, rain or shine, for Caribbean. Lake Okeechobee; golfing at and a rodeo. Up first is the March 7-10, 2019.

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 75 Southwest

COUNTIES •CHARLOTTE •COLLIER •LEE

On the Fast Track uWith just three counties, Health care options for consumers are also growing here. The following facilities Southwest is Florida’s are either planned or currently under smallest region by land size, construction: but it carries a powerful • Lee Health Coconut Point, an 82-bed demographic punch. facility in Estero with an anticipated opening of December 2018. Fort Lee County is home to three of “2017’s Myers-based Lee Health is this region’s Fastest Growing Cities in America.” largest health care provider. FLAD ARCHITECTS Collier County has Florida’s highest per capita income — $80,252 in 2017 — • A yet-to-be named HCA 80-bed and Charlotte County, with its strategic acute care hospital in Estero. Nashville- location along I-75 between Tampa based HCA Healthcare currently operates and Miami, is a logistics epicenter for 15 hospitals along Florida’s Gulf coast its ready access to nearly 4 million including Fawcett Memorial Hospital in potential customers within 90 miles. Not Port Charlotte. surprisingly, many corporate headquarters • Braden Clinic Hospital, a 25-bed have found homes in Southwest Florida facility planned for Ave Maria and the along with robust clusters of firms first hospital to be sited in eastern Collier engaged in logistics, life sciences and County. technology/business services. • A combination ER and outpatient Global medical device manufacturer medical center in Bonita Springs by NCH Arthrex, a fixture in Collier County since Healthcare System, operator of the largest 1991, is expanding — again. Construction hospitals in Collier County. has begun on two of three buildings at the firm’s headquarters campus in Naples: the Globally minded distributors in six-story Arthrex Event and Administration Southwest Florida enjoy easy access to Building and the four-story INNovation domestic and international markets via Hotel to accommodate physicians who I-75, which puts five deepwater ports come to Naples for training in the use of within a half-day’s drive. This ready proximity to customers far and wide is (t to b) Fort Myers; Lee Memorial surgical devices developed at Arthrex. A rendering; Cheney Brothers; third building will house a medical clinic precisely the reason Cheney Brothers Arthrex and fitness facilities for Arthrex employees chose Punta Gorda as the site for its and their families. The full expansion is fifth distribution center in 2015. From a slated for completion in late 2019. 250,000-sq.-ft. facility along I-75, Cheney

76 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Global Eco-Entrepreneurs Enjoy Ease and Affordability in Cape Coral

WooBamboo! launched in Cape Coral in 2013 and its eco-friendly oral care products are now being sold in 14,000 stores across 30 countries.

Its bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable tooth floss and all-natural toothpaste are made in China, Italy and New York. The company oversees the shipment of 70,000 to 80,000 oral care products each month—but it’s a snap because orders are tracked electronically in real time. Products for the U.S. market are shipped to the company’s Cape Coral warehouse for distribution. “This is our world headquarters,” says Chief Operating Officer Steve Hyde. “We distribute around the country and world from here.”

Cape Coral is the headquarters for businesses fueled by logistics (239) 574-0444 because it’s a cost-effective location. WooBamboo! joins a diverse (833) CAPEEDO range of industries that have expanded their reach by choosing the [email protected] largest city in Southwest Florida as their operations base. bizcapecoral.com

Find out more about relocating or expanding to Cape Coral. Contact us today. Southwest

(l to r) Cape Coral; Brothers is able to readily and Technology and business services Ten Thousand Islands, Big Cypress Babcock Ranch; efficiently meet the demands of loom large in Southwest's economic Preserve and Everglades National Windsurfing; Nickel Ride; Punta Gorda foodservice providers throughout footprint too. With more than 1,200 Park; and miles of coastal waters Florida and beyond. employees at its Fort Myers office, for boating, beach combing, bird the tech research and advisory firm watching, swimming and kayaking. Two commercial airports serve Gartner has enjoyed a presence in this region and both are busier than Florida SouthWestern State this region for 20 years and, since ever. With 12 airlines and 28 gates, College — ranked one of the 2012, has expanded four times. Its Southwest Florida International nation’s “50 Best Community latest $21-million expansion is on Airport logged a record 8.8 million Colleges” by College Choice in 2017 track to create 600 jobs. passengers in 2017 and recently — offers degrees and certificate added three German cities to its Aviation software development programs at campuses in all three roster of destinations. And coming firm Flightdocs has relocated its Southwest Florida counties. Florida soon: a $160-million renovation and headquarters from Long Island, Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers expansion project to include new opening a 6,200-sq.-ft. technology offers 57 undergraduate and 29 security checkpoints and additional center in Bonita Springs. The firm, graduate degrees plus workshops space for concessions. which employs nearly 40 software and counseling for entrepreneurs developers and other technology on its 800-acre campus. Also in Punta Gorda Airport — with experts, provides customized Southwest Florida, two private just one airline, Allegiant — logged cloud-based aircraft maintenance universities: Hodges, with nearly 1.3 million passengers tracking, compliance and inventory campuses in Naples and Fort Myers, in 2017 for a 16% increase over management. CEO Rick Heine says and Ave Maria, a Catholic university the previous year. In June 2018, the move to Southwest Florida will and town created by Domino’s Pizza Allegiant launched non-stop service help his firm tap into “the area’s founder Tom Monaghan. to Nashville, bringing to 41 the abundant technology resources and number of mid-sized U.S. cities it Living in Florida's Southwest is talent.” serves. The airport also hosts many state-of-the-art. Babcock Ranch, aviation-related businesses and flight Southwest is a place people a 17,000-acre solar-powered schools, including Western Michigan really want to live and work. Three community straddling Charlotte University’s College of Aviation, of America’s top 15 fastest-growing and Lee counties, welcomed its which in fall 2017 opened a campus cities in 2017 according to personal first residents in January 2018. here for its bachelor’s program in finance website WalletHub are in When fully built, the community aviation flight science. Lee County: Lehigh Acres No. 3, Fort will consist of 19,500 residential Myers No. 7 and Cape Coral No. 15. units and 6 million square feet of Back on solid ground, urban commercial space. streets are easier to navigate since Businesses flock here too. Hertz, The Nickel Ride came to town in Arthrex, Chico’s FAS, Algenol Biofuels, And in downtown Punta Gorda, 2017. This fleet of electric vehicles Fox Electronics, Shaw Development construction is scheduled to begin zips around downtowns to shops, and 21st Century Oncology have all in fall 2018 on Allegiant Air Travel restaurants, resorts and events established corporate headquarters Company’s Sunseeker Resort within a three-mile radius, at no cost in Southwest Florida. Charlotte Harbor. The 22-acre to riders. The company makes its high-rise community will offer both And, once they get here, there’s money selling ads on and inside the resort accommodations in 275 hotel plenty to see and do: quaint shops vehicles, and local business owners rooms and 800+ condominium and galleries; symphony orchestras, pay drivers to act as their brand units overlooking the Gulf of Mexico theaters, festivals and museums; ambassadors. Nickel Ride is available as well as restaurants, bars, shops, spring training baseball in Fort Myers in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Punta a marina, fitness center, medical and Port Charlotte; natural wonders Gorda. facility and grocery/pharmacy. like Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary,

78 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com POINTS OF CONTACT / BUSINESS LEADERS Largest Public and Private Companies

Revenue Revenue Public Company Location (in billions) Employees Line of Business Private Company Location (in billions) Employees Line of Business

Computer Tech Data Clearwater $36.8 14,000 distribution Publix Super Markets Lakeland $34.6 190,000 Retail grocery stores H.I.G. Capital Petroleum Miami $18.6 300 Investment holding World Fuel Services Miami $33.7 5,000 products Management company distribution Southern Glazer's Wine Miami $18.2 21,500 Wine & spirits Fort & Spirits of America distributor AutoNation Lauderdale $21.5 26,000 Auto dealerships Sun Capital Boca Raton $16.1 135 Private investment Electronic Partners firm Jabil Circuit St. Petersburg $19.1 170,000 components manufacturing JM Family Deerfield $15.1 4,200 Automotive Enterprises Beach Carnival Corporation Miami $17.5 97,200 Cruise line Wireless device NextEra Energy Juno Beach $17.2 14,700 Energy provider Brightstar Miami $12.2 9,000 solutions & distribution Health insurance WellCare Health Plans Tampa $17.0 8,900 services West Palm Professional Oasis Outsourcing Beach $9.0 1,007 employment Residential organization Lennar Miami $12.6 9,111 construction Health care Florida Blue Jacksonville $8.9 11,500 equipment & CSX Jacksonville $11.4 24,000 Railroads services

Office products Southeastern Grocers Jacksonville $8.5 50,000 Supermarkets Office Depot Boca Raton $10.2 45,000 retail & distribution Agriculture/ West Palm consumer products/ Fanjul / Florida Crystals $5.4 2,200 Fidelity National Information Beach energy/tourism/ Jacksonville $9.1 53,000 technology real estate Information Services support services Davie $5.1 50,000 Lotteries/Native Car rental Hard Rock International American casinos Hertz Global Holdings Estero $8.8 37,000 business Electronic security ADT Boca Raton $4.3 18,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Miami $8.8 66,000 Cruise line provider Palm Beach Fidelity National $3.5 10,000 Automotive Jacksonville $7.7 24,367 Title insurance TBC Gardens Financial Chiquita Brands Fort $3.2 20,000 Food products Transportation International Lauderdale Ryder System Miami $7.3 36,100 services Daytona Darden Restaurants Orlando $7.2 175,000 Restaurants NASCAR Beach $3.0 1,500 Auto racing

Telecom North Palm Automotive Staluppi Auto Group $3.0 2,200 MasTec Coral Gables $6.6 17,300 infrastructure Beach dealership services South East Personnel Professional Raymond James Holiday $2.9 223 employment St. Petersburg $6.5 12,700 Financial services Leasing organization Financial Red Lobster Hospitality Orlando $2.6 58,000 Restaurants Telecom Harris Corporation Melbourne $5.9 17,000 equipment West Palm Energy petroleum development Oxbow Beach $2.5 1,100 products/fuel Norwegian Cruise line MBF Healthcare Miami $5.4 28,000 Coral Gables $2.4 10 Private Cruise Line Holdings operator Partners investment firm

Ranked by 2017 revenue. Companies listed are those with Florida-based headquarters; derived from Ranked by 2017 revenue. Companies listed are those with Florida-based headquarters; derived from data data collected for Florida Trend’s Public 125 list. ©Copyright 2018 Trend Magazines Inc. This list may not collected for Florida Trend’s Private 225 list. ©Copyright 2018 Trend Magazines Inc. This list may not be be reproduced in any format without written permission from the publisher. reproduced in any format without written permission from the publisher.

To purchase Florida Trend’s Top 125 Public Companies and Top 225 Private Companies lists with additional data not published here, go to www.floridatrend.com/toprank or call (727) 892-2643.

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 79 POINTS OF CONTACT / ASSISTANCE & FUNDING Business Incubators East Central Tampa Bay

Blackstone LaunchPad Orlando cel.ucf.edu/launchpad Catapult Lakeland catapultlakeland.com Burnout Game Ventures Winter Park burngameven.com Clearwater Business SPARK Clearwater clearwaterbusinessspark.com Catalyst Orlando catalystspaces.com Englewood Incubation Englewood englewoodincubationcenter.org Goldstein Business Accelerator Oviedo goldsteinaccelerator.com Center

Groundswell Startups Melbourne swellstartups.com Entrepreneur hillsboroughcounty.org/ Tampa locations/entrepreneur- GuideWell Innovation guidewellcenteratlakenona. Collaborative Center Orlando collaborative-center Center com Florida-Israel Lake Sumter State College Eustis, Tampa fiba.io lssc.edu/BOC Business Accelerator Business Incubator Groveland

Melbourne Makerspace Melbourne melbournemakerspace.org HuB Sarasota hubsarasota.com

MicaPlex Daytona Beach erau.edu/micaplex Small Business cfdc.org/startexpand/ Lakeland Assistance Center start-a-business National Entrepreneur Orlando nationalec.org Center SMARTstart Pasco Lutz smartstartpasco.com Business Incubator Seminole State College Business Incubation Sanford seminoleinc.com Spark Growth Bradenton sparkgrowth.net Program

Starter Studio Winter Park starterstudio.com Station 2 Innovation Bradenton station2innovation.com

TrepHub Melbourne trephub.com Tampa Bay Innovation St. Petersburg tbinnovates.com Center / TEC Garage Apopka, Central Florida Research Park, Daytona Beach Tampa Bay WaVE Tampa tampabaywave.org University of International Airport, Central Florida Business Kissimmee, Lake incubator.ucf.edu USF CONNECT Tampa usfconnect.org Incubation Program Nona, Orlando, Photonics (UCF Campus), Winter Springs North Central VentureScaleUp Orlando venturescaleup.com Power Plant Business Ocala powerplantincubator.com Melbourne, weventure.fit.edu Incubator weVENTURE Rockledge Santa Fe College Gainesville sfcollege.edu/cied/incubator Incubators Starke

innovate.research.ufl.edu/ Northwest Alachua Sid Martin Biotech sid-martin-biotech/ Business Innovation Center Panama City bicpc.com Starter Space Gainesville starterspace.com Co:Lab Pensacola colabpensacola.com

Domi Station Tallahassee domistation.com

business.fsu.edu/ Northeast Tallahassee InNOLEvation Center innolevation-center Beaver Street Enterprise Jacksonville bsecenter.net Millaway Institute for gulfcoast.edu/community/ Panama City Center Entrepreneurship millaway-institute Palm Coast Business Palm Coast bac.palmcoastgov.com TechFarms Panama City Beach techfarms.com Assistance Center

80 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Florida SBDC Network Southeast State designated as Florida’s principal provider EcoTech Visions Miami ecotechvisions.com of small business assistance, the Florida Endeavor Miami Coral Gables endeavormiami.org SBDC Network helps aspiring and existing businesses grow and succeed. Please contact FAU Tech Runway Boca Raton techrunway.fau.edu the region nearest you to find your local office. Florida Women’s Business Delray Beach flwbc.org Center

Fort Lauderdale, fi.co/s/fort_lauderdale Founder Institute Miami Florida A&M University (850) 599-3407 Tallahassee sbdcfamu.org GBDC Entrepreneurship Boynton Beach gbdcei.com Institute

HIATEC Hialeah hiatec.org Florida Gulf Coast University (239) 745-3700 Fort Myers fsbdcswfl.org Indian River State College Fort Pierce irscbiz.com Pioneer Incubator

Innovation Hub Fort Lauderdale broward.edu/innovationhub Florida Atlantic University (954) 762.5235 Broward and Palm Beach fau.edu/research/ Lauderhill International lauderhill-fl.gov/economic- sbdc Lauderhill development/international- Trade Incubator trade-incubator

The Launch Pad Coral Gables thelaunchpad.org Florida International University (305) 779-9230 Rokk3r Labs Miami rokk3rlabs.com Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties sbdc.fiu.edu

South Florida Accelerator Fort Lauderdale tsfa.co

Starthub Miami starthubcenters.com Indian River State College (772) 462-4942 Fort Pierce irscbiz.com StartUP FIU Miami startup.fiu.edu

Startup Miami Miami startup-miami.com University of Central Florida (407) 420-4850 Technology Business Boca Raton www.research-park.org Orlando sbdcorlando.com Incubator

Delray Beach, TED Centers Hollywood, tedcenter.org University of North Florida (904) 620-2476 West Palm Beach Jacksonville sbdc.unf.edu Venture Hive Miami venturehive.com

University of South Florida (813) 905-5800 Southwest Tampa sbdctampabay.com

ARCEO Soft Landing Naples arceo.us Incubator University of West Florida (850) 474-2528 Naples Accelerator Naples naplesaccelerator.com Pensacola sbdc.uwf.edu The Rocket Lounge Fort Myers therocketlounge.com

Southwest Florida Fort Myers swflenterprisecenter.com Enterprise Center

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 81 POINTS OF CONTACT / ASSISTANCE & FUNDING Venture Capital Firms

Don’t miss an AdvancedStage Capital Naples www.advancedstagecapital.com issue! Antares Capital (Florida) Miami www.antarescapital.com Arc Capital Development Sarasota www.arccd.com Daily news and Ark Applications Lutz www.arkapps.com Axioma Ventures Tampa www.axiomaventures.com

key industry Ballast Point Ventures Tampa www.ballastpointventures.com updates keep Cito Ventures Miami www.citoventures.com ClearSky Security North Palm Beach www.clear-sky.com

you in the know. FAN Fund Orlando www.thefan.fund

Florida Funders Tampa www.floridafunders.com > DAILY PULSE & Forefront Venture Partners Boca Raton www.forefrontvp.com AFTERNOON UPDATE H.I.G. BioHealth Partners Miami www.higbio.com John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Miami www.knightfoundation.org > HEALTH CARE Kaplan Ventures Fort Lauderdale www.kaplanventures.com > EDUCATION Las Olas Venture Capital Fort Lauderdale www.lasolasvc.com Marc Bell Capital Partners Boca Raton www.marcbell.com

> REAL ESTATE Miami Angels Miami www.miamiangels.vc > MOVERS & INFLUENCERS Miro Ventures Boca Raton www.miroventures.com Montrose Capital Partners Miami www.montrosecapital.com

New World Angels Boca Raton www.newworldangels.com

PGA Fund Palm Beach Gardens www.pga.org

Phyto Partners Boca Raton www.phytopartners.com

Pinemount Investments Orlando NA

Proton Perlmutter Ventures Naples www.protonenterprises.com

Responder Ventures Jupiter www.respondercorp.com

Six Fold Ventures Orlando www.sixfoldventures.com

SK Ventures Sarasota www.skvcap.com

Starlight Ventures Miami www.starlight.vc

StartUp Nation Ventures Orlando www.sunv.io

Tamiami Angel Funds Naples www.tamiamiangels.com

TheVentureCity Miami www.theventure.city

Ocala www.vestechpartners.com Sign-up is Vestech Partners f r e e a n d e a s y a t Westlake Ventures Saint Petersburg www.westlakeventures.net ﬂ oridatrend.com/alerts Compiled from information supplied by PitchBook Data (pitchbook.com) and the Florida Venture Forum (flventure.org). List includes venture capital firms and select angel investor groups making investments in the past 12 months. ©Copyright 2018 Trend Magazines Inc. This list may not be reproduced in any format without written permission from the publisher.

82 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com POINTS OF CONTACT / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Economic Developers One of the unique aspects about Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) — the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida — is its ability to forge strong partnerships, not only between business and government, but on state and local levels as well. These partners, all of which are listed here, are important because they provide the basis for achieving better coordination and outcomes for the state’s economic development efforts. Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) members representing city and county governments are also listed here. The 500+ total members of FEDC engage business and government leaders in key economic development initiatives that improve local communities and elevate Florida’s global competitiveness. FEDC members are subject matter experts in economic, workforce and community development, with extensive experience in helping companies establish and thrive in Florida. Regional economic development organizations are listed first; EFI’s regional and county partners are indicated by an asterisk.

SEMINOLE COUNTY LAFAYETTE COUNTY East Central Seminole County, Economic North Central Lafayette County Development Northeast Development* Authority* 1055 AAA Drive, Suite 145 120 W. Main St. BREVARD COUNTY North Florida Economic BAKER COUNTY Heathrow, FL 32746 Mayo, FL 32066 Economic Development Development Partnership* Baker County Development (407) 665-7134 (386) 294-1600 Commission of Florida’s 3200 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 7 Commission* seminolecountyfl.gov lafayetteclerk.com Space Coast* Tallahassee, FL 32303 20 E. Macclenny Ave. 6525 3rd Street, Suite 304 City of Casselberry (850) 487-1870 LEVY COUNTY Macclenny, FL 32063 Rockledge, FL 32955 (407) 262-7700, ext. 1106 nflp.org Levy County Nature Coast Business (904) 259-6433 (321) 638-2000 choosebakercountyfl.com City of Lake Mary ALACHUA COUNTY Development Council* spacecoastedc.org P.O. Box 532 (407) 585-1426 Gainesville Council for Economic CLAY COUNTY Inglis, FL 34449 City of Cocoa Outreach* Clay County Economic City of Longwood (352) 447-4107, ext. 108 (321) 433-8525 300 E. University Ave., Suite 100 Development Corporation* (407) 260-3462 Gainesville, FL 32601 naturecoast.org 1845 Town Center Blvd., Suite 110-B City of Titusville City of Sanford (352) 334-7100 MADISON COUNTY Fleming Island, FL 32003 (321) 567-3775 (407) 688-5015 gainesvillechamber.com/economic- Madison County Development (904) 375-9394 development chooseclay.com North Brevard Economic Seminole County Government Council* Development Zone (407) 665-7135 BRADFORD COUNTY 229 S.W. Pinckney St. DUVAL COUNTY (321) 264-6750 North Florida Regional Madison, FL 32340 SUMTER COUNTY JAXUSA Partnership* Chamber of Commerce* (850) 973-3179 LAKE COUNTY 3 Independent Drive Sumter County Economic 100 E. Call St. madisonfldevelopment.com Jacksonville, FL 32202 Elevate Lake Economic Development* Starke, FL 32091 MARION COUNTY (904) 366-6652 Development* 7375 Powell Rd. (904) 964-5278 Ocala/Marion County Chamber jaxusa.org 20763 U.S. Hwy. 27 Wildwood, FL 34785 northfloridachamber.com Groveland, FL 34736 (352) 689-4400 & Economic Partnership* Jacksonville Office of Economic (352) 742-3918 sumterbusiness.com COLUMBIA COUNTY 310 S.E. 3rd St. Development businessinlakefl.com Columbia County Economic Ocala, FL 34471 (904) 630-1858 VOLUSIA COUNTY Development Department* (352) 629-8051 City of Tavares Northeast Florida Regional Council Volusia County Division of 971 W. Duval Street, Suite 150 ocalacep.com (352) 742-6402 (904) 279-0880 Economic Development* Lake City, FL 32055 SUWANNEE COUNTY 700 Catalina Drive, Suite 200 (386) 758-1033 FLAGLER COUNTY ORANGE COUNTY Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Suwannee County Economic edcolumbiacountyfl.com Flagler County Department Orlando Economic Partnership* (386) 248-8048 Development Office* of Economic Opportunity* 301 E. Pine St., Suite 900 floridabusiness.org DIXIE COUNTY 13302 80th Terrace 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Orlando, FL 32801 Dixie County, Economic Live Oak, FL 32060 City of Debary Bunnell, FL 32110 (407) 422-7159 Development* (386) 364-1700 (386) 313-4071 orlando.org (386) 601-0221 56 N.E. 205 Ave. floridasnewfrontier.com flaglercountyedc.com Orange County Office of Economic, City of DeLand Cross City, FL 32628 TAYLOR COUNTY City of Palm Coast Trade & Tourism Development (386) 626-7021 (352) 498-1426 Taylor County Development dixie.fl.gov (386) 986-3796 (407) 836-7370 City of Deltona Authority* GILCHRIST COUNTY 103 E. Ellis Street NASSAU COUNTY Prospera (386) 878-8619 Gilchrist Economic Perry, FL 32347 (407) 428-5872 City of Ormond Beach Nassau County Economic Advisory Council* (850) 584-5627 Development Board* (386) 676-3266 floridasrisingstar.com OSCEOLA COUNTY 209 S.E. 1st St. 76346 William Burgess Blvd. Team Volusia Economic Osceola County Economic Trenton, FL 32693 UNION COUNTY Yulee, FL 32097 Development Corporation Development* (352) 463-3198 Union County Board of County (904) 548-4460 3 Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor (386) 267-6590 gilchristeconomics.com Commissioners* nassauflorida.com Kissimmee, FL 34741 HAMILTON COUNTY 15 N.E. 1st St. PUTNAM COUNTY (407) 742-4521 Hamilton County Development Lake Butler, FL 32054 Putnam County Chamber of osceola.org Authority* (386) 496-4241 Commerce* City of Kissimmee 1153 U.S. Hwy. 41 N.W., Suite 4 unioncounty-fl.gov 1100 Reid Street (407) 518-2307 Jasper, FL 32052 Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 792-6828 (386) 328-1503 City of St. Cloud hamiltoncda.org putnamcountychamber.com (407) 957-8427

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 83 POINTS OF CONTACT / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ST. JOHNS COUNTY GULF COUNTY WAKULLA COUNTY OKEECHOBEE COUNTY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY St. Johns County Board of County Gulf County Economic Wakulla County Chamber Okeechobee County Board of The Beacon Council* Commissioners* Development Coalition* of Commerce* County Commissioners* 80 S.W. 8th St., Suite 2400 500 San Sebastian View 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., 23 High Drive 304 N.W. 2nd St., Room 123 Miami, FL 33130 St. Augustine, FL 32084 Room 312 Crawfordville, FL 32327 Okeechobee, FL 34972 (305) 579-1300 (904) 209-0552 Port St. Joe, FL 32456 (850) 926-1848 (863) 763-6441 beaconcouncil.com wakullacountychamber.com sjcfl.us/economicdevelopment (850) 229-6144 co.okeechobee.fl.us City of Coral Gables gulfcountyedc.com St. Johns County WALTON COUNTY Chamber of Commerce of (305) 446-6800 Chamber of Commerce Economic Okeechobee County HOLMES COUNTY Walton County Economic City of Hialeah Development Council Development Alliance* (863) 467-6246 Holmes County Development (305) 883-8040 (904) 892-6478 Commission* 76 N. Sixth St. 106 E. Byrd Ave. Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 City of Miami Beach, Community Bonifay, FL 32425 (850) 892-4859 and Economic Development (850) 547-6154 wcedafl.com Southeast (305) 416-2080 Northwest holmescountyonline.com WASHINGTON COUNTY Miami-Dade County Industrial JACKSON COUNTY Washington County Chamber BROWARD COUNTY Development Authority Florida’s Great Northwest* Jackson County Economic of Commerce* Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance* (305) 579-0070 100 College Blvd., Building 30 P.O. Box 457. 110 E. Broward Blvd. Development Committee* MONROE COUNTY Niceville, FL 32578 4318 Lafayette St. Chipley, FL 32428 Suite 1990 (850) 729-6847 Marianna, FL 32446 (850) 638-4157 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce* floridasgreatnorthwest.com (850) 526-4005 washcomall.com (954) 524-3113 12222 Overseas Hwy. Opportunity Florida jacksonedc.com gflalliance.org * Marathon, FL 33050 Broward County Office of Economic 4636 Highway 90, Suite K JEFFERSON COUNTY (305) 743-5417 Marianna, FL 32446 & Small Business Development Jefferson County Economic floridakeysmarathon.com (850) 633-4118; (850) 633-4119 South Central (954) 357-6400 Development Council* opportunityflorida.com PALM BEACH COUNTY 492 Walnut St. City of Coral Springs Business Development Board BAY COUNTY Monticello, FL 32344 Florida’s Heartland Economic (954) 346-6996 Region of Opportunity* of Palm Beach County* Bay County Economic (850) 997-7999 304 N.W. 2nd St., Room 123 City of Deerfield Beach 310 Evernia St. Development Alliance* jeffersoncountyedc.org Okeechobee, FL 34972 (954) 480-4263 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 5230 West Highway 98 LEON COUNTY (863) 697-6325 (561) 835-1008 Panama City, FL 32401 City of Fort Lauderdale Tallahassee-Leon County Office flaheartland.com bdb.org (850) 215-9965 (954) 828-6430 of Economic Vitality* bayeda.com DESOTO COUNTY ST. LUCIE COUNTY 315 S. Calhoun St., Suite 450 City of Lauderdale Lakes CALHOUN COUNTY Tallahassee, FL 32301 DeSoto County Economic (954) 535-2490 Economic Development Council Development Office* of St. Lucie County* Calhoun County Chamber (850) 219-1060 201 E. Oak St., Suite 201 City of Miramar 500 N.W. California Blvd. of Commerce* oevforbusiness.org Arcadia, FL 34266 (954) 602-3248 Building F, Suite 109 20816 Central Ave. E., Suite 2 Leon County Research & (863) 993-4800 Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 Blountstown, FL 32424 City of North Lauderdale Development Authority teamdesoto.com (772) 336-6250 (850) 674-4519 (850) 575-0343 (954) 724-7069 youredc.com calhounco.org GLADES COUNTY City of Sunrise LIBERTY COUNTY St. Lucie Government ESCAMBIA COUNTY Glades County Economic (954) 746-3430 Liberty County Chamber Development Council* (772) 462-1791 FloridaWest Economic of Commerce* 998 South U.S. Hwy. 27 Hollywood Community Development Alliance* 11493 Summers Rd. Moore Haven, FL 33471 Redevelopment Agency 3 W. Garden St., Suite 618 Bristol, FL 32321 (863) 946-0300 (954) 924-2980 Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 643-2359 gladescountyedc.com Southwest (850) 898-2201 libertycountyflorida.com INDIAN RIVER COUNTY floridawesteda.com HARDEE COUNTY Indian River Economic OKALOOSA COUNTY Southwest Florida Economic FRANKLIN COUNTY Hardee County Economic Development* Economic Development Council Development Council* 1216 21st St. Development Alliance* Franklin County Board of of Okaloosa County* 107 E. Main St. Vero Beach, FL 32960 4984 Royal Gulf Circle County Commissioners* 1170 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Wauchula, FL 33873 (772) 567-3491 Fort Myers, FL 33966 33 Market St., Suite 305 Building 7, Suite 717 (863) 773-3030 indianrivered.com (239) 208-7627 Apalachicola, FL 32320 swfleda.com Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 hardeebusiness.com (850) 653-9783 MARTIN COUNTY (850) 362-6467 CHARLOTTE COUNTY franklincountyflorida.com HENDRY COUNTY Business Development Board florida-edc.org Charlotte County Economic GADSDEN COUNTY Hendry County Economic of Martin County* SANTA ROSA COUNTY Development Council* 1002 S.E. Monterey Commons Blvd., Development Partnership* Gadsden County Development Santa Rosa County Economic 644 S. Main St. Suite 207 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 302 Council* Development Office* LaBelle, FL 33935 Stuart, FL 34996 Port Charlotte, FL 33948 221 Madison St. 6491 Caroline St., Suite 4 (863) 396-3140, (239) 204-5125 (772) 221-1380 (941) 764-4941 Quincy, FL 32351 cleared4takeoff.com Milton, FL 32570 hendryedc.com yesmartinfl.com (850) 627-0452 (850) 623-0174 COLLIER COUNTY gadsdenfldev.com HIGHLANDS COUNTY Economic Council of Martin County santarosaedo.com Collier County Economic Highlands County Economic (772) 288-1225 City of Chattahoochee Escambia River Electric Cooperative Development Office* Development* (850) 663-4046 2390 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 210 (850) 675-4521 501 S. Commerce Ave. Naples, FL 34103 City of Gretna Sebring, FL 33870 (239) 403-2914 (850) 856-5257 (863) 402-6924, (850) 402-6906 highlandsedc.com collieredo.org

84 BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 www.BusinessFlorida.com Business Florida 2019 Advertiser Directory Collier County Office of Business PASCO COUNTY These businesses and organizations have the resources and expertise to meet and Economic Development Pasco Economic Development (239) 252-8990 Council* your business expansion and location needs. Their messages in Business Florida 2019 demonstrate their support of Florida’s economic development initiatives Greater Naples Chamber of 16506 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 101 Commerce Lutz, FL 33558 and their commitment to making Florida a great place to live, play, learn, work (813) 926-0827 and do business. They’re ready to assist in your success. (239) 262-6376 pascoedc.com LEE COUNTY PINELLAS COUNTY Lee County Economic Pinellas County Economic Advertiser Website Page Development Office* Development* 2201 Second St., Suite 500 13805 58th St. N., Suite 1-200 AT&T att.com 27 Fort Myers, FL 33901 Clearwater, FL 33760 (239) 533-6800 (727) 464-7332 Business Development Board leecountybusiness.com www.YesMartinFL.com 69 pced.org of Martin County Bonita Springs Chamber of City of Clearwater Commerce Business Development Board (727) 562-4220 bdb.org/InnovationLocation 21 (239) 992-2943 Palm Beach County City of Largo City of Cape Coral (727) 587-6700 CFDC.ORG 59 (239) 574-0444 Central Florida Development Council City of Pinellas Park (727) 369-5618 City of Cape Coral bizcapecoral.com 77 City of St. Petersburg Economic Enterprise Florida Inc. floridathefutureishere.com/markets 4-5 Tampa Bay Development (727) 893-7100 Florida Ports Council flaports.org 17 CITRUS COUNTY City of Tarpon Springs Florida Small Business Economic Development Authority FloridaSBDC.org 3 for Citrus County* (727) 943-4932 Development Centers Network 915 N. Suncoast Blvd. St. Petersburg Area Economic Crystal River, FL 34429 Development Corporation PoweringFlorida.com FPL 7 & 11 (352) 795-2000 (727) 460-6611 FPL.com/BizEasyToSave edacitrus.com POLK COUNTY Gainesville Area HERNANDO COUNTY www.gainesvillechamber.com 48-49 Central Florida Development Chamber of Commerce & CEO Hernando County Office of Council* Economic Development* 5908 Hillside Heights Drive Hollywood Community 15800 Flight Path Drive Lakeland, FL 33812 www.HollywoodCRA.org 70-71 Brooksville, FL 34604 (863) 937-4430 Redevelopment Agency (352) 540-6400 cfdc.org hernandobusiness.com JAXPORT JAXPORT.COM 63 City of Lakeland, Community and HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY Economic Development JAXUSA jaxusa.org 65 Tampa Hillsborough Economic (863) 834-8432 Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital HopkinsinFL.org 31 Development Corporation* Haines City Economic Development 101 East Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1750 Council Tampa, FL 33602 Kissimmee Medical Arts District KissimmeeMedicalArts.org 43 (863) 422-2525 (813) 218-3300 tampaedc.com Lakeland Economic Development Miami International Airport www.miami-airport.com Back Cover Council Hillsborough County Economic Inside Front (863) 687-3788 Orlando International Airport OrlandoAirports.net Development Cover (813) 272-7232 Lake Wales Area Chamber of Plant City Economic Development Commerce & EDC Osceola County neocityfl.com 41 Corporation (863) 676-3445 OUC The Reliable One OUCPOWERSGROWTH.COM 45 (813) 756-7140 SARASOTA COUNTY Tampa Bay Trade & Protocol Council Economic Development Pasco Economic Development Council WWW.PASCOEDC.COM 58 (813) 276-9457 Corporation of Sarasota County* 1680 Fruitville Rd., Suite 402 Port Everglades porteverglades.net 37 MANATEE COUNTY Sarasota, FL 34236 Bradenton Area Economic (941) 309-1200 Port Tampa Bay WWW.PORTTB.COM 55 Development Corporation* edcsarasotacounty.com 4215 Concept Court City of North Port Space Florida SPACEFLORIDA.GOV 28-29 Bradenton, FL 34211 (941) 429-7029 St. Petersburg Area (941) 803-9030 BecomeStPete.com 56 bradentonareaedc.com Economic Development Corporation Manatee County Economic Tampa Hillsborough Development Tampaedc.com 57 (941) 749-4501, ext. 6832 Economic Development Corp. University of Central Florida ucf.edu 1 University of Florida research.ufl.edu/trend 32-33 Visit Tampa Bay MakeItTampaBay.com 15 Weyerhaeuser weyerhaeuser.com/land/develpment-projects 19

www.BusinessFlorida.com BUSINESS FLORIDA | 2019 85 Your Global Outreach

It all begins at Miami International Airport, Florida’s Global Gateway: • Over 21 million international travelers yearly. • Non-stop flights to 81 Latin America & Caribbean cities, and 23 cities in Europe & the Middle East. • Multiple-daily connections to/from Florida’s cities.

Enhance your global outreach. Fly MIA.

Florida’s Global Gateway

www.miami-airport.com iflyMIA | [email protected]

Photo Courtesy: Felipe Galvez

03567 PAX Serives Ad Florida Trend - 8_125x10_75.indd 1 8/29/2018 11:20:42 AM