There is a reason that Orlando has been named among the nation's best locations for minority-owned businesses. This young, dynamic community embraces novel ideas,
diverse perspectives and new faces. Look closer! You'll see why forward-thinking companies, visionary entrepreneurs and talented workers from all walks of life come to Orlando to find opportunity and success.

From a nurturing entrepreneurial environment, to a diverse and economically thriving marketplace, to a can't-be-beat quality of life, Orlando has the assets and features that are drawing people of all ethnic backgrounds from all over the globe.

• Recently ranked as the third fastest growing metro area for the African-American and Asian-American populations.
• Ranks third in the nation for African-American net migration; minorities make up one-third of Central Florida's population.
• By 2020, nearly half of the region's residents will be African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American.
• Numerous Orlando-based companies, including Walt Disney World Resorts, Darden Restaurants and Lockheed Martin, are national leaders in providing diversity programs and initiatives.
• Orlando is considered a "Melting Pot", which is defined by the Census as a region with more than one minority group overrepresented and a white population smaller than 67.4% of the population.

Metro Orlando is a region on the move for African-American entrepreneurs and business leaders with more than 11,000 black-owned businesses currently operating here. Many of our most successful businesses are led by African Americans, including:

• Ronald Blocker - superintendent, Orange County Public Schools
• Brian Butler - president and CEO of JCB Construction
• Mark Glover - president and CEO of M & S Enterprises LLC
• Tony Jenkins - market president, Central Florida of Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida
• Robert Johnson -- founder of Black Entertainment Television, acquired Metro Bank in Orlando and renamed it Urban Trust, the first branch of a network that will serve African-American communities nationwide.
• Avido Khahaifa - senior vice president and general manager, Orlando Sentinel Communications
• Derek Lewis - senior vice president and general manager, Pepsi Bottling Corporation
• William Miller, Jr. - president and shareholder - Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A.
• Clarence Otis -- CEO of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, the largest casual dining company in the world, a Fortune 500 company and recently named as "one of the best companies for diversity" by Black Enterprise Magazine.
• Ronald Rogers - African-American Chamber of Commerce
• Mark Russell -- managing editor of the Orlando Sentinel.

Click here to read more.

The Metro Orlando EDC believes it's important to even further diversify our region. That's why we started the Minority Channel initiative - it's aimed at recruiting minority-owned and led businesses to Metro Orlando. And, that is exactly what we'll be doing this weekend during the Florida Classic Game. This provides the opportunity for the EDC team to spend time with several c-suite executives interested in expansion opportunities. Similar EDC activities target other minority owned and led businesses on an ongoing basis.

The Metro Orlando EDC was recently recognized for our Minority Channel Initiative in the 2009 Beacon Awards which honor Central Florida organizations and leaders who make workforce diversity a priority.

In addition to the Metro Orlando EDC, several organizations assist in enhancing the local environment for minority-owned businesses:

• African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
• Black Business Investment Fund
• Florida Minority Supplier Development Council
• Metropolitan Orlando Urban League
• Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance

Doctor's offices throughout Lake County will be the testing ground for a new online physician referral service that could one day soon set the standard for patient referrals and monitoring. Visions@Work - a Clermont-based company that develops custom software - has a new product called Preffer, which they have offered free for one year to physicians throughout the county. The Preffer software has also been given to Lake-Sumter Community College for use in LSCC's new pilot training program for Electronic Health Records Support Technician.

Believe it or not, paper referrals are still the norm among doctors, a reality that can make tracking of patient care difficult once they are referred to a specialist. Visions@Work's online referral service eliminates manual system inefficiencies by allowing physicians to electronically manage referrals.

With one in six workers employed in the healthcare industry, Lake County rivals other major metros known for medical services. That makes this Central Florida community an optimal testing ground for a medical advancement which could ultimately lead to cost savings, improved patient satisfaction and stronger provider relationships throughout the healthcare industry, both here and worldwide.

This unique partnership was the brainchild of the EDC's Lake County Economic Development Advisory Council. The Council's Health and Wellness sub-committee identified the need to assist our healthcare community with electronic health record requirements and training that were legislated in 2004, and the Council's marketing and workforce sub-committees helped them connect to Visions@Work.

According to Dr. Chuck Mojock, President of LSCC and Chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Council: "The project, which is funded through WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA's New & Emerging Industries Program, is a perfect example of creating partnerships that are win-win-win. Everyone benefits from the collaboration."

Several events of the past week reinforce again why Metro Orlando is so often envied for its unique collaborations; and how the University of Central Florida has earned its reputation as a leading "partnership university".

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer helped UCF Provost Terry Hickey welcome UF President Bernie Machen to downtown Orlando's growing "Creative Village" last week. Together they officially opened Citylab-Orlando, a research and teaching center from UF's College of Design, Construction and Planning, that will collaborate with UCF faculty. The new program - which is already involved with local urban design projects including redesigning space under Interstate 4 (dubbed "Orlando's Bridge District") - will be housed within UCF's Center for Emerging Media located in the former Orlando ExpoCentre in downtown Orlando. According to Dr. Machen: "Orlando has a special place in this state and indeed the nation. What's emerging here is a new fusion of culture, commerce, imagination and industry."

The fusion continued as Valencia Community College and UCF dedicated a new shared facility that allows the nation's third largest university to further expand its offerings on the west side of Orlando. The $23 million, three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility, located on Valencia's West Campus, accommodates classes offered by both institutions, with more than 40 classrooms, a state-of-the-art testing center, computer labs, study rooms, faculty/staff offices and a café. With this opening, UCF now offers complete bachelor's degrees in Nursing, Electrical Engineering, Applied Science, Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology through the campus on south Kirkman Road. Valencia's engineering programs are also housed in the building.

The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) - a national non-profit organization headquartered in Orlando that is dedicated to promoting
public health - has developed a planning tool to help business owners and managers prepare their companies and employees for the impact of the H1N1 flu virus and other natural and man-made disasters. Titled the Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness Plan, this tool was developed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind. It provides a brief but thorough process for thinking through strategies to handle impacts of a flu outbreak, or any other situation disruptive to standard business operations. To download the planning document, click here.

Founded in 1990 by the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, EMLRC provides continuing education and training to more than 5,000 EMS professionals each year. The company, a recognized leader in the growing field of medical simulation, also operates SimLab, one of the nation's first Mobile Simulation Laboratories which is designed to provide training in a simulated ER and ambulance environment on wheels. Below, CEO Beth Brunner explains what the company does and gives a tour of SimLab.

Going green is not only good for the planet, according to a new study completed for Orange County, it's also good for the job market.

Clean Technology - an emerging field focused on technology innovations that reduce environmental impacts - is a $284 billion global market that is expected to reach over $1.3 trillion by 2017. Recognizing the potential of this emerging industry to economic growth and job creation, Central Florida is among regions worldwide working to develop a cleantech cluster.

Establishing a game plan to accomplish that task was the purpose of the Orange County Cleantech Study, which was authored by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness. The report proposes a 17-point action plan, including the following: increase access to capital by creating targeted cleantech funds; create grants as incentives for research and commercialization of new technologies; enact comprehensive green building codes and ordinances; and expand partnerships within the community, including establishment of a Cleantech Leadership Council and Green Jobs Committee.

In issuing the report, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty noted that existing support for the industry on a local and statewide level, natural resources, and award-winning research facilities (such as UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center) already located in Central Florida will contribute to the county's goal of making this region a hub for cleantech. Emphasizing the long term job creation potential of this strategy, the Mayor added: "We can turn green into gold."

John Lewis, Orange County economic development administrator, added: "Cleantech is the next wave of innovation and job creation in the country. Regions that take advantage of that are going to be successful."

To view a copy of the study, click here.

No, we're not talking holidays...we're talking commercials! Fall officially kicks off the season during which companies and ad agencies from all over descend on Metro Orlando to shoot television commercials. Why, you ask? Because, unlike up north where the leaves have started to change, the leaves here in Orlando stay green year-round. That's good for commercial production since locations in Orlando can represent any season of the year!

As a result, film permit requests have been flowing into the EDC's Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Office. Recent commercials shot here include: Bright House, Stein Mart, Orlando Health, Rooms To Go, TD Ameritrade, Gillette, Bush's Baked Beans, Cracker Barrel, Honda Boats, Snickers, BOSE, NBC Sunday Night Football Open and David Maus Toyota, to name a few.

"Florida's investment in the life science industry is now paying back like our own economic stimulus package," said Dr. John Reed, president & CEO, Burnham Institute for Medical Research. Dr. Reed went on to thank the community and state leaders for making his and other life science research institutes' location in Florida possible. His remarks came during the official dedication of Burnham's Lake Nona campus this week.

(left to right) Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty; Dr. John Reed; Raesesh Thakker; Malin Burnham; Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Dr. Dan Kelly

Hundreds of business and community leaders gathered to celebrate as the first facility in the new Medical City at Lake Nona became fully operational. In addition to Reed, dedication speakers included Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty; Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing partner of the Tavistock Group; Malin Burnham, philanthropist and chairman of Burnham's Board of Trustees; and Dr. Daniel Kelly, scientific director at Burnham Lake Nona.

(left to right) Burnham's George T. Lucier, Dr. John Reed, and Dr. Dan Kelly

After the dedication, attendees toured the new 175,000-square-foot scientific facility, which will ultimately house 30 head researchers plus 300 scientists and staff. The Lake Nona facility will focus, in particular, on advances in combating diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Already the state-of-the-art facility includes an ultra-high throughput screening center, one of only four NIH-funded comprehensive chemical screening centers in the country, complete with three robotic arms capable of conducting more than one million experiments per day. These sophisticated tools, along with a commitment to collaborative research, will enable Burnham scientists to move discoveries from bench to bedside more quickly than ever before.

Burnham's gratitude and commitment to this community came through loud and clear; while Central Florida's pride in this accomplishment - which, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reminded us, had happened within a span of just three years- was evident and widespread. Perhaps Rasesh Thakker, Senior Managing Director of Tavistock Group, summed it up best: "Today we revel in what has been accomplished."

Here, Dr. John Reed explains Orlando's spirit of collaboration impressed the Burnham Institute.

Darden Restaurants, a Fortune 500 company, recently celebrated the opening of their new 469,000-square-foot headquarters operation in south Orange County.

Well known for its commitment to its people, the company's three-story building, situated on a 57-acre campus, is designed to maximize staff performance, interactions and efficiencies. It will house 1,300 Darden employees who provide support to nearly 1,800 Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 restaurants throughout North America.

Joining in the ribbon cutting were (left to right): Bob Abberger, Trammell Crow Company; Jim Lawrence, Darden; Mayor Crotty, Orange County; Clarence Otis, Darden; Drew Madsen, Darden; Mayor Dyer, City of Orlando; Don Reynolds, Perkins+Will; and Steve Rivers, Hardin Construction.

The new facility is also designed to maximize energy efficiencies. Development partners Hardin Construction, Trammell Crow and Perkins+Will developed the building in accordance with Gold LEED certification for new construction from the United States Green Building Council. Upon final certification, Darden's corporate headquarters will become the largest LEED Gold NC building in Florida. Construction elements include use of high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems; an automatic lighting system that dims or brightens according to the amount of sunlight entering the building; increased use of natural light made possible by a 114,000 square-foot glass curtainwall exterior; a highly reflective roof system that helps maintain the building's interior temperature; restrooms and irrigation systems using reclaimed water; and use of native trees, plants and grasses that require minimal water.

The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) has elected its 2009-2010 officers and Board of Directors.

Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resorts, takes the helm as Chair of the EDC Board of Directors. She follows John Hillenmeyer, president and CEO of Orlando Health, who will continue to serve on the EDC officer team as immediate past chairman. David Pace, president of New Broad Street Companies, steps in as vice chairman; and Alex Martins, COO of the Orlando Magic, was elected secretary-treasurer.

Crofton's foremost goal as chairman will be to advance the leadership initiative started this year, which is designed to position the EDC for continued success in an era of new economic realities. Through this initiative, five working groups have been established: mission & value proposition; governance; funding; business development; and succession planning. Together these groups will contribute to a multi-year plan and address long-term organizational priorities.

Several new additions to the EDC Board were also welcomed at this week's Board Meeting: Tim Baker, Baker Barrios Architects; Mark Glover, M&S Enterprises; Karl Nebel, North Highland; Jim Jardon, JHT; Cecelia Bonifay, Akerman Senterfitt; Nina Yon, Asian American Chamber; and Carlos Colombo, Hispanic Chamber.

In outlining plans for the coming year, Ray Gilley, EDC president & CEO, noted that, "With unemployment in Central Florida hovering in the ten-percent range, the EDC's mission of job creation and industry diversification is more important than ever before." Acknowledging a tight budget year, he outlined plans for a program of work that emphasizes balance and prioritizes return on investment.

Today, the Global Peace Film Festival kicks off in Central Florida. The festival features 39 films (both feature and shorts) from six continents, panel discussions, art exhibit and more.

The Global Peace Film Festival - established to utilize the power of motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth - runs through September 27 at a variety of locations throughout the region. More info at www.peacefilmfest.org.

Other major film festivals held in Central Florida throughout the year include the Florida Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Hispanic Film Festival and IndieFest.