Osceola County officials participated in the grand opening of the UCF Business Incubator–St. Cloud on Wednesday (April 28, 2010).

   Osceola County partnered with the University of Central Florida, the City of St. Cloud and OUC on the facility that is expected to generate jobs and help start-up companies.

   "We know that incubators create jobs, but they also reduce the risk of small business failures. That’s extremely important today. We have to foster local entrepreneurship and help start-up companies grow right and grow strong," said County Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr.

   The new 14,000 square foot facility will launch a new era of economic development in Osceola County, according to Gordon Hogan, director of operations for the UCF Business Incubation Program. Eventually, the UCF Business Incubator-St. Cloud could accommodate as many as 20 client companies.

   Osceola County is funding $675,000 over a 5-year period for the incubator, which will be managed by the University of Central Florida. The UCF program has been recognized for the past few years as one of the most effective and well-operated incubation systems in the nation.

   Incubators are a great place to start a new company. They significantly increase the chances of success. In fact, research has shown that 87 percent of incubator graduates are still in business five years after graduating from an incubation program.

   For more information about this release, contact:

   Maria G. Toumazos, Osceola County Economic Development Administrator, 407-742-4200, mgru@osceola.org;

   Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu;

   Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407 882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu.

Northeast District would fuel jobs

     From the Osceola News-Gazette: Osceola County commissioners recently approved three conceptual master plans that set out how nearly 70 square miles of unincorporated land – most of it uninhabited – should be developed using “smart growth” principles.
     The master plans, which the Florida Department of Community Affairs is now reviewing and which are required as part of the county’s overall comprehensive plan, cover diverse parts of the county, with one large area abutting the Orange-Osceola County line just south of Lake Nona and east of Narcoossee Road and two other large swaths running along the east and south sides of Lake Tohopekaliga.
     There are mixed-use developments in various stages of planning or approval in each of the areas, but the Northeast District, which covers 17,150 acres south of the Lake Nona area and west of the Econlockhatchee River Swamp, is the most worrisome for nearby residents and environmental interests. It also is the plan most touted by county officials as a job generator, with 44,130 jobs projected at build-out. This area includes lakes Preston, Myrtle, Joel and Bullock, with a portion of it bordering the northwest side of Lake Center as well.
    Residents are worried about the traffic, the potential friction between urban and rural lifestyles and a “mega-development” of 30,000 residential units, while environmentalists are worried about fracturing a “pristine” ecosystem inhabited by gopher tortoises and other animals, perhaps even the Florida panther.
Read the entire News-Gazette story here.

Energy Bill needs Senate OK

After years of inaction, the Florida House passed a bill Tuesday with the potential to expand renewable energy in the state by roughly 50 percent in the next year. It is unclear whether the bill will become law. The Senate must also approve it, and the legislative session ends Friday. The bill passed by the House would authorize $386 million worth of renewable energy from sources such as solar power as a one-year boost to the industry, rather than a long-term overhaul of energy policy in the state. Large utility companies would be able to build renewable energy projects equivalent to 2 percent of their overall 2009 revenue, and pass on the costs to customers through rate increases that some legislators opposed Tuesday. Full story here.

House passes "Jobs Bill"

Many say it is imperfect. But a wide-ranging economic development bill passed by the Florida House Wednesday includes a long menu of tax cuts and incentives to businesses designed to create jobs and provide a shot in the arm to Florida's sagging economy. The House voted 117-0 to pass the so-called "Jobs for Florida" bill (SB 1752), which also sets aside around $28 million for building the aerospace industry and retraining workers affected by the retirement of the space shuttle program at Cape Canaveral. The Senate cleared the bill last month, but it will have to go back to that chamber again before the end of the week for approval of the tweaks made in the House version. Read more: www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/28/1602130/wide-ranging-jobs-bill-clears.html#ixzz0mPj8Y4VL

Enterprise Florida reports available

• Enterprise Florida, in partnership with biotech media group, FierceBiotech, has produced a white paper featuring the work of leading scientists in the life sciences field. Designed as a follow up to the recent “Forecasting the Future of Biomedical Research” webinar, the paper offers insight into new technologies and key research focus areas of leading research institutes and universities in Florida. Register here.
• Download the Foreign Direct Investment in Florida report to learn which Florida industries attract the most FDI, which countries create the most Florida jobs, and how Florida compares to other states.
• Download the Florida’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas report for a snapshot of Florida’s MSAs across a variety of statistical indicators. Topics include population, labor force, GDP, income, cost of living, FDI, and trade.

    Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) announced that its airport business, Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Flight Training Center, will host an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Flight Rally through the Kissimmee EAA chapter on Saturday, May 15. The Rally will feature free flights for aviation enthusiasts 8 to 17 years old, a pancake breakfast, flight simulators, a static display of T-6 Texan Warbirds and more.
    Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Flight Training Center, located at 3956 Merlin Drive, Hangar 4, Kissimmee, FL 34741, on May 15. The event is open to the public.
    For more information about this event, please contact Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Flight Training Center at (407) 414-8359. For more information about the Young Eagles Flight Rally and the EAA Young Eagles program, please visit www.eaa.org or http://www.youngeagles.com/.

Osceola pushes for health care jobs

Osceola County sees potential for health-related fields for a simple reason: close proximity to Lake Nona in neighboring Orange County, where the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research built a new 175,000 square foot scientific facility that marked the opening of Orlando's Medical City as a life science center. Burnham is widely expected to become a research anchor for new development in southeast Orange County, one that will lead to spinoff jobs that are medically focused and knowledge-based. Complete story here.

Tupperware Brands ranked on Fortune list

   With World Headquarters in Osceola County, Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) has been ranked number two for the second straight year in the Home Equipment category of Fortune’s recently released “Most Admired Companies” list. The company debuted last year at the same spot on the respected list.

   “Tupperware’s consistent placement on Fortune’s ‘Most Admired Companies’ list is a credit to the millions of consultants that we have around the world, who are enhancing their lives by making a career with our company and are driving our growth,” said Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands Corporation. “Each of our brands has long been recognized for quality and innovation, but this honor belongs to the people who work each day to make us stronger.”

    The Fortune “Most Admired Companies” list is the definitive report card on corporate reputations and is compiled in partnership with Hay Group.

Osceola Teachers experience Sanford-Burnham

   Diane McAlister, Osceola School District; Michelle Thompson, Narcoossee Middle School; Jeriel Ortiz, Parkway Middle School; Terry Goss, Westside K-8 and Pam Wood, Osceola High School all were part of a group of 40 top middle and high school math, science and technology educators selected from 10 counties who caught a sneak peek inside the laboratories of the new Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.
   Purpose of the April 20 event was to learn about how they can prepare and motivate their students to pursue high tech careers in the life sciences industry.
   The one-day techCAMP workshop was hosted by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council with speakers representing the organizations and institutes that make up Lake Nona’s Medical City providing an overview of biomedical technology and what the future holds for students who wish to enter the field.
   Speakers included Sanford-Burnham scientists and leaders from the UCF College of Medicine, Veterans Affairs, Nemours Children’s Clinic, Workforce Central Florida, and the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement at Celebration Health.

Time for Tiger II

   This post has nothing to do with Tiger Woods and everything to do with $600 million in grants.
The Department of Transportation began opening a $600 million grant account for project applications, in an indirect extension of discretionary “TIGER” grants the DOT awarded under the economic stimulus law.
   It also asked for quick-response comments, due May 7, on the DOT’s “intention to conduct a multi-agency evaluation and award process with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.” That way, the two departments could “better align transportation, housing, economic development and land use planning,” the DOT said in an April 26 Federal Register interim notice.
   Formally, the new funds account is for national infrastructure investments, but the DOT said it will call them TIGER II Discretionary Grants. The original name was an acronym for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery that the DOT created for its high-level stimulus coordinating team, and later applied to the $1.5 billion in discretionary grants the team distributed.
   The new money was put into a multi-agency 2010 appropriations bill Congress passed late last year, and which President Obama signed into law Dec. 16. Its terms are similar to the TIGER grants, but not identical. States, territories, tribes, ports and some other entities may apply.
   Eligible projects include highway or bridge work, public transit, passenger and rail freight, and port infrastructure. Applications must be for at least $10 million, except for certain projects in rural areas, and not more than $200 million each. But the DOT says since the largest TIGER grant was $105 million, it is unlikely any TIGER II grants will actually reach the maximum. Full story.

Three B's for Economic Development

REUTERS -- Broadband, biotech and biofuels can be as important to economic development in rural America as traditional farm supports, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday. Vilsack called for a broad approach to farm policy during remarks to the North American Agricultural Journalists. "It has to include quality jobs as well," he said, noting that many growers need off-farm income to make ends meet. The so-called farm bills written every few years by Congress cover nutrition, rural development, land stewardship, agricultural research and export programs as well as crop subsidies. Hearings have begun on the 2012 farm bill. Full story here.

UCF Business Incubator St. Cloud Incubator opens Wednesday

Reminder: The University of Central Florida, The City of St. Cloud and Osceola County officials will participate in the grand opening of the new UCF Business Incubator–St. Cloud facility at 3201 Budinger Ave. in St Cloud on April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Here's a video from the groundbreaking last year.

New cash incentive program garners attention

Orlando Sentinel: The Osceola County Commission last week approved a cash-incentive policy offering upfront cash to targeted industries that pledge to create new jobs.
Orlando Business Journal: In a unanimous vote on Monday, the Osceola County Commission approved a new cash incentive policy that will offer cash upfront to targeted industries that pledge to create new jobs in the community. Osceola News-Gazette and Poinciana Today.

Austrian ambassador tours Tupperware

Christian Prosl, the Austrian ambassador to the United States, toured the Tupperware Brands Corp. headquarters in Orlando last week and met with CEO Rick Goings, the Orlando Sentinel reports. "So many aspects of the Tupperware business have been influenced by Austria and its culture … most importantly the spirit of personal development. That is why so many of our executives are either from Austria or of Austrian heritage … including me," Goings said in a statement.

Tupperware Q1 profit surges

   Osceola-based Tupperware Brands Corp.'s (TUP) first-quarter profit surged 84% as the personal-products maker posted higher sales and profit across nearly all of its businesses, the Wall Street Journal reported.
    A number of emerging markets posted double-digit sales increases during the quarter, Tupperware said, while established markets were even with last year in local currency. Shares climbed 3.1% to $49.85 in after-hours trading, as sales topped expectations.
    The company, best known for its namesake line of plastic storage containers, has been relatively untouched by the economic downturn, partly because most of its business comes from high-growth overseas markets and high unemployment has boosted its sales force, which is paid on commission.
    Tupperware posted a profit of $47.1 million, or 73 cents a share, up from $25.6 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding write-downs, earnings rose to 76 cents from 45 cents. Net sales jumped 20% to $557.1 million and grew 11% in local currency.

UCF Incubator Grand Opening April 28

   University of Central Florida, The City of St. Cloud and Osceola County officials will participate in the grand opening of the new UCF Business Incubator–St. Cloud facility at 3201 Budinger Ave. in St Cloud on April 28 at 4:30 p.m.
   Gordon Hogan, director of operations for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the new 14,000 square foot facility will launch a new era of economic development in Osceola County.
   Four incubation client companies plan to locate offices in the new facility immediately, Hogan said, and the UCF Business Incubation Program expects to name a full time site manager within the next 30 days.

Global Robotics Symposium

An excellent video report on this event that is headed by Dr. Vip Patel, headquartered at Celebration Health. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z18UsPgKWcw

Cash is King

   Cash is more than King – it is an essential tool to encourage high-wage companies to relocate or expand in Osceola County.
   By a unanimous vote Monday, County Commissioners approved a new cash incentive policy – making Osceola one of the few counties in the nation that is offering cash up front to targeted industries that pledge to create new jobs in the community.

Yes, Plastics

   Did you know?
   The plastics industry is the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States, operates 17,648 facilities in every state and provides nearly $374 billion in annual shipments. We use high-tech machines and innovative tools to transform raw materials into a whole lot of finished goods for a myriad of end markets. And while NPE2009 has truly been an “all-industry event” with eight co-located events and a variety of exhibitors and attendees with many different interests, the backbone of the event and the stars of show are still the amazing machines and the way they churn out product right on the show floor.
   From blowmolding, injection molding and extrusion machines to all manner of robots, auxiliary equipment and components — it’s obvious that we have a fascination for these shiny, new mechanical marvels and what they can do. It is evident as you walk the show aisles and notice small crowds of people standing for several minutes at a time mesmerized as they stare at the repeated rhythms and smooth efficiency of the moving parts. The video above depicts the attraction of plastics machinery better than I can describe it.

    More at http://blog.npe.org/. The NPE show is coming to Central Florida in 2011.

Spring Training 2010 report

    Thanks to the Orlando Business Journal for the following information:
    An average of 6,640 fans attended the 33-day Florida Grapefruit League schedule, setting a new record for per game attendance.
    The 2010 spring training schedule included 215 games played in 14 different locations, including Atlanta Braves games at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and Houston Astros games in Kissimmee.
    “This year’s record-setting numbers are a major part of our annual $36 billion sports industry,” said Gov. Charlie Crist. “Spring training generates an economic impact of more than $752 million a year in Florida and is vital during the historic economic times we now face.”
     From March 2-April 3, 1,427,627 fans watched the 15 teams comprising Florida’s Grapefruit League. The record-breaking per-game average of 6,640 fans per game surpassed the previous per-game average high of 6,478, set during the 2008 season.
    Team by team individual attendance figures include:
    • Atlanta Braves, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, 14 games (two cancellations); 106,065 total attendance; 7,576 average per game; largest crowd: 11,112 vs. New York Yankees, March 30.
    • Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, 15 games (one cancellation); 59,784 total attendance; 3,986 average per game; largest crowd: 7,020 vs. New York Yankees, March 20.

Oops! Apple worker's bad day?

   Wondering what the next version of the iPhone is going to look like? We have an idea thanks to a hapless Apple worker. According to reports, the iPhone 4G has accidentally been unveiled by an Apple employee who left his test device in a bar.
   Gray Powell, 27, is reported by technology blog Gizmodo to have left the phone on a bar stool before it fell into the hands of another drinker at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City, California and found its way to the blog.
   Apple is famously controlling about its products and goes to extraordinary lengths with its suppliers and staff to ensure no details are leaked

Free BioTech Webinar April 22

   Enterprise Florida is partnering with the global industry media group, FierceBiotech, to produce a webinar on the latest developments in biomedical research. This global event will provide insight into new technology investments, therapies and opportunities for commercialization in biomedical research and showcase Florida as a life sciences hub. Register now – https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=200911&sessionid=1&key=E5B3DB967EFA2B37B3D2A0F4EFF9E3D4&partnerref-efloridaEFI=undefined&sourcepage=register.

'N.J. solar outlook is party cloudy'

  Along with California, New Jersey has been the poster child for solar power efforts in the U.S. But this article rains on the parade a bit.
   Since 2001, when the state made a commitment to support the fledgling industry, solar has grown steadily, putting New Jersey second only to California in the amount of solar power generated.
    But the times they are a-changin'...
    "The solar industry in New Jersey is like a teenager, strong enough to survive without constant parental support, but still not mature enough to go it alone. While rebates, federal tax credits and energy credits have fueled the industry's steady growth, the goal now seems to be to reduce or eliminate those incentives and have solar stand on its own."
   Read the whole article here.

Brunswick earnings call Thursday

    Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) will release its first quarter 2010 financial results on Thursday, April 29, 2010, before the market opens. Brunswick is the corporate parent of Mercury Marine, which has a plant in St. Cloud. The company will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. CDT that same day, hosted by Dustan E. McCoy, chairman and chief executive officer, Peter B. Hamilton, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Bruce J. Byots, vice president - corporate and investor relations. The call will be broadcast over the Internet. To listen to the call, go to the Web site at least 15 minutes before the call to register, download and install any needed audio software. Brunswick Corporation -- a global manufacturer and marketer of recreation products, including marine engines, boats, fitness equipment and bowling and billiards equipment.

   More information here.

Advanced Wound Care Products

   The Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith & Nephew plc announced today that a total of 16 posters on studies conducted with its advanced wound care products were presented at this year's Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) and Wound Healing Society (WHS) meeting at Gaylord Palms. Posters presented included recent clinical data on studies conducted using RENASYS™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) technology, ACTICOAT™ Silver-coated antimicrobial barrier dressings, ALLEVYN™, ALLEVYN Ag and IODOSORB™ Cadexomer Iodine wound dressings. They can be viewed Monday, April 19 from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Smith & Nephew is highlighting its full portfolio of advanced wound care products at booth 301.
   Read more.

23rd Annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society

Cytomedix, Inc., a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, announced that six poster presentations and one podium presentation highlighting the clinical merits of the Company's AutoloGel (TM) System will be presented at the 23rd Annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society (SAWC/WHS) taking place at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center. The event wraps up Tuesday. Read more here.

Truck Dealers at Gaylord Friday

The American Truck Dealers will kick off its Convention & Expo Friday at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. The conference runs through April 26. On Saturday, the winner and runner-up for the ATD/Heavy Duty Trucking Truck Dealer of the Year will be announced. Seven commercial truck dealers from across the country were nominated by their peers for the annual award, presented by ATD and HDT magazine. The award recognizes excellence in business practices, industry leadership, civic contributions and community service.
   For more information, visit www.atd.org/convention.  

Tupperware Earnings Expectations

Analysts, on average, expect Tupperware Brands (TUP) to report earnings of $0.62 on sales of $548 million on Wednesday, according to investors.com. For the full year, analysts expect the company to post EPS of $3.53. In the year-ago period, the company reported EPS of $0.44 on sales of $463 million. In the previous quarter, the company reported EPS of $1.05, topping consensus estimates of $1.04. Tupperware's worldwide corporate headquarters is in Osceola County, Florida.

School Board rates an 'A' from Fitch

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'A' rating to the following Osceola County School Boardcertificates of participation (COPs): $40.5 million COPs, series 2010A. In addition, Fitch takes the following rating actions on the following outstanding debt: $169 million COPs affirmed at 'A'; $85 million sales tax revenue bonds downgraded to 'A-' from 'A'. Fitch has also revised the Rating Outlook for the COPs to Positive from Stable. Additionally, Fitch has revised the Rating Outlook for the sales tax revenue bonds to Negative from Stable.

Solar's Future in Tomorrow’s Market

Does Solar Have a Future in Tomorrow’s Market? The solar market may be booming at the factory, but there’s a lot of work left to do in the trenches. In my line of work, I talk to people from all facets of the solar spectrum -- from installers and business leaders, to engineers and city officials trying to make it all happen. With over 1,000 new solar products in the pipeline in the U.S. alone, the excitement throughout the industry is palpable. Clearly, we're entering an era where more people value solar energy, and those people are rapidly transforming into tomorrow's consumers. Another interesting article: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/does-solar-have-a-future-in-tomorrows-market

What now renewable energy?

The “Renewable Portfolio Standard in California has failed.” The way to grow the PV market in the U.S. is with a Feed-in Tariff, according to the FIT Coalition, according to GreenTech Media. The U.S. still doesn't really have an energy policy. Aside from the desire to keep petroleum costs low. And the U.S. solar market remains thwarted by tight financing, fragmented policies, and spotty permitting, as well as restrictive access to public lands. Arguably, policy trumps technology in matters of energy, and the U.S. has a long way to go in developing a favorable energy and solar policy. Here's the entire article: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/can-the-u.s.-or-california-institute-a-feed-in-tariff

Kissimmee Gateway Airport brings impact to community

   Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) announced today (April 12, 2010) that it contributes more than $109 million indirectly and $35 million directly to the local economy, according to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which conducted the annual economic impact study.
   “This study illustrates the importance of the general aviation industry as a vital factor in stimulating local economies,” said Terry Lloyd, director of aviation at Kissimmee Gateway Airport. “Besides accommodating leisure aviation enthusiasts, we work in conjunction with community businesses to increase their own market efficiency by providing reliable air transportation services.”
     FDOT determines the Airport’s direct economic contributions through the tenants and businesses located on-site, as well as construction projects that are undertaken by these entities. Indirect economic impact variables include researching visitors’ monetary spending habits in the area that have utilized the Airport for leisure purposes. To learn more, visit www.dot.state.fl.us/aviation.

Earnings call for Tupperware scheduled for April 21

   Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss First Quarter Earnings on April 21 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

   This call is being webcast can be accessed at http://www.tupperwarebrands.com/.
   The webcast is also being distributed through the Thomson StreetEvents Network to both institutional and individual investors. Individual investors can listen to the call at www.fulldisclosure.com, Thomson/CCBN's individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson's password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com).
    Headquartered in Osceola County, Tupperware Brands Corporation is a portfolio of global direct selling companies, selling innovative, premium products across multiple brands and categories through an independent sales force of 2.4 million. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products for consumers through the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo and Swissgarde brands.

Celebration googling

From the town's front porch: "The application for the Google Fiber initiative was received last week way before the deadline." The videos are showcased at HERE. Questions can be directed to teddy.benson@celebration.fl.us part of the Google Fiber Initiative Task Force, who is coordinating the video pages at YouTube.

West Osceola Library funding requested

Congressman Alan Grayson submitted a priority request for the West Osceola Branch library for $1.5 million. The project would create approximately 300 jobs directly from construction. First year book circulation is estimated at over 100,000 with computer use of more than 87,085. The appropriation would come from Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and related agencies (THUD). Funding requests go to appropriations subcommittees before the House of Representatives passes its Appropriations bills. Those bills are forwarded to the Senate -- usually in late summer.

Adventist Health explores merger

    Adventist Health System, the parent company of the Florida Hospital in Orlando and six other campuses in Central Florida, and Tampa-based University Community Health have signed a non-binding letter of intent to explore a possible merger of the two healthcare systems, writes the Orlando Sentinel, siting an announcement on the Adventist Web site.
   The merger would increase access to physicians and medical specialists as well as become part of the largest Protestant healthcare system in the nation.
   "It is too early in the due diligence process to share any concrete details," Mike Schultz, president and chief executive officer of Adventist Health System's Florida region said in a press release. "What I can confirm is that both systems are focused on uninterrupted quality care to our patients and dedicated to the service of our employees."
Sentinel story here.