Electric Vehicle Showcase

   When it comes to electric vehicle power, Osceola County is plugged in thanks to Sunshine Restaurant Corporation, the Central Florida developer of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants/sports bars.
   In February, the company introduced Florida’s first restaurant-based electric vehicle charging station.
   Joined by Progress Energy Florida and NovaCharge the event was meant to emphasize Central Florida’s commitment to support electric vehicles. Immediately following the announcement, the group hosted the region’s first electric vehicle showcase, bringing an unprecedented number of electric vehicles together for a free public event.
   County Commissioner Michael Harford cited President Obama’s challenge to have a million vehicles on the road by 2015.
   “To do that we have to have a national network of electric charging stations to be in place,” said Harford, whose district includes the restaurant located in the Formosa Gardens development. “As consumers increase the use of their electrical vehicles, the convenience of recharging must be in place."

    Florida universities collectively conduct over $1B in research each year. MegaWatt Ventures, an annual clean energy business competition that focuses on Florida and the southeast, plans to tap into the expertise and intellectual property of our universities as a source of promising renewable energy technologies to commercialize. The event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and several energy corporations, provides the ideal showcase for college and technology entrepreneurs across the state to compete for funding to launch their innovative energy ventures that have the potential to create new jobs and help solve today’s global energy issues.

Avaya President to Speak at Gaylord Conference

Avaya Inc., a global leader in business collaboration systems, software and services, today announced that Avaya president and CEO, Kevin Kennedy, will deliver a keynote address at Enterprise Connect 2011, the industry's leading enterprise communications conference and exhibition. Kennedy will discuss the current state of the multimedia communications industry, including why business collaboration is an important element to enterprise communications and how it is changing the way businesses operate and people interact. The keynote will take place at 11:15 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Gaylord Palms.

Posey Hosts Summit for Entrepreneurs

     Building on the success of two previous summits for entrepreneurs, Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) will host a third forum in Osceola County on April 27.
     The goal is to continue to bring together various entrepreneurs from across the 15th Congressional District to showcase their innovative technologies to the public and potential investors. 
     “Keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive in Central Florida is critical to our local economy and our ability to create jobs,” said Congressman Posey. “These forums provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their new products and innovative technologies to the public and potential investors.”
  Companies interested in presenting must compete and submit an application no later than March 4 at 5 p.m.  Applications can be obtained by contacting Pamela Gillespie at 321-632-1776.     
     The agenda includes a keynote address by Congressman Bill Posey and presentations by 8-10 companies.
     The Osceola County Entrepreneur Summit will take place at Workforce Central Florida in Kissimmee from 8 a.m.– Noon.

    

Disney profit up

Via the Orlando Sentinel. A rebound in its theme parks during the final three months of 2010 helped propel the Walt Disney Co. to 54 percent quarterly profit growth, the company announced. Disney said it made $1.3 billion for the three months that ended Jan. 1, the first quarter in the company's fiscal year, up from $844 million a year earlier. Companywide revenue rose 10 percent to $10.7 billion. The results easily topped Wall Street expectations. "It's a great start to a new fiscal year," Disney Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said.

St. Cloud Regional: There's an App for That

    St. Cloud Regional Medical Center officials announced the introduction of an iPhone app and mobile sites to facilitate extra fast and extra easy customer service.
    The next stage in the “ER Extra” campaign is the a free iPhone app and mobile sites that perform a similar function for smartphones. For those not requiring immediate emergent care, the ER Extra app is designed to help decision making in emergency care extra fast and extra easy.
    The app is designed specifically to provide wait times, a map, a link to the main website and the phone number of the nearest Health Management hospital. The ER Extra iPhone app can be downloaded for free at the iTunes app store, and can also be used on the iPad. Even though this app is dedicated solely to iPhone and iPad users, the hospital has also created mobile sites that allow similar features to be used on any smartphone.

February newsletter is online

Check out the Osceola County Economic Development Department's February newsletter here. It's also easy to sign up. Cost = free. Information = priceless.