Orlando Economic Partnership

🚀 Big news! Osceola County’s NeoCity made Orlando Business Journal’s list of top 2024 deals! With a $160M grant from the U.S. NSF and a $50.8M Build Back Better grant, the Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine—led by Bridg and partners like Osceola County, UCF, UF, Imec, CareerSource Central Florida, Valencia College, the Florida High Tech Corridor, and the Orlando Economic Partnership—is driving tech innovation and job growth! 🌐💡 #Innovation #TechGrowth #NeoCity Read more: https://bit.ly/3VPzVGI

Congratulations to Valencia College for the new enrollment record for fall 2024, as the college continues to experience historic growth. This semester, 49,676 students took classes at Valencia College, breaking the previous record set in fall of 2019, when 48,874 students enrolled at Valencia College. Overall, the number of degree-seeking students enrolled this fall increased 5.5% from fall 2023. https://bit.ly/3ZOb6fr

✨ Historic milestone for the Orlando region! In 2023, our economy surpassed $200 billion in GDP, joining just 26 other U.S. regions at this level. With a current-dollar GDP of over $217 billion, Orlando’s economy is now larger than 17 states! The federal GDP estimates show Orlando outpaced the national economy with a growth rate of 4.5%, well above the U.S. average of 2.9%. 🚀 From population growth to thriving industries, Orlando's rapid expansion is a testament to its dynamic and diverse economy. 📈💼 #UnbelievablyReal✨ https://bit.ly/49PNHPo

From the Orlando Economic Partnership’s family to yours…Happy Holidays 🎄🎁🎉

🎉✨ The 27th Annual Don Quijote Awards Gala was a night to remember! Held at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT – World Showplace Pavilion, this incredible event brought together leaders, changemakers, and innovators to celebrate Central Florida’s vibrant Hispanic community. From emotional speeches and standing ovations to red carpet moments and exclusive interviews, the night was filled with inspiration and unity. Congratulations to all the winners who are making a lasting impact in our region! 🏆 📸 Relive the unforgettable moments and check out the full list of winners here: https://bit.ly/3DDRwek #DonQuijoteAwards #UnbelievablyReal✨

Share your outlook for 2025 - As 2024 comes to a close, we want to encourage you to share your expectations for 2025 by participating in the Q4 2024 Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey, powered by OUC - The Reliable One. If you represent a business in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, or Lake County, let us know how you expect the regional economy to perform and what factors you feel are likely to impact that performance. Take just three minutes to contribute to the only comprehensive dataset on business performance and sentiment in the Orlando region. The survey will close on December 31. Take the survey. https://bit.ly/3DabJbv

📈 Florida on the rise! 🌴 The Sunshine State's population topped 23.3 million this year, growing faster than almost any other state! According to new U.S. Census Bureau data, Florida gained 467,347 new residents over the past year—second only to Texas. Here in the Orlando region, we see an incredible influx of 1,000 people each week, highlighting the need for thoughtful planning and collaboration. That’s why the Orlando Economic Partnership works with regional partners to ensure our community is prepared to grow sustainably—creating a region where everyone can live, work, play, learn, and thrive. Together, we're advancing Broad-based Prosperity! 🌟 Read more 🔗https://bit.ly/4iKA6gm

Last week, our team had the privilege of visiting the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Miami, alongside the Consulates General of the United Kingdom and Canada, to share insights into Orlando’s dynamic and fast-growing economy. While Orlando is globally known for its iconic theme parks, the city is also thriving in industries like semiconductors, defense, life sciences, modeling and simulation, and e-sports, which together drive over 80% of the local economy. During the meetings, Derek Ephrem, Director of Economic Development, and Neil Hamilton, Vice President of Research & Strategy, highlighted Orlando’s critical role in Florida’s economy and its immense potential for continued growth. These visits are vital in strengthening global connections and exploring new avenues for collaboration. A sincere thank you to Mr. Rufus Drabble, HM Consul General at the British Consulate General in Miami; Ms. Sylvia Cesaratto, Consul General of Canada in Miami; Ms. Lisette den Breems, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Miami; and Mr. Bo-Joe Brans, Deputy Consul-General and Head of Economic Affairs at the Netherlands Consulate. We appreciate the engaging discussions and the opportunity to showcase Orlando’s diverse and innovative economy!

Maitland-based cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker announced plans to add hundreds of new workers to its payroll in 2025, a move that would help the company continue growth that saw it double in size this year. The OEP is thrilled to see this continued expansion and we are proud of the work we did to help with their expansion into the Maitland office. ThreatLocker is proof that the world’s most innovative companies can find the talent and opportunities to build the next generation of technology right here in our region. Read more about the job fair in Orlando Tech News: https://bit.ly/4iGbyoI

Congratulations to ORRA on Outstanding Achievements! The Orlando Economic Partnership congratulates the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association (ORRA) on being named Florida’s Best Real Estate Trade Association for the third consecutive year by the 2024 BUILD Magazine Real Estate and Property Awards! We are also proud to celebrate ORRA CEO Cliff Long, who is serving as the Class Chair of Leadership Orlando Class 107 and leading the charge as a sponsors of Leadership Orlando’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. Thank you, ORRA, for your continued leadership and dedication to excellence in our region. Your commitment to fostering growth and innovation in the real estate industry is an inspiration to us all! #UnbelievablyReal✨