One of the most exciting things to happen in all of Central Florida in recent years is the development of Innovation Way and it’s happening right in our own back yards. The main thoroughfare on that side of town is Alafaya Trail. Of course, thoroughfare is a bit of a misnomer as the road is 1,000 feet short of actually connecting that side of town efficiently and effectively to the Beachline, the airport and more. But construction is set to begin in early 2009 to complete the road and once complete, Innovation way will explode on to the scene.
The key pillars are all in place to build such a high-tech corridor. Avalon Park Group has taken an interest in the area for years and is currently working on the largest residential real estate development in the area with 446 home sale closings in 2007. Those are impressive numbers regardless, but in a down market those numbers are spectacular!
East Orlando also boasts residency to UCF, the 7th largest university in the country. Attached to the university is the UCF Technology Incubator. UCF believes so much in building into the local economy that they’ve set aside space and developed programming to help small technology companies. The failure rate among small businesses is high, but almost all of Incubator residents survive – most thrive.
East Orlando is also home to the Central Florida Research Park (CFRP), one of the biggest in the country with 116 companies and 10,000 employees. It’s estimated that the CFRP will reach capacity in approximately 7 years. They are talking about building another facility along Innovation Way.
Of course, all of that activity on what will be the north end of Innovation Way is rounded out by what’s beginning at the south end near Moss Park: the development of a Medical City. The Florida Hospital has plans to build, along with a Burnham Institute for Medical, Nemours Children’s Clinic and there are plans to build a new VA Hospital. UCF is building a medical school near all of these well respected and established institutions which will provide plenty of opportunity for partnership. It should also be noted that the medical school will bring in millions of dollars for medical research and related jobs to the area.
So what does this mean to you? It means a broadening of Central Florida’s business infrastructure and a deepening of our community roots. Right now we have a primarily hospitality-based economy, which no one is knocking, but smart business people know that diversification is the key to success, including when it comes to building local economies.
Most importantly to you it means JOBS! No the jobs aren’t immediate, but sit tight, the jobs will come. And the next question on everyone’s mind is where it gets interesting: Am I qualified for these high tech jobs? However, that’s not what’s important! If you’re qualified you know it. If you’re not, still, as our community grows, there will be resulting needs – and therefore jobs! – for everything from apples to administrators and from zinnias to zippy ad slogans.
So what are you waiting for? Keep your eyes on Innovation Way for the future and for now, keep your eyes on OrlandoJobs.com – we are where the jobs are!
(This Blog post contributed by Amy Christmas, OrlandoJobs.com Account Manager)
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