Business Climate

Orlando not only has an international identity for its tourism but also for its expanding and dynamic industry base. Today, domestic and international manufacturers, distributors, high-tech firms, and corporate and regional headquarters are coming to Orlando with their business demands. Hughes Supply, Inc., Darden Restaurants, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, AirTran Airways and Tupperware have their headquarters operating out of Metro Orlando. Other companies such as Jet Blue, Lowe’s, Walgreens and Cura Script have made major investments in the area, and in November 2006, Lockheed Martin announced a $175 million expansion effort.

iThe city of Orlando works together with the surrounding counties of Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola to simplify procedures for new businesses. A substantial incentive to local companies is the state’s tax advantage, with a ranking as the 8th-lowest corporate income tax nationwide and no state personal income taxes. .

Orlando’s role in the international marketplace is growing and will continue to do so with the efforts of the Metro Orlando International Affairs Commission (MOIAC). Metro Orlando consistently ranks as the fastest-growing major export market in Florida. The region’s $1.54 billion in exports last year represented a 4.4 percent growth rate, well above the U.S. average of 2 percent. International trade is easily facilitated with Orlando’s Foreign Trade Zone, which offers duty exemptions or deferments for companies receiving materials from foreign countries.

The leading employer in Orlando is Walt Disney Co., which employs about 57,000, or 4 percent, of all workers in Central Florida. Despite the microscopic growth at the big theme parks, tourism employment overall has led the way in the Orlando job market’s resurgence. Two emerging industries in Orlando are technology and manufacturing. Employment in the technology industry has more than doubled over the last 10 years, with more than 80,000 people employed by more than 3,800 companies.

Two emerging industries in Orlando are technology and manufacturing. Employment in the technology industry has more than doubled over the last 10 years, with more than 80,000 people employed by more than 3,800 companies.

The manufacturing industry is marked by a total of over 4,000 companies, and Orlando holds an impressive ranking as one of the top 50 MSAs for manufacturing. Some of the local industry’s most prestigious names include Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles, Siemens ICN, and Mitsubishi. According to the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, tourism is the largest employer in Metro Orlando, representing 24.2 percent of total employment, and generating $28.2 billion in direct visitor spending. Orlando is also one of the largest convention hosts in the United States. The 2.1 million-square-foot Orange County Convention Center ranks second in the U.S. in terms of prime exhibit space, behind McCormick Place in Chicago.