Business Briefs

Orlando Approves Lease for 4 Roots Farm in The Packing District

The City of Orlando has approved a lease for the 18-acre 4 Roots Farm Campus, a unique urban farm that is a project of the 4R Foundation. Work could begin this fall on the campus, which is located in the emerging Packing District near the College Park section of Orlando and is designed to protect the wetlands and steward the land in ways that benefit the surrounding community.

“4Roots will be a place where thought leaders from around the world converge to challenge the norm and explore new ideas and innovations for building a sustainable food system and restoring a harmonistic relationship with the land,” said John Rivers, founder and CEO of 4Roots and the 4 Rivers restaurant collection. “Our vigorous pursuit of advancements in regenerative farming, culinary medicine, soil health, food science and community health will create a world-class showcase on the art and science of agriculture, and our vital relationship with nature.”

The campus will focus on creating a sustainable regional food system to tackle food waste, farmland erosion, farmer declines, and local hunger. Features will include a discovery center, a convention and event barn, a teaching/demo kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant, community greens for farmers’ markets, concerts, art expos and flexible classrooms.

Dr. Phillips Charities has committed $1 million to the development of the farm campus. The Packing District is a $700 million community development project on 104 acres gifted to the City of Orlando by Dr. Phillips Charities in 2018 to develop a regional park that will serve as a hub for wellness programs and provide a site for amenities, including the city’s tennis center and trails for cycling and running.

Valencia College Receives Metallica Workforce Grant

A group of Valencia College students is receiving scholarships courtesy of heavy metal band Metallica for short-term training in construction trades. Valencia was one of 15 colleges nationwide selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Metallica Scholars Initiative workforce program All Within My Hands.

Founded in 2018, the program helps provide students with the skills and knowledge to transition into high-paying, high-demand jobs in their communities. The scholarship will benefit an estimated 25 students from low-income families in Orange and Osceola counties who will be trained in areas such as welders and operators of heavy equipment including bulldozers, front-end loaders, excavators and trucks. Graduates of these programs earn starting wages of $16 to $24 an hour in Central Florida. Valencia College’s continuing education team works closely with local industry and businesses to provide short-term skills training in fields in high demand.

“All of us in the band feel fortunate that music has provided us the opportunity to be successful doing something we are passionate about,” said Lars Ulrich, Metallica’s co-founder and drummer. “We want to share our success with others so that they can find a job where they can do the same.”

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UCF Programs Climb in Academic Rankings

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Rosen College of Hospitality Management has been ranked No. 1 in the country and No. 2 in the world on a list of premier hospitality and tourism programs in the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020. UCF has climbed in the rankings since 2017, when the Rosen College was listed at No. 20 nationally and No. 7 worldwide.

“We are extremely proud of our 2020 ShanghaiRanking as it demonstrates the dedication of our faculty and staff in conducting quality and impactful research and educating the future leaders of the hospitality and tourism industry,” said the college’s dean, Youcheng Wang. “Even in the face of a global pandemic, with a shift to online learning, we have maintained our exceptional teaching standards, research standards and continuing education offerings to our alumni and industry as we prioritize providing the best experience and value to our students. Our 16-yearold college is among the best on a global stage and we will continue to strive to serve our stakeholders the best we can.”

ShanghaiRanking also recognized UCF this year as fifth in the United States and 29th in the world for transportation science and technology. UCF ranked ahead of Georgia Tech, Purdue, Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Florida. This is a move up from last year, when UCF ranked among the top 20 in the nation and top 75 in the world in the same category.

Additionally, UCF ranked among the top 40 civil engineering programs in the nation in the same global ranking, alongside Iowa State, Johns Hopkins, Michigan State and Penn State.

Also known as Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), ShanghaiRankings annually ranks the best universities in a variety of academic subjects. The rankings take into account six indicators, including the success of alumni, the quality of faculty and the amount of research published in the field’s top academic journals. The Chronicle of Higher Education says the ShanghaiRanking is considered the most influential ranking among world-renowned universities.

Sanford Airport Names New President and CEO

Sanford Orlando International Airport has announced its new president and CEO will be Tom Nolan, who served for the past 13 years as executive director of Palm Springs International Airport in California. He will replace Diane Crews, who plans to retire in October.

Crews held the president and CEO post for the past three years as the first female leader of the airport, where she has worked for 19 years. Prior to Crews, Larry Dale had served as CEO and president for 15 years before retiring.

Nolan is an accredited airport executive and a private pilot. He told a California newspaper he and his wife wanted to move to Florida to be closer to family.

Cybersecurity Company GLESEC Moving HQ to Orlando

GLESEC, an international cybersecurity firm, announced it is moving its headquarters to Orlando from Princeton, New Jersey. The company is considering locations close to the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Central Florida Research Park.

The site will house a secured operations center, cyber range training facilities, and the administration and sales operations. The company plans to hire 26 professionals over the next three years with an average wage of $70,000, almost 50% over the average wage in Orange County.

“Orange County and the State of Florida have recognized the strategic importance that a fullfledged cybersecurity firm can bring to the local economy and we are thrilled to be here,” said Sergio Heker, CEO of GLESEC.

GLESEC was originally founded in New Jersey in 2003. Through ongoing collaborations with the National Center for Simulation (NCS), which is based in close proximity to UCF at Central Florida Research Park, the company has increasingly moved its technology and operations to the area, culminating in its decision to make Orlando its headquarters location.

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BRIDG Gets Special Visit from U.S. Secretary of Commerce

U.S. DOT Taps Florida for Automated Vehicle Safety Testing Program

The State of Florida has been named as one of the first participants in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safety Testing (AV TEST), an initiative aimed at improving the quality of automated driving systems.

“The AV TEST initiative is a monumental step into the future of automated vehicles, and we are proud Florida is one of the first states to participate in such an important effort led by USDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault. “As Florida continues to grow, it is essential to provide a transportation system that meets the needs of our residents and visitors.”

Florida joins seven other states and nine companies in this unprecedented effort, which will involve nationwide public events and an online platform to increase public engagement and awareness, promote safety and innovation, and strengthen relationships between federal, state and local government partners. The other participating states are California, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. The nine companies include Orlando-based Beep, as well as Cruise, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Local Motors, Navya, Nuro, Toyota, Uber, and Waymo.

In a move that highlighted the importance of the nation’s leadership in the semiconductor industry, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross paid a visit in June to BRIDG, a not-for-profit, public-private partnership that is part of the emerging NeoCity technology district in Osceola County.

“Central Florida is critical to America’s microelectronics manufacturing supply chain and its defense and aerospace customers,” Ross said. “BRIDG’s vision and leadership will not only help solidify the United States’ position as a global competitor in the semiconductor industry, but they will continue to revitalize and strengthen the local economy as we reopen the country.”

Also on hand for the visit were CEOs and other senior leaders from BRIDG partner organizations, including Osceola County, the University of Central

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Florida, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the State of Florida, imec USA, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Siemens, SUSS MicroTec, and Tokyo Electron.

BRIDG operates a 200mm microelectronics fabrication facility delivering solutions to industry and government partners through collaborative technology development and secure manufacturing programs. BRIDG provides state-ofthe-art capabilities that are essential to the must-win applications of the future including 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

“As highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the repatriation of microelectronics fabrication and jobs back to the United States is essential for our national security, economy and global competitiveness,” BRIDG Interim CEO Brian Sapp said.

Education

GuideWell Pledges to Reshape Health Access for Underserved

GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation, the parent of health insurance company Florida Blue, has launched a $100,000, fourmonth challenge to address health care access and literacy among underserved populations in Florida. Named Reshaping Health Access, the program is one of several efforts by GuideWell at a time when both the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent focus on racial injustice are critical public issues that involve health care.

“Helping people achieve optimal health cannot be done without addressing racial and health disparities,” said Kirstie McCool, executive director of GuideWell Innovation, headquartered in Lake Nona Medical City. “The lack of access to health care, healthy foods and health literacy directly impacts longevity rates, severity of diseases and ease of access to treatment, especially in the most vulnerable communities throughout the state.”

The challenge is targeted to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, social innovators and grassroots organizations and is focused on sourcing novel approaches that provide accessible, quality, affordable health care and health education to communities and populations experiencing high levels of health inequity in Florida. The challenge will award a total of $100,000 in prize money, including a $40,000 grand prize after statewide virtual regional pitch events.

The challenge coincides with the launch of the company’s Equity Alliance, an initiative focused on addressing systemic racism and resulting health disparities for Black Americans. GuideWell has pledged to make $25 million in investments over five years to organizations focused on diversity and inclusion and health equity in the communities the organizations serve. The Reshaping Health Access challenge is part of that investment.

In 2019, the enterprise donated more than $1.2 million in grants to more than 80 Black and community development organizations.

Tourism

‘GovTech’ Firm GCR Brings Center of Excellence to Heathrow

Public sector software and services firm GCR announced it has chosen Heathrow as the site of its new Center of Excellence that will focus on innovation in “GovTech.” The company’s state government business unit, PCC, will centralize and grow its software development operations at the Seminole County location, which was named after an extensive selection process that considered more than a dozen potential sites nationwide.

GCR plans to hire 250 new employees over the next five years, paying an average salary 150% higher than the average wage in Seminole. The State of Florida and Seminole County provided an incentive that totaled $1.5 million through the Florida Qualified Targeted Industry program, a performance-based business incentive that provides companies a tax refund once new jobs are created.

“We’re thrilled to be part of the Central Florida community, and we are grateful for the leadership of the State of Florida, Seminole County and the Orlando Economic Partnership for their exceptional work in welcoming GCR,” said Tom Amburgey, the CEO of GCR. “Central Florida quickly became the clear frontrunner with its deep skilled-talent pool, proximity to airports and universities, and livability.”

The facility will house the talent of a major software development company, including systems architects, developers, testers, business analysts, product managers, and administrative staff. GCR will base up to 75 employees there within the first year with plans to grow into the hundreds over the next few years.