East Central Florida

QUALITY OF LIFE

I-Drive revived
International Drive, the busy thoroughfare that parallels I-4 between Disney World and Universal Studios with SeaWorld in between, is sporting a new look. Taking the place of chain motels and T-shirt shops are new attractions like Madame Tussauds celebrity wax museum, Sea Life aquarium and the Orlando Eye, which at 400-feet tall offers an unobstructed view of nearby theme parks, the Orlando skyline and, if the day is clear, Cape Canaveral 55 miles away. And newly opened a few blocks away at the Florida Mall is “Crayola Experience,” where the “Colossal Caddy” of thousands of crayons and 25 hands-on activities beckon adults and kids alike to color outside the lines.

Fun in the sun
Florida’s “spacecoast” boasts 72 miles of Atlantic coastline and includes one of America’s most famous beaches, Daytona, with its giant Ferris wheel, boardwalk and pier. Find your own patch of sand beside the ocean or venture inland to enjoy kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon, biking/hiking along the 52-mile East Central Regional Rail Trail in Volusia County and bird watching at Turkey Creek Sanctuary.

NOTABLE ADDITIONS/EXPANSIONS

Regional headquarters/manufacturing
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, a merger between Hitachi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is anticipating 100 new jobs with the consolidation of its North American headquarters in Lake Mary. Previously, Mitsubishi was spread across two sites: an Orlando Service Center for the manufacture and repair of electrical turbines and a headquarters facility in Lake Mary. The merger will bring 1,000-plus employees together under one roof.

Logistics/distribution
The trendy California-based grocer Trader Joe’s is building a 630,000-sq.-ft. regional distribution center near the intersection of I-4 and I-95 just west of Daytona Beach. Slated to open in late 2015, the facility will serve Trader Joe’s stores throughout the South; 450 jobs are anticipated.

Sports training
The United States Tennis Association (USTA), the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S., has begun construction of its USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando. The $60-million facility will house USTA’s Community Tennis and Player Development divisions, more than 100 courts for tournaments and training at all levels and a tennis center for hosting collegiate events, and will serve as home for the University of Central Florida’s men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams. Anticipated completion: late 2016.

NOTABLE EMPLOYERS

Aviation/Aerospace/Defense

• The Boeing Company | Orlando and Titusville
• Harris Corporation | Melbourne
• Lockheed Martin Corporation | Orlando and Cape Canaveral
• Northrop Grumman Corporation | Orlando and Melbourne
• Raytheon Company | Orlando and Melbourne
• Rockwell Collins | Melbourne
• Siemens Energy | Orlando

Tourism/Hospitality

• American Automobile Association | Heathrow
• Darden Restaurants | Orlando
• Rosen Hotels & Resorts | Orlando
• SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment | Orlando
• Universal Orlando Resort | Orlando
• Walt Disney World Resort | Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Vacation Ownership | Orlando

Healthcare

• Adventist Health System/Florida Hospital | Orlando
• Orlando Health | Orlando

Tags: Business Florida