Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Crystal Lagoons Corporation will establish its corporate headquarters in Miami. The Governor met with company officials this week while leading a trade mission to Chile.

Governor Scott said, “This is another great announcement for Florida families. In addition to adding new jobs to our economy, Crystal Lagoons brings their industry-leading innovation to our state. Florida’s business climate continues to bring new, cutting-edge technology to our state, creating thousands of jobs every month. Our unemployment rate continues to drop and more than 330,000 private-sector jobs have been added since I took office. Our policies to attract new and expanding companies to the Sunshine State are working.”

Crystal Lagoons offers an innovative technology that enables the economically viable development of giant crystalline lagoons suitable for swimming and water sports. The company has a portfolio of 250 projects in different stages of development, with locations on five continents and in more than 50 countries.

Kevin Morgan, CEO of Crystal Lagoons said, “We view Florida as one of the strongest real estate and tourism states in the country. Crystal Lagoons has an extraordinary potential both in Florida and the USA, and has installed its headquarters in Miami aiming to satisfy the high demand from American developers.”

Secretary of Commerce and President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope said, “Florida is not only a top tourism destination, but also a popular destination for international business investment. Attracted by its large and booming economy, stable business environment, and international workforce, new business investments from around the world pour into Florida every year, making it one of the top U.S. destinations for foreign direct investment.  The announcement by Crystal Lagoons is important to the Florida economy and our job creation objectives for the state.

Florida has a number of strengths to leverage foreign direct investment including one of the fastest growing international economies, great air and seaport infrastructures, as well as a large and well qualified multicultural workforce. We look forward to making more announcements like this.”

Burnett, 68, of St. Augustine, is a retired Major General in the United States Air Force Florida Air National Guard. He succeeds Richard Hamann, and is appointed for a term beginning May 21, 2013, and ending March 1, 2017.

Ghyabi, 50, of Ormond Beach, is the president of Ghyabi and Associates. She previously served as the Chief Transportation Planner for Volusia County and as a civil engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Central Florida. She is reappointed for a term beginning May 21, 2013, and ending March 21, 2017.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

 Osterhaus, 42, of Tallahassee, has served as the Deputy Solicitor General and then Solicitor General of Florida.  Prior to serving as Solicitor General, Osterhaus served as the Assistant General Counsel for the Florida Department of Education from 2005 to 2007. Osterhaus received his bachelor’s degree from King College and his law degree from the University of Virginia.  Osterhaus will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marguerite Davis.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Through leadership and public service, Tim has shown a commitment to justice and Florida families.  He is a diligent and careful constitutional laweyer who respects the rule of law and the separation of powers.”

 Today, Governor Rick Scott, along with the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC), announced that aerospace-related propellant services provider United Paradyne Corp. is expanding to Kennedy Space Center as it seeks to broaden its capabilities with government and commercial launch providers and expand its research and development operations.

Governor Scott said, “This is a great win for Florida’s Space Coast. Last week we learned that in just one month Florida’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.5 to 7.2 percent and that we’ve created more than 330,000 private sector jobs in a little over two years, which is an incredible success. These 50 new aerospace jobs mean that 50 more families will be able to pursue their dreams right here in the Sunshine State.”

UPC’s return to the space center, where the California-based company served as a propellant subcontractor from 1998 to 2008, will create at least 50 jobs over the next four years with average annual salaries of $64,000. The company’s capital investment over that time will exceed $9 million.

“We’re obviously very pleased and excited about the opportunity to once again bring our operational and technical services to KSC, our nation’s premier launch facility,” said UPC President and CEO Joseph Hasay. “I would personally like to thank NASA, the State of Florida, Brevard County, and the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast for all the assistance they have provided in order to make this happen.”

The privately-held company will lease the Hypergol Manufacturing Facility at KSC, a building once slated for demolition that the EDC, working with the Kennedy Space Center Planning & Development team, helped preserve. The building will be retrofitted to satisfy both legacy and new-use needs.

The return of UPC and its new KSC base reflects how the valuable assets of the space center are being made available to commercial operations, thus laying the foundation for future growth while keeping the center a viable and attractive part of the evolving Space Coast economy.

Enterprise Florida Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization, also was among the partnering organizations that helped facilitate UPC’s return to Florida.  “UPC’s choice of Florida is a statement about our pro-business climate as well as our competitiveness,” said Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, who serves as Enterprise Florida’s president & CEO.  “We offer the workforce and partnerships on the government, corporate and community levels that help businesses succeed in our state.”

“Kennedy continues to work with the commercial community to find innovative ways to use and preserve our unique capabilities,” said Kennedy Director Bob Cabana. “With the support of premier organizations such as the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center is well on its way to becoming a world-class multi-user launch complex, we look forward to our partnership with United Paradyne and its contributions to America’s space program.”

UPC’s presence at Kennedy Space Center will help it achieve greater access to commercial launch companies and, with its plans to build a fuel manufacturing plant, allow it to offer aerospace fuels at significantly lower prices. It is expected to also help spur additional commercial endeavors at KSC.

“There is no doubt that Kennedy Space Center, even after the shuttle has stopped flying, remains an amazing asset for our economy,” said EDC President and CEO Lynda Weatherman. “It is an iconic facility known around the world, and with this powerful coalition of the EDC, the Center Planning & Development team, Enterprise Florida and others, we are working to ensure it will continue to meet the needs of commercial companies who are rightfully excited about locating there.”

Well before the shuttle ceased operations in July 2011, discussions were under way about the importance of building a varied aerospace economy on the Space Coast and of how best to ensure KSC remains a part of that process. UPC’s arrival is a major step forward in both of those efforts.

“We are pleased to see UPC select Florida for its infrastructure, workforce and business climate,” said Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “We look forward to partnering with them in supporting their initial operations and move into the KSC community.”

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About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high tech companies.  The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org

Governor Scott said, “Florida is positioned to be the number-one state for international trade. We have a diverse workforce, low taxes and a top-ranked infrastructure. As Florida’s economy continues to grow, trade missions are an important way to strengthen the state’s presence in the global market. I look forward to leading a trade delegation to Chile as we work to make Florida the number one state to live, work and raise a family.”

The trade mission also aims to attract more Chilean cargo through Florida ports. The Port of Panama City is the number one port for Chilean copper and the Miami International Airport is the top entry point for Chilean salmon. International trade moving through the state’s seaports was valued at $85.5 billion in 2012 – including $42.3 billion in imports and $43.2 billion in exports. This number is up nearly 28 percent from 2010. Maritime cargo activities at Florida ports are responsible for generating more than 550,000 direct and indirect jobs and $90 billion in total economic value. These activities contribute $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenues.

Secretary of Commerce and President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope said, “Through our international trade and export assistance programs, Enterprise Florida is helping state businesses expand on a global scale and, ultimately, create more jobs. International missions, like the one to Chile, provide a unique opportunity for Florida companies to establish relationships with international companies. These trips are especially important to our small businesses, which account for the majority of international trade in Florida.”

A Record of Success: International missions have been very successful for Florida, providing a notable return on the state’s investment into business development activities and long-range jobs-producing opportunities. Governor Scott led trade and business development missions to Panama, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Spain, United Kingdom and Colombia. The Governor’s active and innovative approach to promoting international business last year won him an award as the top U.S. governor for foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy from London-based fDi Magazine.

Governor’s Business Development Mission to Panama

Panama City

March 17-18, 2011

• The objective of this mission was to assess the opportunities from the Panama Canal Expansion.
• The delegation enhanced Florida’s economic relationship with Panama through strengthened ties between state leaders and the Republic of Panama and Florida seaports with the Panama Canal Authority.

Governor’s Business Development Mission to Canada

Montreal and Toronto

June 6-10, 2011

• The objective of this mission was to promote investment into Florida.
• Governor Scott and Florida economic development organizations participated in 155 foreign direct investment recruitment meetings.
• Governor Scott announced the Canadian security company Garda would relocate its U.S. headquarters to Boca Raton Florida, creating 100 professional jobs, which has been exceeded.

Team Florida Trade and Business Development Mission to Brazil

São Paulo and São Jose dos Campos, Brazil

October 22-27, 2011

• The objective of this mission was to provide Florida companies with an opportunity to increase sales of their products and services.
• 51 Florida companies participated in a two-day Florida expo and matchmaking event with Brazilian businesses. The Florida companies reported more than $96,684,500 in actual and expected future sales.
• Governor Scott announced that Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer would invest $50 million to establish new manufacturing facilities at Melbourne Airport. The project is slated to produce more than 200 jobs over five years.
• Meetings during the mission contributed to the state’s win of a $355 million U.S. Air Force aircraft manufacturing contract with Embraer and partner companies, which will take place in Jacksonville.

Governor’s Business Development Mission to Israel

Tel Aviv, Beersheva and Jerusalem

December 8-15, 2011

• The objective of this mission was to promote investment into Florida and promote Florida as a platform for Israeli companies into the U.S., Latin American and Caribbean market. The Governor met with potential Israeli investors, delivered presentations on Florida business climate to Israeli business organizations and was a speaker in the GLOBES, the leading financial newspaper in Israel, Conference.
• Governor Scott met with six Israeli companies that are investment or expansion prospects for Florida and spoke at the seminar “Florida: Platform for Israeli Companies Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean.” The audience included 45 Israeli business executives representing SMEs with an interest in penetrating the Latin American market.

Governor’s Business Development Mission to Spain

May 21-24, 2012

• The objective of this mission was to promote Spanish investment into Florida.
• Governor Scott met Spanish companies interested in investing in Florida and delivered presentations on Florida business climate to several Spanish business organizations.
• The following companies based in Spain will add 465 jobs within three years in Miami-Dade County:

• Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL USA): One of the world’s largest global construction companies is expanding its presence in the U.S. market by adding a new  U.S. South Region headquarters in Northwest Miami-Dade County.  Specializing in civil engineering, healthcare and university projects,  OHL’s new location will add 255 direct jobs within three years and $22       million in capital investment.
• Miami City Tour (formerly El Grupo Julià): A travel and tourism transportation company will open its first U.S. location in Miami Beach, adding 150 new direct jobs within three years and $4 million in capital investment.
• TotalBank: A leading integrated retail-commercial bank in South Florida and a member of Grupo Banco Popular Español will further expand in Miami-Dade County, adding 10 new branches with 60 direct jobs within three years and $4 million in capital investment. TotalBank is already a leading integrated retail commercial bank in South Florida with more than       $2.3 billion in assets and 19 convenient locations throughout Miami-Dade County.
• BBVA: A Spain-based retail bank that entered the Florida marketplace through acquiring Compass bank, has 45 full-service branches in the Jacksonville area along with loan production offices in Orlando and Miami. This bank is expanding in the Miami market by offering domestic private banking and wealth management services. BBVA will add 45  jobs at an average wage of $60,000 annually.

Team Florida Business Development Mission to United Kingdom

London and Farnborough, England

July 7-12, 2012

• The goal of this mission was to promote worldwide investment into Florida and further develop the state’s aviation cluster through access to the aviation and aerospace companies attending the biannual Farnborough Airshow.
• Governor Scott and Enterprise Florida met with more than 40 major aviation and seven Aerospace companies with investment potential in Florida.
• Tradeshow participants reported $41 million in combined actual and expected export sales for the next 24 months and 250 sales leads.
• Following this mission, Governor Scott announced that Pratt & Whitney would create 230 new jobs at an average wage of $81,000 as part of its efforts to establish jet engine manufacturing and test operations in Palm Beach County.

Governor’s Trade Mission to Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia

December 2-5, 2012

• The objective of this mission was to promote economic development opportunities  with Colombia.
• Governor Scott and statewide organizations participated in one-to-one business matchmaker meetings coordinated by Enterprise Florida and U.S. Commercial Service in Bogotá.
• Participating companies reported actual and expected sales in excess of $40 million as a result of the trade mission trip.