rship
It will also focus on new business incubation, manufacturability enhancement
programs, and coordinating business and economic development with the
goal of generating unprecedented growth for partner company revenues and
high tech job creation in Florida.
Lofty goals? Yes. But just Google “the SEMATECH effect” to see what
happened in Austin, Texas, where the cluster of semiconductor companies now
exceeds 260.
A study by AngelouEconomics credited more than 7,200 high-value, high tech
jobs created directly by the development of Austin’s semiconductor industry
over a 20-year period … not to mention nearly 20,000 jobs created in the Dallas
MSA, nearly 200 miles away where the SEMATECH project inspired six new
facilities, including a $3 billion Texas Instruments expansion. Add to those more
than 18,000 either indirectly involved or induced by the growth of the cluster,
the study said, for a whopping $25,754,901,431 economic impact.
Disney’s “happiest place on earth” grew to become Central Florida’s
largest employer – reportedly now providing jobs to 70,000. According to
Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission President Rick Weddle,
independent studies conducted by Arduin Associates projects that achieving
development of a high tech cluster similar to what happened in Austin would
result in nearly 20,000 jobs in just one decade.
Considering that Walt Disney World grew to that size over five decades, one
can only wonder just how big the impact of this project will be … both from its
scientific and economic potential.
florida.HIGH.TECH 2015
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