Volunteer Support
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is
sustained by the tireless support of volunteers
who are committed to advancing high tech
industry throughout the region. During the past
year, nearly 540 volunteers – from numerous
partners and participants including economic
development org anizations, school districts,
universities, workforce organizations and others
– contributed more than 6,125 hours in support
of the Council.
Total Investment in High Tech
Economic Development
In order to further the missions of partner
organizations and ensure that Corridor
funds have the maximum possible impact,
the Council regularly matches its partners’
contributions. During fiscal year 2013/2014, the
Council committed nearly $302,000 in funds to
57 programs and initiatives across The Corridor.
As a result of the Council’s investments, those
projects generated an additional value
of almost $525,000 in funding and support
that without the Council’s initial investment
otherwise may not have been realized.
During 2013/2014, the Council invested $10.8
million in economic development, research,
workforce development, education and
support for the region’s evolving technology
communities. Add to that the $11.4 million in
external research matches from our Matching
Grants Research Program and $825,000 in
additional value realized through initiatives
funded by the Council and this year’s direct
impact totals more than $23 million.
Marketing the Corridor
The many projects of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council all work to
improve national awareness of the 23-county region as a thriving high tech
hub. By sharing these programs through targeted marketing programs,
the Corridor has seen an increase in regional and national publicity and
recognition including a 16-page spread in the September 2013 issue of
Florida Trend that called The Corridor a “High Tech Hotbed.”
The Corridor’s presence on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and now LinkedIn allows for direct interaction with business leaders,
technologists and economic developers to link to partner websites and
in-depth news coverage. Through the www.floridahightech.com website
and social media channels, The Corridor has placed an emphasis on
recognizing and promoting the region’s “Faces of Technology,” a program
that highlights the researchers, technicians and engineers who have helped
grow innovation across the region. The past seven years have more than
100 technology pioneers featured in the annual magazine, florida.HIGH.
TECH, with corresponding videos posted to the Corridor’s YouTube channel.
In 2013/2014, the Council leveraged its marketing budget to support
initiatives of its partners, including the continuation of a publishing
collaboration with the Central Florida Partnership and the Tampa Bay
Partnership to produce the regional economic development magazine,
Forward Florida.
The Corridor continued to be an
active participant in many prominent
technology trade shows. University,
business and economic development
leaders represented the region at I/
ITSEC, Photonics West and Bio2014, to
name a few. In addition, The Corridor
served as the proud title sponsor of
the National Academy of Inventors’
third annual conference held for the first time at the headquarters of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia, in March.
In addition to this award-winning annual magazine, florida.HIGH.TECH,
The Corridor informs readers of technological advancements across the
23 counties in its monthly eNewsletter, Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor.
The eNewsletter is distributed to more than 4,500 readers each month. It
was redesigned this year to offer a quick digest of regional high tech news
and highlights of partner achievements, maintaining regular updates on
research from our Corridor universities, a calendar of upcoming dates
from the tech community and spotlights on our current class of Faces
of Technology. If you would like to be added to the distribution list
for Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor, please send an email to
[email protected].
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