This week, Enterprise Florida opened the Florida Pavilion at the 52nd International Paris Air Show. The Florida Pavilion is once again the largest exhibit of any U.S. state at the event, showcasing 16 Florida aviation, aerospace, defense and homeland security businesses and organizations. The International Paris Air Show is the world’s largest air show and will be open through June 23. Governor Rick Scott previously joined Florida business leaders at the International Paris Air Show, Farnborough International Airshow and other economic development missions, including Argentina earlier this year.
Governor Scott said, “The Florida Pavilion at the International Paris Air Show gives Florida business leaders the opportunity to meet with leading global aviation and aerospace companies so they know that Florida is serious about providing the best business climate in the nation. We have created more than 1.37 million private sector jobs since December 2010 and the state economy continues to strengthen. The aviation industry is key to Florida’s success and we are confident that the Florida Delegation’s time meeting face to face with aerospace business leaders will result in more jobs for Floridians.”
The International Paris Air Show provides Enterprise Florida and the businesses and organizations exhibiting in the Florida Pavilion with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their competitive advantages in the aviation and aerospace industry. EFI vice chairman Stan W. Connally, Jr., president & CEO of Gulf Power Company, and EFI leadership are hosting more than 50 business development meetings with industry leading companies to share Florida’s business story.
“Florida’s small businesses see a significant impact from shows like Paris,” said Connally. “They create some of the most innovative products and services in the industry, and the Paris Air Show allows them to exhibit to global aviation and aerospace companies much more cost-effectively than if they tried to reach these companies on their own. The opportunities they have here to grow their businesses and reach new markets in turn strengthen the state’s aviation and aerospace sector.”
Statewide partners like Space Florida help lead the state into the next stage of aerospace growth. The aerospace economic development agency will be at the show to discuss everything Florida has to offer industry leaders. “Space Florida is pleased to join Enterprise Florida in representing the State of Florida at what has become the single most important global aerospace gathering for this industry, the International Paris Air Show,” said Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “It is an opportunity-rich, deal-rich environment, and we look forward to the expertise and relationships that can be gained from our participation in Paris. Such opportunities will help Space Florida and Enterprise Florida continue our path to make Florida the leading state in the global aerospace industry.”
Florida is home to more than 2,100 aerospace and aviation companies employing more than 89,000 skilled workers. The state is a major hub for flight training, a leader in maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) operations, and home to leading manufacturers of all types of aircraft and components. Florida’s overall manufacturing sector has more than 19,600 companies that employ more than 340,000 professionals.
In total, 16 Florida companies and organizations are participating in the Florida Pavilion, including:
- AeroStar Training Services, LLC – Kissimmee
- Airgroup Dynamics, Inc. – Orlando
- Aviation Inflatables Inc. – Sunrise
- Avionica Inc. – Miami
- Dayton-Granger, Inc. – Fort Lauderdale
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach
- Future Metals LLC – Tamarac
- HEICO Space – VPT, Inc. – Hollywood
- HEICO Space – 3D Plus – Hollywood
- JBT Corporation – Orlando
- Parts Base Inc. – Boca Raton
- Uno Aviation LLC – Fort Lauderdale
- Florida Power & Light Co. – Juno Beach
- Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation – Daytona Beach
- Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast – Rockledge
- The Beacon Council – Miami
EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. In fiscal year 2015-16, Florida small and mid-sized businesses reported more than $911 million in total projected export sales following international missions and trade shows. Last year, EFI provided 129 Target Sector Trade Grants totaling nearly $490,000 to qualified show exhibitors. Those small businesses reported more than $426 million in total expected export sales.
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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.