Florida again hosts largest exhibit of any U.S. state at world’s largest air show

PARIS, FRANCE – Governor Rick Scott led the inauguration ceremony for the Florida Pavilion at the 2015 International Paris Air Show. This year, the EFI-organized Florida Pavilion is once again the largest of any state, showcasing 17 Florida aviation and aerospace, and defense and homeland security small businesses and organizations

Governor Scott said, “Florida is the best state in the nation for business. We are here to meet with leading global aviation and aerospace companies so they know we’re serious about providing the best business climate in the nation in Florida. We have created more than 865,000 private sector jobs in four and a half years and the state economy continues to strengthen. In fact, more than 40 aviation and aerospace and defense and homeland security competitive job creation projects have been established in our state since our business development mission to the Paris Air Show in 2013. The aviation industry is key to Florida’s success and we know our time here will result in more jobs for Floridians.”

The Paris Air Show provides Enterprise Florida and the small businesses and organizations exhibiting in the Florida Pavilion with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their competitive advantages in the aviation and aerospace industry. Governor Scott, EFI president & CEO Bill Johnson and EFI leadership are also hosting business development meetings with nearly 40 industry leading companies to share Florida’s business story with key industry leaders.

“We’re here to tell the Florida business story to every company we can meet with and to help the companies and organizations that have travelled with us to have a very successful show,” said EFI president & CEO of EFI, Bill Johnson. “Governor Scott is here and Florida again has the largest contingent of any U.S. state. Companies see that sort of commitment and they are compelled to take a look at Florida for their next job creation or expansion project. It also allows the small businesses and organizations here to increase their exposure and get the most out of their time at the show. Opportunities like this are critical to our efforts and we look forward to a great show.”

Since Governor Scott’s last business development mission to the Paris Air Show in 2013, more than 40 aviation & aerospace and defense & homeland security competitive job creation projects have been established in Florida. As a result of these projects, more than 7,600 jobs and $1 billion in capital investments will be created in the state.

During the 2013 mission, Governor Scott announced a number of significant projects for the state including: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University’s partnership with Diamond Aircraft Industries to establish the company’s manufacturing presence at the Daytona Beach campus; Vision Systems, a Lyon, France-based tier one supplier for the aeronautics, marine and, automotive industries, will open its first-ever U.S. subsidiary on the Space Coast; and ATR North America’s will relocate its American headquarters to Miami Springs.

In total, 17 Florida companies and organizations are participating in the Florida Pavilion, including:

• Aerospace Precision – Hollywood
• Airgroup Dynamics, Inc. – Orlando
• Avionica, Inc. – Miami
• The Beacon Council – Miami
• Delta International, Inc. – Miami
• Discovery Aviation, Inc. – Melbourne
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach
• FLG Technics – Davie
• Florida Aeronautics, Inc. – Pompano Beach
• Future Metals – Tamarac
• Haskell Company – Jacksonville
• Honeycomb Co. Of America – Sarasota
• JBT AeroTech – Orlando
• Loos & Company – Naples
• Pan American Tools Corporation – Ft. Lauderdale
• Relli Technology – Boca Raton
• Team Volusia EDC – Daytona Beach

With approximately 2,200 exhibiting companies from 44 countries and more than 139,000 trade visitors from all over the world, the International Paris Air Show is this year’s largest aviation and aerospace exhibition and display.

Florida has announced a number of competitive economic development project wins and job growth milestones recently, representing hundreds of new jobs and capital investment from the aerospace & aviation and defense & homeland security industries, including:

• Embraer – Melbourne
  • 600 new jobs, $15 million capital investment

• Lockheed Martin – Riviera Beach
  • 400+ jobs added in Palm Beach County, plans to add 100 more in 2016

• Flightstar Aircraft Services – Jacksonville
  • 100 new jobs added since 2013

• Edge Aerodynamix – Panama City
  • 120 new jobs, $77.92 million capital investment

• Aerosync Support – Santa Rosa County
  • 25 new jobs, $1.75 million capital investment

• Kellstrom Defense – Miramar
  • 20 new jobs, $5.9 million capital investment

International trade and foreign-direct investment accounted for about one-sixth of the state’s economic output last year and supports an estimated one million jobs. Florida continues to have the highest trade surplus among all states, with total trade exports plus imports hitting a record of $162.2 billion. Florida has a number of strengths to leverage, including one of the fastest-growing international economies, strong air and seaport infrastructure, and a large and well-qualified multicultural workforce. Learn more about Enterprise Florida’s export assistance programs.

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