Florida Energy and Aerospace Technology Park Leesburg, Florida
A Proposed Development Master Plan Development Master Planfor
Highest and Best Use and Jobs Creation Jay Evans, City Manager J.
Douglas Drymon, Deputy City Manager Jerry Bond, Project
Manager
Slide 3
Why Leesburg? What makes Leesburg different from any other city
in Florida or the United States? Are land and climate enough?
Slide 4
For the past 3 years the City of Leesburg has experienced
stagnant or declining revenues as a result of the collapse of the
housing market and the Great Recession.For the past 3 years the
City of Leesburg has experienced stagnant or declining revenues as
a result of the collapse of the housing market and the Great
Recession. The City believes that it needs to diversify its economy
and develop new sources of revenue to fund public services and
maintain the communitys quality of life.The City believes that it
needs to diversify its economy and develop new sources of revenue
to fund public services and maintain the communitys quality of
life. The creation of new jobs will benefit those who are currently
unemployed as well as provide opportunities for the youth of the
community who will be entering the workforce in the future.The
creation of new jobs will benefit those who are currently
unemployed as well as provide opportunities for the youth of the
community who will be entering the workforce in the future. Why did
the City of Leesburg develop the Leesburg Energy and Aerospace
Program (LEAP)? Ad Valorem Revenues
Slide 5
(Continued from previous slide) The City believes the CR 470
property can be put to more productive use as a Technology Park
than in its current form.The City believes the CR 470 property can
be put to more productive use as a Technology Park than in its
current form. Development of a Technology Park is a logical
extension of the Citys investment in Smart Grid
Technology.Development of a Technology Park is a logical extension
of the Citys investment in Smart Grid Technology. Although the
Leesburg International Airport is a valuable community asset, it
has a very limited amount of vacant land on which to
expand.Although the Leesburg International Airport is a valuable
community asset, it has a very limited amount of vacant land on
which to expand. Energy and Aerospace are considered product
exporter industries that have the potential to bring new money into
the local economy.Energy and Aerospace are considered product
exporter industries that have the potential to bring new money into
the local economy. Why did the City of Leesburg develop the
Leesburg Energy and Aerospace Program (LEAP)?
Slide 6
In 2010 a Vision and Strategic Planning Session was conducted
by ERAU with community leaders and local stakeholders. Eight
Critical Factors were identified as being the keys to successfully
expanding and diversifying Leesburgs economy:
Slide 7
Who do we partner with to developed a skilled workforce? Lake
County School Board / Leesburg High School Lake County School Board
/ Leesburg High School Lake-Sumter Community College Lake-Sumter
Community College Lake Tech Lake Tech Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University University of
Central Florida University of Central Florida Center for Advanced
Turbines and Energy Research (CATER) Center for Advanced Turbines
and Energy Research (CATER) Local businesses (providing internships
and job shadowing opportunities) Local businesses (providing
internships and job shadowing opportunities) Others not identified
(USF, UF?) Others not identified (USF, UF?)
Slide 8
Leesburg High School Construction and Energy Technology -
Energy Technician Program
Slide 9
Leesburgs Power Academy will help train tomorrows SMART Grid
workforce (Excerpt) GRANVILLE, Ohio Speaking to a classroom of
seventh and eighth graders at the middle school here, Lisa Magnuson
shared a popular dictum from the power industry: if Alexander
Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, could see how his
technology had evolved over the last century, how would he react?
Hed be amazed, offered one student, mentioning that his cellphone
can play music, display movies and send text messages. text
messagestext messages And if Thomas Edison, the pioneer of power
distribution, were to return? Thomas EdisonThomas Edison Hed
probably go, Wow, everything is still the same, said Ms. Magnuson,
the director of marketing for Silver Spring Networks, which
produces hardware and software to make the electric grid as smart
as the phone network. To pull off the modernization, Ms. Magnuson
and others are trying to persuade this generation of fidgety
teenagers to put their creativity to work in the power industry
once they graduate. We want to help make utilities cool again, she
said. The power companies desperately need a jolt of youthful
energy. The industry and the creaky distribution system it manages
are on the cusp of a major technological overhaul just as about
half of electric utility employees are expected to retire in the
next 5 to 10 years.
Slide 10
Other educational & workforce training partners in this
project include
Slide 11
Leesburg is also working to formalize partnerships with UCF and
CATER
Slide 12
12 Now comes our prime asset3,300 acres of land
Slide 13
R e s i d u a l s S p r a y f i e l d s C o n s e r v a t i o n
U n e n c u m b e r e d
Slide 14
Slide 15
3,300 acre City- owned parcel at Florida's Turnpike Leesburg
Smart Grid Initiative Leesburg Int'l Airport Creating the The
Strategy: Bring together our three biggest assets Energy,
Aerospace, and Land!
Slide 16
Aerospace Energy Aviation/Aerospace Strategy: Promote a
strategic partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
which will assist Leesburg in recruiting aviation/aerospace
manufacturers and service providers. Provide a platform of space,
machinery, tools and equipment for use by entrepreneurs, small
businesses and established corporations that wish to explore new
technologies in flight and aerospace. Provide land and floor space
for short term rental within the Incubator and long-term space for
ongoing manufacturing operations within the Technology Park. Energy
Strategy: Promote the $20 million Leesburg Smart Grid, Bio-energy
Development and the Leesburg Energy and Aerospace Program. Provide
a full array of public utilities including electric, natural gas,
high speed fiber-optic communications, water, waste water and reuse
for irrigation. Provide partnering opportunities with Lake County
Schools (Leesburg High School Power Academy), Lake-Sumter Community
College and UCF, USF and/or UF.
Slide 17
NOT simply an industrial park, but a technology park designed
to create and support a synergy between companies in the fields of
alternative energy and aviation/aerospace.
Slide 18
Slide 19
Slide 20
Light Sport Aircraft
Slide 21
Slide 22
Energy & Aerospace Manufacturing Incubator The Bond
Organization | 13811 Victor Avenue | Hudson, Florida
Slide 23
Slide 24
Slide 25
Light Sport Aircraft Manufacturing Facility The Bond
Organization | 13811 Victor Avenue | Hudson, Florida
Slide 26
Light Sport Aircraft Manufacturing Facility The Bond
Organization | 13811 Victor Avenue | Hudson, Florida
Slide 27
By producing and implementing The Development Master Plan.
Business Plan.Business Plan. Marketing Plan.Marketing Plan.
Operations Plan.Operations Plan. Finance Plan.Finance Plan.
Citizens Participation Process.Citizens Participation Process.
Letters of Intent and Move-in Agreements.Letters of Intent and
Move-in Agreements. How do we prepare for the development of the
Park?
Slide 28
Identify the growth businesses within the Energy and Aerospace
industries.Identify the growth businesses within the Energy and
Aerospace industries. Prepare and execute a marketing strategy for
media advertising.Prepare and execute a marketing strategy for
media advertising. Develop and maintain a dedicated, interactive
website.Develop and maintain a dedicated, interactive
website.interactive websiteinteractive website Establish a social
media presence on Twitter, FaceBook, Linkedin and other social
media.Establish a social media presence on Twitter, FaceBook,
Linkedin and other social media. Be visible in strategic meetings,
conferences and conventions.Be visible in strategic meetings,
conferences and conventions. Involve the community in making the
Invite to prospective tenants.Involve the community in making the
Invite to prospective tenants. The Marketing Plan.
Slide 29
A new web page highlighting the assets and benefits of the
Florida Energy and Aerospace Technology Park has been designed and
is just a few days from roll-out. This web page will showcase not
only the FEAT Park, but the City of Leesburg and Leesburg
International Airport as well. A new web page highlighting the
assets and benefits of the Florida Energy and Aerospace Technology
Park has been designed and is just a few days from roll-out. This
web page will showcase not only the FEAT Park, but the City of
Leesburg and Leesburg International Airport as well.
Slide 30
Identify the growth businesses within the Energy and Aerospace
industries.Identify the growth businesses within the Energy and
Aerospace industries. Prepare and execute a marketing strategy for
media advertising.Prepare and execute a marketing strategy for
media advertising. Develop and maintain a dedicated, interactive
website.Develop and maintain a dedicated, interactive
website.interactive websiteinteractive website Establish a social
media presence on Twitter, FaceBook, Linkedin and other social
media.Establish a social media presence on Twitter, FaceBook,
Linkedin and other social media. Be visible in strategic meetings,
conferences and conventions.Be visible in strategic meetings,
conferences and conventions. Involve the community in making the
Invite to prospective tenants.Involve the community in making the
Invite to prospective tenants. The Marketing Plan.
Slide 31
Involve local public officials and employees in the on-going
operations planning and implementation process.Involve local public
officials and employees in the on-going operations planning and
implementation process. Communicate with local, state and federal
agencies and officials for the review and approval of operations
plans.Communicate with local, state and federal agencies and
officials for the review and approval of operations plans. Inform
local businesses, educators and civic organizations, and solicit
their participation.Inform local businesses, educators and civic
organizations, and solicit their participation. Put in motion
operational policies and procedures relating to the development and
ongoing operation of the Park.Put in motion operational policies
and procedures relating to the development and ongoing operation of
the Park. The Operations Plan.
Slide 32
Identify public sources of Public Funding at the local, state
and federal levels.Identify public sources of Public Funding at the
local, state and federal levels. Identify private sources of Public
Funding such as the Access to Capital Program.Identify private
sources of Public Funding such as the Access to Capital Program.
Identify sources of private funding through local banks and lending
institutions.Identify sources of private funding through local
banks and lending institutions. Identify sources of private funding
through institutional investors, venture capital and angel investor
funding sources.Identify sources of private funding through
institutional investors, venture capital and angel investor funding
sources. Match tenant funding requirements with funding
sources.Match tenant funding requirements with funding sources. The
Finance Plan.
Slide 33
Inform local decision-makers and community leaders to the
opportunities and issues relating to the planning and development
of the Park.Inform local decision-makers and community leaders to
the opportunities and issues relating to the planning and
development of the Park. Establish lines of communications among
the City Manager, decision-makers, businesses and
residents.Establish lines of communications among the City Manager,
decision-makers, businesses and residents. Provide opportunities
for businesses and citizens to become involved in the planning and
development process.Provide opportunities for businesses and
citizens to become involved in the planning and development
process. Encourage the community to promote the project via
personal contacts, business relationships and social
media.Encourage the community to promote the project via personal
contacts, business relationships and social media. The Citizen
Participation Process.
Slide 34
Determine level of support for Energy and Aerospace (Light
Sport Aviation) as industries to pursue. Determine the next steps
that staff will be authorized to perform in pursuit of the project.
Funding opportunities/preliminary engineering/marketing within
industries/timber harvest/parcel identification (on-site
marketing)/phasing (grass strip first?)/academic
partnerships/etc.
