Jet Blue...

Metro Orlando EDC utilizes UCF as a valuable resource in relocation/expansion projects. In most cases, these projects are confidential. In this instance, the EDC provided UCF with very basic information about a confidential project named Project Red Dog. Project Red Dog was a company, working through a site selection team. The company was interested in certain areas of aeronautics and training; and was looking to make a substantial capital investment (i.e. building a new facility). The site selection team could not tell us what they would be doing in the new facility. From this very basic information, we were able to provide information about real world research that UCF was conducting at that very moment in simulation and training. UCF's Dr. Randall Shumaker, Director of the Institute for Simulation & Training, organized a team of UCF faculty/researchers. These faculty/researchers met with the company's site selection team and shared with them current research UCF was doing in connection with various firms nationwide. At the conclusion of this meeting, it was evident that the site selection team realized the assets that UCF had to offer if their company were to locate to Orlando. In the end, UCF assisted the community in demonstrating a Central Florida advantage. Jet Blue a/k/a Project Red Dog announced their decision to locate Jet Blue University and a LiveTV in-flight install facility in Orlando. "In 2005, JetBlue officially opened the new JetBlue University training facility in Orlando. In 2006, JetBlue will break ground on a new crewmember housing facility, named the JetBlue Lodge, adjacent to the training center in Orlando. We expect this decision to be cost-effective in the long term, given our large training requirements in Orlando. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and many others in and around the City of Orlando were instrumental in partnering with the airline to ensure the proper long-term infrastructure is in place to support the airline well into the future." (source) This new project resulted in an investment of $160 million, $4.3 million in new taxes for public schools, 154 new jobs at an average wage of $57,180 and $9 million in new payroll to the local economy.

For more information contact John Fremdstad at john.fremstad@orlandoedc.com.