From charming surf towns to bustling big cities, The Corridor region offers something for everyone. Each appealing individually for their unique assets, our 23 counties are even stronger when their assets are combined through collaborations facilitated by The Corridor Council and our partners in economic development.
Explore the map below to learn more about doing business in The Corridor.
Click on the counties in this map of our region to explore their unique assets and connect with economic developers who can help you do business in the county.
Volusia County is home to some of the top-ranked cities to live and hottest real-estate markets in the country. Businesses are served by two major highways, an international airport and access to nearby sea ports and railways. From beaches of the Atlantic to the St. John’s River to natural springs, the county also offers diverse lifestyle amenities. Volusia County is part of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership encompassing seven counties.
Estimated population: 518,660 (as of 2017)
Education:
Daytona State College
Bethune Cookman University
Stetson University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Volusia County Schools (K-12)
Located at the crossroads of two major highways, Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike, Sumter County offers businesses a pro-business leadership team and one of the lowest tax rates in the state. A hub for agriculture, manufacturing and distribution, it is also a great place to live, evidenced by one of the nation’s top-selling, master-planned communities, The Villages® development.
Estimated population: 125,165 (as of 2018)
Education:
Lake-Sumter State College
Sumter County School District (K-12)
With a business climate that has fostered quality development, Seminole County is home to a plethora of equally dynamic corporations and headquarters, as well as the emergence of many high tech companies. Ongoing expansion at the Orlando Sanford International Airport, coupled with the state’s largest foreign trade zone designation, has helped it become the third-most active international airport in Florida. Seminole County has prepared for growth with a new expressway, pre-approved development sites, specialized job training and infrastructure incentives. The county’s public-school system is rated among the highest in the state and the median household effective buying income is the highest in the region. Seminole County is part of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership encompassing seven counties.
Estimated population: 468,588 (as of 2018)
Education:
Seminole State College
Rasmussen College
Seminole County Public Schools (K-12)
From an emerging pre-eminent research university in the east to the world’s most popular tourist attractions in the west, Orange County offers a well-balanced economic base poised for future growth. Much of the area’s activity stems from progress in the city of Orlando, which has been recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, a top city for job growth and an “American City of the Future.” Residents enjoy a rich lifestyle with cultural opportunities, amateur and professional sports, and an abundance of recreational activities. Orange County partners with the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership driving economic development in seven counties.
Estimated population: 1,290,216 (as of 2017)
Education:
University of Central Florida
Rollins College
Valencia College
Full Sail University
Orange County Public Schools (K-12)
Manatee County gives tech startups a home. The groundswell of tech business growth in Florida is nowhere more apparent than in Manatee County, a region ripe for tech startups, as well as established businesses. Home to innovative tech companies that provide services such as software support, computer and software systems design, data processing facilities management and data storage, Manatee County also offers available sites and a lower cost of doing business, when compared to traditional technology hubs like California or the Northeast. Additionally, its coastal climate and year-round recreational opportunities create an appealing combination for attracting talented employees. The county’s collaborative partnerships provide customized and flexible training programs, and access to funding sources for employee skills upgrades. A highly responsive workforce development ecosystem adapts to employers’ needs as evolving technologies place new demands on training your workforce.
Estimated population: 363,542 (as of 2017)
Education:
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
State College of Florida
Manatee County School District (K-12)
Like the serene Peace River, innovation flows through Hardee County. Robust educational programs foster an environment of growth and progress for startups and small businesses. An initiative of the Hardee County Industrial Development Authority, the TechRiver facility offers space and training capabilities for technology workforce. Hardee County is a member of the Florida’s Heartland REDI Inc., a nonprofit organization providing economic development support throughout six counties in South Central Florida.
Estimated population: 27,326 (as of 2017)
Education:
South Florida State College
TechRiver University
Hardee County School District (K-12)
With one of the nation’s best-performing and fastest-growing metropolitan areas, and its own international airport, Sarasota County is an ideal location for business. Home to pristine beaches, world-class cultural institutions and a top school district, it is also a perfect place to live. Sarasota County enjoys a skilled workforce supported by several institutions of higher education and a local incentives program that solves three key business problems: time, cost and uncertainty.
Estimated population: 416,429 (as of 2018)
Education:
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Ringling College of Art & Design
New College of Florida
State College of Florida
Sarasota County Schools (K-12)
From the wooded trails of the Highlands Hammock State Park to the coastline of Lake Istokpoga, Highlands County’s lush landscape is the ideal backdrop for life, work and recreation. This part of the state offers a strong agritech environment and burgeoning aviation and aerospace industry. The county is centrally situated, with more than 86 percent of Florida’s population located within a two-hour radius. Highlands County is a member of the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity, a nonprofit organization providing economic development support throughout six counties in South Central Florida.
Estimated population: 100,177 (as of 2017)
Education:
South Florida State College
K-12: Highlands County School Board
The embodiment of small-town spirit, DeSoto County’s rich agricultural history is evidenced by more than 400 buildings and homes on the National Register of Historic Places. With several thousand business and housing developments on the horizon, the county is poised for growth. DeSoto County is a member of the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity, a nonprofit organization providing economic development support throughout six counties in South Central Florida.
Estimated population: 36,506 (as of 2017)
Education:
South Florida State College
DeSoto County Schools (K-12)
With one engineer for every 34 jobs and the largest share of STEM-related jobs, Brevard County – also known as Florida’s Space Coast – has the most concentrated high tech workforce in Florida and 10th most-concentrated in the nation. With the world’s only quintamodal transportation hub, the county offers access to air, sea, space, highway and rail travel. Home to one of the largest foreign trade zones in the country, it boasts a superior infrastructure for international trade, including Port Canaveral, the second-busiest port in the world, a freight railway system and major interstate highways. The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast serves all of Brevard County, which encompasses 1,557 square miles and covers 72 miles of Florida’s Central East Coast.
Estimated population: 568,183 (as of 2017)
Education:
Florida Institute of Technology
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Space Coast/Perimeter
Eastern Florida State College
Keiser University
Webster University
Brevard Public Schools (K-12)
Recognized among the state and nation’s fastest-growing areas, Osceola County’s business advantages include thousands of acres of land ready for building/development, close proximity to America’s only spaceport-airport-seaport grouping, and easy access to the nation’s largest universities and an institution that was named the best community college in the nation. The area garnered international attention when it became home to BRIDG at NeoCity, a versatile boutique microelectronics fabrication facility located at the heart of a 500-acre technology district. Osceola County is part of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership encompassing seven counties.
Estimated population: 325,168 (as of 2017)
Education:
Valencia College: Osceola Campus, Poinciana Campus, Advanced Manufacturing Training Center
Osceola County School District (K-12)
NeoCity Academy
Ideally located between two major metro areas, Polk County boasts a pro-business environment with a potent blend of connectivity, workforce talent and low operating costs. Businesses enjoy access to two international airports within one-hour’s drive, proximity to sea ports and more rail miles than anywhere else in the region. As well, a workforce of 3.5 million exists within a 70-mile radius. Polk County is part of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership encompassing seven counties.
Estimated population: 652,256 (as of 2017)
Education:
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Southern College
Polk State College
Southeastern University
Warner University
Webber International University
Polk County Public Schools (K-12)
Hillsborough County is one of the state’s most densely populated and proudly houses one of the state’s pre-eminent research universities. The county seat, Tampa, is the eighth fastest-growing American city and has been ranked among top big cities in the U.S. by WalletHub, placing No. 4 in the category of job opportunity. This county also boasts a vibrant startup community with small-business resources, incubators and accelerators like Tampa Bay Wave, Florida-Israel Business Accelerator, Embarc Collective, Entrepreneur Collaborative Center and the university-affiliated USF CONNECT.
Estimated population: 1,351,087 (as of 2017)
Education:
University of South Florida System
University of Tampa
Hillsborough Community College
Florida College
Hillsborough County Public Schools (K-12)
Anchored by the urban markets of Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Pinellas County has the second-largest base of manufacturing employment in Florida and is home to three Fortune 500 headquarters – Jabil, Tech Data and Raymond James. An extensive network of suppliers, service providers and business associations support operations in varied high tech sectors. Through relationships with major universities and research institutes, Pinellas County has become a center for research and development in marine science, electronic instruments, medical devices, sensors, nanotechnology and health care. It is also home to numerous business accelerators, which are committed to nurturing and building new ventures.
Estimated population: 949,842 (as of 2017)
Education:
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Stetson University College of Law
Eckerd College
St. Petersburg College
Pinellas County Schools (K-12)
Located at the apex of the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area, Pasco County’s tremendous benefits for business include easy access to major interstate highways, rail lines, air transportation and a deep-sea port, as well as a diverse, skilled workforce. Examples of industries thriving in Pasco County include aviation & defense, manufacturing and providers of professional services. Entrepreneurs are not left out; the SMARTstart program focuses on helping companies start and grow with innovative programming and tools needed for success.
Estimated population: 522,802 (as of 2018)
Education:
Saint Leo University
Pasco-Hernando State College
AmSkills – Apprenticeship Program
Pasco County Schools (K-12)
As the geographic center of Florida, Hernando County offers an ideal market location in the Tampa Bay region. Economic activity centers around the 2,400-acre Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport & Technology Center and several large parcels near I-75, which are available for industrial growth. Hernando County is part of CareerSource Pasco Hernando providing access to a diverse and abundant workforce along with robust training grant programs. Additionally, commercial, residential and industrial tax rates in Hernando County are among the lowest in Tampa Bay. As the motto suggests, this Adventure Coast setting is “a great place to start and the best place to stay.”
Estimated population: 181,882 (as of 2017)
Education:
Pasco-Hernando State College
Hernando County School District (K-12)
Citrus County is located on the state’s picturesque Nature Coast, a preserve of untouched Florida landscape with unique inland and coastal treasures. The Suncoast Parkway 2 highway extension has begun and will complete a north/south direct route to Tampa Bay. Citrus also has an express link to the Florida’s Turnpike mainline to Orlando and all points east. Key industries in the region include health care, business services, manufacturing, information technology and energy generation with strong growth potential in a county committed to its natural environment.
Estimated population: 150,920 (as of 2018)
Education:
College of Central Florida
Withlacoochee Technical College
Citrus County Schools (K-12)
The small-town charm of Lake County is complemented by its varied and growing industry base. This region offers support through three Business Opportunity Centers, the Made in Lake manufacturing program and four strategic growth corridors including Wellness Way, an area designed to bolster the county’s health and life sciences cluster. The county benefits from Central Florida’s talent pipeline with more than 500,000 students enrolled at higher education institutions within a 100-mile radius. Lake County is part of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership encompassing seven counties.
Estimated population: 326,215 (as of 2017)
Education:
Lake-Sumter State College
Lake Technical College
Beacon College
Lake County Schools (K-12)
Flagler County has a strong labor force with growth efforts focused on the health sciences, sports tourism and advanced manufacturing industries. Its Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program entitles local businesses to up to double the incentive offered in many other communities, and programs like 1 Million Cups Flagler County create an ideal environment for entrepreneurs.
Estimated population: 105,015 (as of 2017)
Education:
Daytona State College
Flagler Technical Institute
Flagler Schools (K-12)
Putnam County embodies old Florida charm, evident by its historic homes and festival celebrations of native Florida azaleas, catfish, blue crab and blueberries. Equidistant from Jacksonville and Orlando, it offers a diverse labor force, access to major railways and highways, and a port on the St. John’s River – one of the world’s few rivers that flows north. Putnam County is part of JAX USA and the North Florida Economic Development Partnership.
Estimated population: 72,435 (as of 2017)
Education:
St. Johns River State College
Putnam County School District (K-12)
Located on the state’s Nature Coast, Levy County provides unparalleled access to Florida wilderness. The site contains miles of preserved coastline, wetlands, forests and springs, as well as established industrial parks that are primed for commercial growth. Business in the county reflects the budding sectors of agritech, life sciences and manufacturing, centered around the production of food, chemicals and minerals. Among these natural elements, paper and other wood products account for approximately $425 million in local economic impact.
Estimated population: 39,713 (as of 2017)
Education:
College of Central Florida – Levy
Levy County School District (K-12)
Marion County is an ideal location for businesses in a diverse range of industries – from defense to health care to agriculture and more. Globally recognized for its equine industry, the county is also a center for manufacturing and distribution thanks to its natural resources and location near the state’s center. Driven by activity in the city of Ocala, economic growth is backed by a strong workforce and intermodal transportation advantages.
Estimated population: 343,778 (as of 2017)
Education:
College of Central Florida
Marion County Public Schools (K-12)
Home to one of the state’s pre-eminent research universities, one of the nation’s top state colleges and a public school district ranked among Florida’s top 6 percent, Alachua County is a workforce powerhouse. Known for its lush farmland, this county also features a vibrant startup scene and robust research capabilities, including one of the state’s only turnkey biotech incubators.
Estimated population: 259,865 (as of 2017)
Education:
University of Florida
Santa Fe College
Alachua County Public Schools (K-12)
A regional economic development initiative of:
