Summary:
On April 17, 2006, the CRA approved the High Wage/High Value Job Creation Program for the purpose of locating targeted industries and targeted headquarters with high-value jobs to Downtown Orlando by leveraging available state and local economic development programs and providing location assistance for the purpose of accomplishing goals such as: diversifying the local economy, growing high-wage, high-value jobs; and growing targeted industries. In 2013 the program was amended to offer four incentives; Job Creation Incentive, Creative Village Pioneer Incentive, Downtown Living Incentive, and Public Transportation Incentive. Total incentives are payable up to $5,000 per job.
BookThatDoc.com is an innovative online solution to find and book doctors. Their service helps patients find a medical provider that meets their needs on the web and mobile devices, book appointments 24/7 and engage with peers and medical professionals on their healthcare community. Current and projected growth of the company indicates that BookThatDoc.com needs a larger facility to accommodate its needs. The company is currently operating in Altamonte Springs, Florida and is considering locating their headquarters to Downtown Orlando.
BookThatDoc.com is considering leasing approximately 2,000 – 3,000 sq ft of office space in Downtown Orlando's Exchange Building (101 South Garland Avenue). BookThatDoc.com will add 50 new jobs to Downtown over a period consisting of three (3) years with an average annual wage of $60,000 which is at least 115% above the state of Florida annual wage. BookThatDoc.com total capital investment is estimated to be $75,000 in build out and equipment. BookThatDoc.com intends to lease approximately 8,000 – 12,000 sq ft in the first multi tenant office building at Creative Village and grow to 200 employees within the next five to seven years. The CRA would provide $5,000 for each of the 50 high value/high wage jobs that will be located in Downtown Orlando over a three-year period.
On September 24, 2014 the CRA Advisory Board recommended to the CRA approval of the High Wage/High Value Program Funding Agreement between the CRA and BookThatDoc.com and authorization for the Chairman of the CRA and the Executive Director of the CRA to execute the Agreement, subject to the review and approval of the City Attorney's Office, and approval of expenditures from the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area Trust Fund in the amount of up to $250,000 in High Wage/High Value Job Creation Program funding for BookThatDoc.com.
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