RTS2015
Reverse Trade Show Attracts More Than 200 Area Business Representatives

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flaglerFlagler Breaks Ground  
for Port Canaveral Logistics Center

On July 27, local business and political leaders gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of the Port Canaveral Logistics Center at Titusville, the Port's first off-site warehouse project and an important step in building a world-class logistics hub in Central Florida.
 
The Center is an essential part of the infrastructure needed to attract distribution customers to the area. Titusville officials are enthusiastic because their community was hit hard by downsizing at Kennedy Space Center and growth of a strong logistics/distribution industry would provide much -- needed local jobs -- an estimated 10,000-15,000 for Central Florida during the next decade.
 
Flagler Logistics is funding and developing the Center on U.S. 1 near I-95, which the Port Authority will lease (with an option to buy) and sub-lease to its customers. This is the first Class A warehousing in Brevard County. It will feature 246,240 square feet of dividable space with 30-foot clearance, truck docks and rail-side loading doors opening onto a new spur from the nearby Florida East Coast rail line. Completion is scheduled for May 2016.

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brevard
Doing Business in Brevard Forum
Draws Sold-out Crowd

Panel L-R: FIT President/CEO Anthony Cantanese, CareerSource Brevard President Lisa Rice, Port CEO John E. Walsh, Senior Director EDC of Florida's Space Coast Gregory J. Weiner and Vice President Space Florida Keevin Williams

The Orlando Business Journal has sponsored popular "Doing Business In..." luncheon/panel discussions in counties around the metropolitan area for several years. In July, it expanded the program to host "Doing Business in Brevard" for the first time. The event at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne sold out, with more than 200 business people attending to learn about new opportunities in the county's changing business environment.
 
Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh served on the expert panel with representatives of Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), CareerSource Brevard, the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast (EDC) and Space Florida.

To economically stabilize a community long dependent upon tourism and federal space programs, these organizations all are focusing on initiatives that create diversity. They include the Port's push to increase cargo and logistics business; the EDC's pursuit of a broad variety of job-creating industries; Space Florida's development of a multi-purpose launch pad for smaller payload users and FIT's work on supporting technology entrepreneurism and developing new degree programs in law and medicine.

As Port CEO Walsh commented, "Smart economic growth takes the involvement of an entire community and we are fortunate to have that here in Brevard County."

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EPIC
A Norwegian Giant  
Coming to Central Florida 
Norwegian Cruise Lines recently announced that Port Canaveral will homeport the Norwegian Epic -- at 1,081 feet and 155,873 gross tons, the fifth largest cruise ship in the world -- starting in November 2016.
 
"Bringing Norwegian Epic, our largest ship and our newest ever to homeport in Port Canaveral, represents a big opportunity for the Norwegian brand," said Andy Stuart, Norwegian's president and chief operating officer. "We know there is pent-up demand from our loyal guests to cruise from Port Canaveral and we are excited to bring this spectacular ship to the Greater Orlando area."

The 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic will join Royal Caribbean International's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, arriving in the same month, as the Port's largest homeported ships ever. Norwegian Epic has more than double the capacity of the 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit, which will sail out of the Port from this fall through spring 2016.
 
Norwegian Epic offers upgraded amenities that include a multi-slide water park, rock-climbing, bowling alley, 20 dining options and a state-of-the-art spa. In addition to couple and family accommodations, it features unique staterooms designed and priced for solo travelers.

Six- and seven-day cruises aboard Norwegian Epic will take guests from Port Canaveral to the eastern Caribbean or western Caribbean. Three- and four-day vacations to The Bahamas also are scheduled in January and March 2017.

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salt
Morton Salt  
Expanding Production Capabilities 
Morton Salt is introducing food grade manufacturing capabilities at its salt production facility in Port Canaveral, including a state-of-the-art sea salt production line. The expansion will add more than 45,000 square feet to its existing footprint dedicated to the production and warehousing of food grade sea salt and food grade solar salt.
Expansion at Port Canaveral begins late summer with food grade salt production expected to begin in the first quarter of 2016.
 
"Being vertically integrated with our own sea salt production capability will enable Morton Salt to actively participate in this growing market and further strengthen our customer service and support," said Jen Schipper, Senior Director of Industrial Sales at Morton Salt. "This is critical as food manufacturers continue to incorporate sea salt into more of their product offerings and turn to us for reliable, high quality supply."

According to Mintel GNPD, sea salt was used in 26 percent of all new food product launches in 2014 that contained salt.

Morton Salt invested approximately $20 million to introduce food grade production capabilities at its Port Canaveral and Grantsville facilities. With these enhancements, Morton Salt is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of food manufacturers with its network of 12 food grade production sites in North America.

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awardsCanaveral Wins Industry Awards
for Communicating with Community
"When port authorities communicate strategically with their many audiences, including their communities, business leaders and policy makers, they're better able to show their tremendous value as drivers of economic development, environmental enhancement and job creation." -- Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).

Port Canaveral received five awards in this year's AAPA Communications Program, including  a top honor for a special public event -- the arrival of our new cargo cranes -- and its efforts to raise public awareness and draw media coverage. The Port also earned awards for two other public events -- the boat launch complex dedication and the 2014 State of the Port Business Community briefing -- plus two major Port publications -- the Port Canaveral Magazine and the Canaveral 2015 Report.
 
Among the judge's comments: "Nice job in linking the commercial mission of the port with goals that are important to the community." "Shows an active thriving port that is engaged with community, customers and public. Looks like a great port with lots of future growth and potential!"

Port Canaveral is one of 25 seaports out of 160 members that will be awarded Communications honors at a November 4 awards luncheon in conjunction with AAPA's Annual Convention, to be held in Miami this year.

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cfp
Central Florida Partnership Task Force 
Focuses on Port Canaveral 
Central Florida Partnership President Jacob V. Stuart addresses area business leaders who are working to identify the tough challenges and great opportunities resulting from regional growth. Port CEO John E. Walsh was invited to update the group on the many aspects of Port Canaveral's growth generated by new cruise industry trends and new Port inland facility initiatives. 

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cove
New Tenant Development Guidelines Coming for The Cove

The Canaveral Port Authority is working with the Cove expansion developer, Port tenants and the community to develop architectural and procedural guidelines for new and future projects within the Cove Commercial District, an area from the west side of Cruise Terminal 1 to the east side of Bluepoints Marina.

The guidelines are designed to help create a destination experience for visitors, ensure that all tenant properties participate in and benefit from improvements to the District and minimize the effort and expense to tenants and prospective tenants in gaining Port Authority approval for new projects.

A workshop in July introduced draft guidelines, along with a review of all the issues that will effect projects in the area, including the Cove Redevelopment Project, harbor widening and deepening, cruise and comprehensive master planning.

Architectural guidelines are intended to promote diversity and individual character in Cove buildings while also encouraging pedestrian traffic, a harmonious environment, building transparency and safety.

Separate draft process guidelines for small and large projects set out three steps to approval: an initial sketch concept review with Port staff and Commissioners followed by two phases of substantive submissions.
 
The draft process guidelines were sent to all Cove district tenants in late July and currently are posted on the Port website for public input. Once input has been received and incorporated, another workshop will be scheduled to present updated drafts.

Guidelines eventually will be developed for all tenant areas. 
  
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