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Modeling, Simulation & Training Industry Is Important to Florida’s Economy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Morgan L. McCord
850.212.5052
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The latest Economic Commentary from Florida TaxWatch highlights Florida’s successful Modeling, Simulation and Training (MS&T) sector. Simulation and training exercises replicate life-like situations in a controlled environment, which allows for substantial cost-savings especially important during government sequestration and private sector cutbacks.
“Investing in our state’s MS&T sector presents Florida government and businesses with an opportunity to save money while diversifying our state economy and bringing high-wage, high-skill STEM jobs to Floridians,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog.
Currently more than 1,000 companies employ 27,000 people in Florida’s MS&T sector at an average salary of $69,797. According to the report it is estimated that the sector contributed to more than 60,700 combined direct, indirect, and induced jobs in 2011.
“Florida leads the nation in Modeling, Simulation, and Training and this knowledge based industry will pay dividends for Floridians for years to come,” said U.S. Senator George LeMieux, Chairman of the TaxWatch Center for Competitive Florida. “With applications in the military, industry, and healthcare, MS&T is creating the kind of high paying jobs that Florida needs to build a better economy.”
MS&T was first developed to train military personnel, but the field has grown to serve emergency responders, medical personnel, and those in education and aviation. The state’s MS&T sector develops unique partnerships between the military, Florida universities, private companies and the government to increase Florida’s global competitiveness and remain an industry leader.
“The growth and development of the MS&T sector in Florida will help to strengthen the state’s economy and create jobs for Florida’s STEM graduates,” said Jerry D. Parrish, Ph.D., Florida TaxWatch Chief Economist and Executive Director of the TaxWatch Center for Competitive Florida.
Florida universities are pioneering the curriculum for MS&T students and partnering with Florida companies to deliver the latest in industry technology. The University of Central Florida has the nation’s largest MS&T program, an incubator system and is home to the Institute for Simulation & Training. Full Sail University also prepares students for careers in the MS&T sector.
“The MS&T sector is an important part of Florida’s economy and has the potential for substantial growth,” said John Zumwalt, III., Chairman of Florida TaxWatch.
The report is available at: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001YWwPnq_FelC0TJIcwf-ZYSKZWe5VrNdaQKz1DOcEP….
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Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute that over its 32-year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars. Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web at www.FloridaTaxWatch.org.
