The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

What The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast does

The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast (EDC) is a non-profit, public-private economic development organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Rockledge, Florida. It serves as the officially designated economic development body for Brevard County and operates as a community coalition with 170+ investor companies across seven membership tiers, supplemented by state, county, and federal (including DoD) grants. The EDC's core function is to attract, retain, and grow businesses on Florida's Space Coast by delivering a portfolio of services: site selection assistance with shovel-ready inventory, packaging of state and local incentives (Capital Investment Tax Credit, HIPI grants, Quick Response Training, Ad Valorem Tax Abatement), workforce development through the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program, international trade support via Foreign Trade Zone #136 at Port Canaveral, and innovation ecosystem connectivity through NASA Kennedy Space Center, Groundswell Startups, and Florida Tech's Vertex Applied Innovation Hub.

The EDC's services target vertical sectors rather than selling a unified technology product; it does not develop proprietary software, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with field-based project managers (e.g., Cammie Goode on NASA technology docking, Edgar Campa-Palafox as VP of Business Development) working enterprise accounts such as Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, Embraer, Argotec, and Health First. Distribution is supplemented by chamber-of-commerce referral networks (Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville) and co-development partners (Enterprise Florida, Space Florida, Florida High Tech Corridor Council). Services are provided at no direct cost to businesses, with operating economics driven by investor dues and public funding rather than transaction-based pricing.

The EDC has documented material project wins since at least 2005 (1,000 NOTU Navy jobs retained), 2012 (Project Magellean / Northrop Grumman, 1,000 jobs, $61M), 2017 (Lockheed Martin FBM HQ, 350 jobs, $40M), and continues through 2026 with Argotec's US entry and Acadian Contractors' 100-job expansion. The organization's competitive position rests on jurisdictional monopoly (official EDC status), the unique aerospace cluster anchored by NASA and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and deep engineering talent density (most engineers per 1,000 workers of any Florida metro or top-25 U.S. metro).

Name

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

Legal name

Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast

Website

https://spacecoastedc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast is a non-profit, official economic development organization for Brevard County, Florida, providing site selection, incentive packaging, workforce training, and innovation ecosystem services to businesses relocating to or expanding within the Space Coast region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land & Development Site Brokerage (BPAJABAG), Land Brokerage (Raw Land & Development Sites) (FSAEAJAD)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Business incentive programs
• Workforce development programs
• Foreign trade zone services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockledge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investor Contributions: The EDC receives funding from over 170 investor companies at various levels (Governor, Leadership, Board of Advisor, Corporate, Chairman, Ambassador, Patron) who invest in Brevard County's economic future.
2. Public Funding and Grants: The EDC receives funding from state of Florida, local jurisdictions (Brevard County), and various grants including DoD grants for infrastructure projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast is a non-profit economic development organization serving as the official EDC for Brevard County. It provides a portfolio of services including site selection assistance (building and land inventory, shovel-ready sites, comparative real estate analysis), customized incentive package navigation (Capital Investment Tax Credit, HIPI grants, Quick Response Training Program, Ad Valorem Tax Abatement), Opportunity Zones guidance, workforce training through the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program, and innovation ecosystem connectivity via NASA partnerships, Groundswell Startups, and the Florida Tech Vertex Applied Innovation Hub.

Product overview

The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast is an economic development organization serving as the official EDC for Brevard County. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of services including site selection assistance (helping businesses find existing facilities or build-to-suit locations), customized incentive programs connecting companies with state and local tax benefits, Opportunity Zones guidance for capital investment, and an innovation ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship through NASA partnerships and innovation hubs. The organization also provides workforce development via the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program, international trade resources including Foreign Trade Zone access, and access to a network of community partners. These services work together to attract and retain businesses, create jobs, and support economic growth in the Space Coast region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection Assistance Comprehensive site selection identification and assistance services providing building and land inventory, shovel-ready sites, comparative real estate analysis, and custom research to help businesses find ideal locations for their operations in Brevard County.
• Incentive Programs Customized incentive packages connecting businesses with Florida state and local incentives including Capital Investment Tax Credit, High Impact Performance Incentive (HIPI) grants, Quick Response Training Program, Ad Valorem Tax Abatement, and Incumbent Worker Training Program.
• Opportunity Zones Program Expert guidance on Opportunity Zones for re-investing unrealized capital gains into dedicated Opportunity Funds, offering tax advantages including temporary tax deferral, step-up in basis, and permanent exclusion from taxable income for qualified investments held 10+ years.
• Innovation Ecosystem Support Support for innovation and entrepreneurship through partnerships with NASA, Groundswell Startups (coworking space), and the VERTEX Applied Innovation Hub at Florida Tech, connecting businesses with academic, corporate, and financial resources.
• Certified Production Technician (CPT) Program Manufacturing Talent Asset Pipeline (TAP) program offering the nationally recognized Certified Production Technician credential through Eastern Florida State College, with scholarships covering tuition, books, fees and supplies for Brevard County residents.
• International Trade Resources International commerce assistance including Foreign Trade Zone #136 at Port Canaveral, providing duty-free storage, relief from inverted tariffs, no duty on re-exports to U.S. Military or NASA, and reduced processing fees for international businesses.
• Business Resources and Community Partners Connectivity to key regional resources including Brevard County Chambers of Commerce, Eastern Florida State College SBDC, CareerSource Brevard, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, weVENTURE, Enterprise Florida, and Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center.
• Space Coast Toolkit and Downloads Brochures, fact sheets, and resources including the High Tech Titan Brochure, Launches & Lagers Guide, and Annual Reports (FY17-18 through FY22-23), showcasing the Space Coast as a place to expand and do business.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing jobs increased 19% since 2001 compared to 28% decrease nationally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Groundswell StartupssecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016Startup ecosystem organization founded by three serial entrepreneurs in June 2016. Located in a skatepark-turned-coworking-space, hosting 30+ events per year to build a place for Space Coast innovators.
• Enterprise FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState of Florida's principal economic development organization that works with the EDC to attract and grow major high-impact facilities. Enterprise Florida provides access to state-level incentive programs including the High Impact Performance Incentive (HIPI) grant.
• Space FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level aerospace economic development organization that partners with the EDC on aerospace and space-related business attraction and expansion initiatives on the Space Coast.
• NASA Kennedy Space CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA assistance program connecting businesses to Kennedy Space Center technology and expertise. The EDC helps companies access NASA's Technology Docking program for innovation partnerships.
• Brevard County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EDC serves as the official economic development organization for Brevard County, working with County government on business-friendly policies, Performance-Based Incentive Packages, and the Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council.
• Florida High Tech Corridor CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development initiative connecting the EDC to three major research institutions (UCF, USF, UF) spanning a 23-county region. The Corridor provides access to talent, research partnerships, and innovation resources.
• CareerSource BrevardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional workforce development authority providing job seekers and employers with workforce information, career services, and training programs. EDC connects businesses to CareerSource for workforce recruitment and training.
• Eastern Florida State College (SBDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSmall Business Development Center serving Brevard County since 1990, providing seminars, workshops, and fee-based courses on business start-up, management, planning, and government contracting. Hosts CPT manufacturing training program.
• Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of CommercesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoice for business in the Cocoa Beach area, advocating for business community views and providing networking, customer referrals, and business-related activities.
• Melbourne Regional ChambersecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness advocacy organization serving the Melbourne area with networking, referrals, and support for new, existing, or expanding businesses.
• Greater Palm Bay Chamber of CommercesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness support organization serving Palm Bay area with resources and networking opportunities for local businesses.
• Titusville Area Chamber of CommercesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness advocacy and support organization serving the Titusville area, helping businesses develop strategies and connect with the community.
• weVENTURE (Florida Institute of Technology)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness support organization offering IGNITE 360 mentoring program, business coaching, workshops, and technical assistance with focus on women entrepreneurs.
• GrowFL (Florida Economic Gardening Institute)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity of Central Florida program supporting second-stage companies with connections to resources, peer leaders, and professional organizations. Has helped create 4,000+ new jobs since 2009.
• Port Canaveral (Foreign Trade Zone #136)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForeign Trade Zone #136 provides duty-free storage, relief from inverted tariffs, no duty on re-exports to U.S. Military or NASA, and reduced processing time and fees for international businesses.
• Florida Institute of Technology (Vertex Applied Innovation Hub)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner100,000 sq. ft. facility dedicated to serving industry partners and driving economic development. Positioned to help businesses solve complex technical problems, train and access talent, and accelerate applied R&D.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Florida: State of Florida's principal economic development organization — a strategic partner of the Brevard EDC that operates one tier above (statewide) with broader geographic scope but a comparable incentive-attraction mission.
• Space Florida: Florida's aerospace-focused state economic development organization and core EDC partner; comparable in aerospace industry focus but operating at the state level rather than county level.
• NYC Economic Development Corporation: Larger, well-capitalized municipal economic development corporation with broader geographic scope and a wider portfolio of services (real estate, infrastructure, incentives) — analogous in mission but materially larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC): Regional EDO serving the Greater Phoenix area, providing site selection, incentive coordination, and workforce development — comparable in mission, funding model (public-private), and service portfolio to Brevard EDC.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Regional chamber and economic development organization providing site selection, incentives coordination, and workforce development — structurally analogous to a single-region EDO with public-private funding.
• Pittsburgh Regional Alliance: Regional economic development arm of the Allegheny Conference, focused on site selection, business attraction, and cluster development for southwestern Pennsylvania — directly comparable in regional EDO mission and structure.
• Greater Houston Partnership: Regional economic development organization for the Houston metro, offering comparable site selection, incentive packaging, and business retention/attraction services — directly analogous to a county-/region-level EDO model.
• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation: Public-private regional EDO for San Diego County offering site selection, incentive advisory, and industry cluster programs — a close structural analog to Florida's Space Coast EDC.
• Metro Atlanta Chamber (Economic Development Division): Regional business and economic development organization serving metro Atlanta, providing site selection, incentive packaging, and workforce programming analogous to the Brevard EDC.
• Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (Opportunity Austin): Regional economic development program (Opportunity Austin) operated by the Austin Chamber, providing site selection, incentive coordination, and workforce programming — directly analogous to a county-level EDO service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/spacecoastedc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-ppV1XI1XdqJJlWGSSQMgQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/EDCofFloridasSpaceCoast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economic-development-commission-of-florida-s-space-coast
• Instagraminstagram.com/livebigspacecoast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast