Brazilian-based Embraer, a commercial, defense, and executive aviation aircraft manufacturer, will add a 67,000-square-foot Engineering and Technology Center to its operations center at Melbourne Florida International Airport, increasing its Florida workforce by an estimated 200 employees.

"Embraer's continued investment in Florida is evidence we are doing the right things to attract job-growing businesses," said Governor Rick Scott. "My 2012 Job Creation and Economic Development Agenda, which just passed the Legislature, will make Florida even more attractive to companies looking to move or expand in a business-friendly state like ours."

The Governor said his tax reforms offer "relief for new and existing manufacturers to make Florida more attractive to quality manufacturing jobs." His incentives include a tax relief package that "lowers the cost of living and doing business in Florida. It Doubles the business tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000, eliminating it for 25 percent of the companies required to pay it."

The Embraer's new facility will create engineering jobs with average salaries of $70,000 a year. State economic development officials estimate the firm has made a $50 million investment on the Space Coast.

"The development of the Embraer Engineering and Technology Center USA, Inc. has been a team effort and would not have happened without the dedicated help of Enterprise Florida, Space Florida and the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast," said Gary Spulak, Embraer North America President. "Embraer's partnership with these organizations has made a great deal of difference for the Space Coast, its workforce and Embraer. The partnership has leveraged a host of resources to take advantage of the engineering talent we need here."

The Space Coast holds one of the highest per capita concentrations of engineers and is among the most concentrated high-tech economies in the U.S., making it an ideal location for Embraer's new research and development facility," said Lynda Weatherman, president & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast. "Embraer's decision to locate its research and development center at Melbourne International Airport further illustrates its steadfast commitment to the Space Coast and thorough understanding of our workforce capacity."