The prestigious 2026 Economic and Workforce Development Applied Research Awards recognizes the Orlando Economic Partnership’s Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool as a profound demonstration of innovative research that benefits regional communities.
The Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) earned national recognition from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute, receiving the 2026 Economic and Workforce Development Applied Research Award in the Data Analytics category for its Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool.
C2ER presents these national awards annually to highlight creative research projects that deliver measurable value to local, regional, or state community and economic initiatives. The Data Analytics category specifically honors initiatives that collect, analyze, or visualize data in ways that are beneficial for communities or organizations.
In 2025, the OEP received C2ER’s Data Analytics award for the Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey, underscoring a consistent track record of leveraging data to inform strategy and drive regional impact. This year, the OEP received this recognition for its Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool, an interactive platform that compares Orlando with the 29 other most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States across key business location factors, including economic performance, workforce strength, business climate, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Together, these consecutive wins reflect the OEP’s long-term commitment to advancing the Orlando 2045 Vision, using innovative tools to position the region as a global creative capital where businesses, talent, and ideas thrive.
The Top 30 MSA Comparison tool allows users to select and compare up to five markets at a time while exploring critical indicators that influence site selection, investment decisions, and regional competitiveness. It also offers downloadable reports and intuitive navigation features that make complex data accessible to business leaders, investors, and community stakeholders.
The Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool plays a critical role in OEP’s strategy to attract business investment and talent by clearly demonstrating Orlando’s strengths in economic growth, cost efficiency, connectivity, and quality of life. By consolidating comprehensive datasets into a single, interactive experience, the tool helps users make informed decisions about expansion, relocation, and long-term investment.
Sara Reynolds, OEP Director of Research & Strategy, accepted the award at the 66th C2ER + LMI Institute Annual Conference, one of the nation’s premier gatherings of economic and workforce development research professionals, in Memphis, Tennessee. At the same meeting, Neil Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Research & Strategy was appointed to serve on the C2ER Board of Directors for a 3-year term beginning July 2026.
“This award reflects the intentional work we’ve done to transform research into a strategic asset for our region,” Hamilton said.
“The Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool gives decision-makers clear, credible insights into Orlando’s competitive position, and it strengthens our ability to tell a data-driven story about why this region leads in becoming the next global creative capital.”
Neil Hamilton, OEP Senior Vice President of Research & Strategy
Tim Giuliani, OEP President and CEO, emphasized the broader impact of the recognition.
“This national award reinforces Orlando’s reputation as a region that uses data with purpose,” Giuliani said.
“We built this tool to empower businesses and investors with transparent, comparative insights, and this recognition confirms that our approach delivers real value.”
Tim Giuliani, OEP President and CEO
This achievement marks another milestone for the OEP’s Research & Strategy team and highlights the organization’s commitment to advancing the Orlando region’s economy.
To explore the Top 30 MSA Comparison Tool, visit business.orlando.org/how-orlando-compares.
