IAAPA could get $240,000 in state, county incentives

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions would receive $240,000 in government money to relocate its global headquarters to the Orlando area under a plan Orange County commissioners will vote on next week.

The attractions industry’s premier trade group, IAAPA last month announced its plan to relocate from Alexandria, Va. Those plans hinge on receiving the incentive money.

IAAPA had no comment. Orange County officials could not be reached for comment.

The state would provide $192,000 to the group. Orange County would pay $48,000.

The move would create 40 new jobs in Orange County, IAAPA said, with an average annual salary of $65,834. That’s 150 percent of the average Orange County salary of $43,889. Thirty people would be working in the area by the end of 2017; 10 more would be here by late 2018. IAAPA said it would employ 27 people in administrative positions and six in management. There would also be seven communications jobs.

IAAPA has not yet said exactly where it plans to locate its headquarters.

Orange County would pay its share of the incentive money over a five-year period. The commission will consider the plan at its Nov. 1 meeting.

As part of the deal, the IAAPA also plans to extend a commitment to hold its annual global conference and trade show at the Orange County Convention Center through 2030. It had previously agreed to have the expo here until 2025. The convention, where executives with attractions large and small meet to learn from each other and show off their latest products, attracts more than 28,000 attendees. This year, it will be the week of Nov. 14.

IAAPA has had its headquarters in Virginia for the past 35 years. The trade group is outgrowing its office space.

It has said Orlando makes sense for a new headquarters because of the area’s heavy themepark presence.