Overview: Located in east-central Florida, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville MSA is comprised of Brevard County. Known as Florida’s Space Coast, the region is home to the Kennedy Space Center as well as Cape Canaveral and Patrick Air Force bases. A host of companies engaged in government contracts support the region’s thriving aviation/aerospace cluster and contribute heavily to the local economy.

Education: With campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, Brevard Community College (BCC) is one of the largest providers of higher education in the area. BCC offers associates degrees and 2+2 associates/bachelor degree programs with University of Central Florida. The Florida Institute of Technology, located in Melbourne, is a large provider of private higher education in the area, and offers a curriculum that is heavily focused on engineering disciplines. Other educational institutions with a presence in the region include Barry University, Colombia College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Metropolitan University, and Webster University.

Infrastructure: The Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville MSA is easily accessible by road, rail, or water transportation. I-95 is the primary north-south major interstate serving the region. Miami can easily be reached 200 miles to the south, or Jacksonville 135 miles to the north. Orlando can also be reached by several state highways 45 miles to the west. Air transport is provided by Melbourne International Airport and two general aviation airports. The Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville MSA also includes Port Canaveral, one of the leading cruise ports in the nation. The port also serves as a foreign trade zone. The region's primary rail transportation is provided by Florida East Coast Railway.

Business Environment: As home to the Kennedy Space Center, the Spaceport Technology Center, and several major government contractors, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville MSA is a beacon for aviation/aerospace related technologies and associated companies. The region’s existing firms have helped it rank among the top metro areas for high tech capacity.  The region has demonstrated a strong commitment to growing its high tech cluster.