The notion of the medical city began with former Governor Jeb Bush and local leaders' efforts to attract the Scripps Research Institute to move to Central Florida. That effort ended in what was thought to be a crushing loss. But it was an important lesson learned.

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VIDEO: Lake Nona Site: September 1008

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"That was a blessing in disguise for two reasons," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "One, we learned a lot about the negotiation process with Scripps. And I think the Burnham Institute is a better fit for our community."

In that process, local and state leaders learned that without a medical school and top scientists in Central Florida, it would be impossible to attract research companies.

"Scientists have to be around other scientists to bring their thinking forward and to have the 'Eureka!' moments," said Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing director of the Tavistock Group, which is developing the Lake Nona area.

The president of the University of Central Florida, Dr. John Hitt, commissioned Donna Arduin, former budget director for both Governor Bush and California governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, to do a study on the economic impact of bringing a medical college to Central Florida.

"In 2005, we predicted that a college of medicine in the medical city would produce about 6,000 jobs over 10 years and have about a billion dollar impact to the economy," said Arduin.

She pointed out that Orlando is already a world-class destination with the third largest airport in the nation, two of the biggest and busiest hospital systems in the country in Florida Hospital and Orlando Region Medical Systems, the sixth largest university in the U.S., and is home to about 150 high-tech simulation businesses which largely cater to the military. A medical school could capitalize on all that and be the magnet to attract other new high-tech health science ventures.

Dyer and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty teamed up with Hitt and local hospital and business leaders to convince the state to kick in $200-million to the project. By 2006, the city, the county, local hospitals, businesses and individuals had added another $52-million.

"I think this is the golden age of collaboration and partnership in the Central Florida region," said Dyer.

"I believe this is one of the best stories of Orlando's community togetherness that will be written in the history of this city and this region," said Florida Hospital's Lars Hohman. "There was no one that was not fully engaged in this community… everybody was all hands on deck."