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Apple posts 7 jobs in central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned technology giant Apple is looking to fill some high-paying positions in Orlando.

Many believe it's a sign the region's efforts to move from tourism to technology is paying off.

Apple posted seven Orlando positions on its job page Tuesday. One is for a 3-D graphics micro architect and another is for a logic design engineer.

The postings are hardly entry level – both jobs require PhDs.

Carlos Carbonell, CEO of Echo Interactive, said it's a big anchor for the region.

"When you have even half a dozen high-tech paying jobs coming to central Florida from one of the world's most high-tech reputable companies, it's huge news," Carbonell said.

As more tech firms move into central Florida, downtown Orlando's Creative Village could one day be a lot like the medical city at Lake Nona, where hospitals, schools and other businesses attracted new businesses like biotech firms.

Companies are eager to put down roots in central Florida, where for years, nobody wanted to be.

According to Forbes, a list of the top 25 tech companies doing major hiring include several companies in central Florida like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

The companies have more than 1,400 openings for jobs paying $60,000 or more.

Now, add Apple.

"I think the whole point of Creative Village is to attract the creative class. But you need those big anchors, and even though Apple's only hiring a few people, seven people, it's still Apple," Carbonell said.

While people who work in tech are buzzing, so far, Apple's not talking about the jobs the company's posted in Orlando, or what plans the company may have for central Florida.