Score one for the Golf Channel, which plans to invest $1.9 million to expand its worldwide headquarters in Orlando. The company consolidated digital media operations for its GolfChannel.com and GolfNow.com sites, creating at least 75 jobs in Central Florida, according to officials.

Orlando has been home to the Golf Channel since it was launched by Co-founder Arnold Palmer 18 years ago, and Golf Channel President Mike McCarley pointed to the city’s pro-growth and pro-business environment and talented workforce as reasons for success. “[Those attributes have] helped Golf Channel deliver world-class, high-quality golf content across all our platforms to a global audience,” cites McCarley.

Golf Channel has been approved for $450,000 from the state’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program and $133,000 from the Quick Action Closing Fund. Both state incentives are performance based. Also, Golf Channel has been approved for a $112,500 Quick Response Training Grant from Workforce Florida. The Orlando expansion was made possible through partnerships among Enterprise Florida, City of Orlando, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Workforce Florida and the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Comments Rick Weddle, president and CEO of the Metro Orlando EDC: “This sends a message to the world about the quality of our workforce, particularly in the digital media and information technology sectors.”