News

$300,000 EDA GRANT AWARDED TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF AVIATION INDUSTRY IN HIGHLANDS & POLK COUNTIES
Aviation and aerospace industry development in Highlands and Polk counties recently received a boost when the Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) was awarded a $300,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Supplemental Grant.

The impact from Hurricane Irma on Polk and Highlands counties added to challenges faced due to the region’s lack of economic diversification and low wages and highlighted the need to bring in more resilient and higher wage jobs. “Aviation was identified as an emerging industry in the most recent five-year regional economic development plan for Highlands and Polk counties and so this grant opportunity from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is coming to us at the perfect time. It will allow us to foster the growth of the aviation industry, diversifying the economy and providing stable long-term job growth” stated Executive Director of the CFRPC, Pat Steed. Read more here.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY SECURES $62,500 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM FLORIDA DEO
Highlands County secured two grants from the Competitive Florida Partnership and Community Planning Technical Assistance grant programs offered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).

The Board of County Commissioners’ Planning Department was awarded a $40,000 Technical Assistance grant to fund the development of a Financial Feasibility Analysis and a Housing Market Study as well as draft amendments to the Housing Element, Future Land Use Element, and the Future Land Use Map Series of the county’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan to implement the findings of the Housing Study.

The county was also awarded a Competitive Florida grant of $22,500. Read more here. 

HIGHLANDS COUNTY TDC SUPPORTS TWO NEW COUNTY EVENTS
At their last meeting, the Highlands County Tourist Development Council (TDC) approved two requests to earmark marketing funds in their 2018-2019 budget to help advertise and promote two new events occurring in Highlands County during the off-season tourism period of April-November. The TDC voted to support the Michelin Sportscar Encore event, which will be held Nov. 9-11 at Sebring International Raceway.  The event, which will feature auto racing and a Saturday evening concert, will attract car racing enthusiasts, as well as concert and festival goers. The TDC plans to support the event with $10,000 for out-of-county advertising and $10,000 for the concert performer. The second event the TDC voted to support is a series of epic Biblical plays that are re-locating from their previous location in Hardee County to the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in Avon Park.  In previous years, Power and Light Productions has produced The Story of Jesus and The Story of Moses with each attracting 12,000+ people with more than 70% of attendees from outside of Highlands and Hardee counties. The Highlands County performances will take place in April 2019 with exact dates to be determined. The TDC plans to support the event with $20,000 designated for out-of-county advertising.   

FLORIDA NAMED NO. 1 STATE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
24/7 Wall Street created an index using the share of bridges, roads, and dams that are in a state of disrepair or potentially hazardous, to identify the states with the best and worst infrastructure.  Read more here.

FLORIDA - BEST PLACE FOR WOMEN TO START A BUSINESS
Florida makes its way onto a bunch of “best” and “worst” lists, and when it comes to the top places for women to start a business, we’re right at the top. Read more here. 

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR EXPORT SALES MISSION TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) will lead a delegation of small and mid-sized Florida businesses on an export sales mission to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from November 13-16. Registration to attend is now open. 

“This export sales mission will provide small businesses with an excellent opportunity to enter or expand in the Dominican Republic market,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of international trade and development for EFI. “The Dominican Republic holds vast opportunities for Florida companies interested in increasing their footprint in the region’s market, and Florida’s proximity to the Caribbean makes the state a top choice for businesses there.”

One-third of all U.S. exports to Latin America and the Caribbean flow through Florida, and the Sunshine State has one of the largest concentrations of knowledge-based service providers specializing in the region. The state offers a strong support network of consular corps, chambers of commerce and sister cities to help Latin American and Caribbean businesses invest in Florida. Florida-based companies looking to expand internationally can take advantage of the comprehensive exporting assistance provided by Enterprise Florida and its economic development partners. Read more here.

VETERANS FLORIDA ANNOUNCES NEW ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM PARTNERS 

Veterans Florida has selected the newest group of Network Partner Organizations to participate in their Entrepreneurship Program. The program offers online and in-person instruction to provide veterans with the knowledge necessary to open and operate their own business. Nearly one in four active duty service members and veterans want to own and operate their own business. To aid in their efforts, the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program was created to provide cost-effective, online or in-person instruction. The program offers three different pathways designed to match each individual’s level of knowledge and busy schedule. Read more here.