Highlands County welcomes one of its newest businesses – Steel Blue Fabrication, which provides meter sets to natural gas and propane gas markets.
Owners Charles Devlin, John Paul Heston, Ed Whalen and Steve Baltzley recently started the company to provide quicker delivery of meter sets to customers throughout Florida.
The company is acquiring a site on County Road 17 in Avon Park for its operations. At the November 20 meeting, the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners approved the Future Land Use and Zoning changes needed for operation at the new site. Steel Blue will use its Avon Park location for product assembly and fabrication.
The initial startup of Steel Blue will create approximately five jobs paying more than the county’s average annual wage. The company aims to launch operations at its new site in early 2019.
“We are excited about this opportunity and pleased with the service provided by the Highlands County Planning and Zoning offices,” said Charles Devlin, managing partner. “We were able to work through the land use and zoning changes in just a few months, which was great. Speed to market is crucial for business, so we appreciate the county’s efforts to make this a quick and seamless process.”
Charles Devlin is also the owner of Devtech Sales, which is based in Avon Park. Devtech provides engineered equipment, such as gas meters, valves, odorizers, filters, gauges, etc., to natural gas, power and industrial companies throughout the state.
“We are excited for the launch of Steel Blue Fabrication, and we’re proud the group committed to operating another business in Avon Park,” said Commissioner Jim Brooks, Highlands County Board of County Commissioners Chairman. “The partners have achieved tremendous success in other businesses. They have contributed a lot to this community and completely transformed a vacant building in downtown Avon Park into a showcase office and training facility. I look forward to seeing this business grow.”