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DEADLINE EXTENDED: The Highlands County Economic Development office and our regional economic development organization, Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity, still need your help. The organizations are working to improve the business environment in our region. We are currently working on a skills gap analysis of the area. This study will help identify the workforce gaps and skills needed to help the region advance and become more prosperous.
Input from employers and residents is an important component of this research. We need to understand the skills of the workforce, employment goals, and what opportunities exist to provide additional training to those who are interested. The survey is mobile friendly and will take no more than five minutes of your time to complete. Please be assured that all information will be confidential and no individual survey responses will be shared.
Residents: To complete the survey, please click here.
Employers: To complete the survey, please click here.
The survey will be available until April 30. We appreciate you taking time to participate in this important project.
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SFSC Corporate Education Classes
South Florida State College offers a variety of corporate training options ranging from soft skills to technology courses to conflict management and more. The Corporate College also offers customized training to help meet the needs of your business. View the full course catalogs online.
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WHERE THE JOBS ARE - UNEMPLOYMENT RATES - HIGHLANDS SAW IMPROVEMENT
Highlands News-Sun April 24
The state Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday released unemployment rates for March. Here's how counties stacked up, with February numbers in parentheses. Read more here.
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AP MOVING FORWARD WITH EXTENDING UTILITIES
Highlands News-Sun By Marc Valero
The most pressing issues have been resolved with the city's upcoming project to extend its utility lines to service the northernmost area of Highlands County. Read more here.
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DUKE ENERGY TO BEGIN SOLAR PLANT IN MAY
Highlands News-Sun By Kim Leatherman
Duke Energy Florida is slated to turn dirt in May as the town's first solar plant just north of the new Town Hall off U.S. 27. Duke Energy Florida, or DEF, has taken over the project from the original company, EDF Renewables. The plant location will be on St. Johns Street across from Lake June. DEF says it will be operating by December. The 380-acre solar farm will produce 45 megawatts (MW) of energy to go towards DEF's goals of adding 700 MW of solar generation throughout Florida through 2022. Read more here.
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COUNTY APPROVES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANT
Highlands News-Sun By Phil Attinger
The Department of Economic Opportunity toured Highlands County on Wednesday with other agencies to see what makes the county unique. They also took a look at what the county already has and what it needs to make it more attractive for business. It was all a part of an "asset mapping" program paid for through a $22,500 Competitive Florida Partnership grant the state agency awarded to the county in September 2018 and the county officially accepted.
Read more here.
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HIGHLANDS REMAINS HIGH IN AG - USDA: AVERAGE FARM VALUED AT $1.5 MILLION
Highlands News-Sun By Phil Attinger
It wouldn't suprise too many people who spend a good deal of time in Highlands County that the area remains a center of agriculture for Florida. It may surprise some who don't operate in agriculture that the average cost of a farm in Highlands runs just under $1.5 million - $1.48 million - with an average price per acre of $3,906. Read more here.
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PROPERTY REZONED BY NUCOR PLANT
Highlands New-Sun By Phil Attinger
Land located next to the proposed Nucor plant has been rezoned and given a landuse change to make it compatible with its new neighbor. The Highlands County Board of County Commission granted a request from the C. Elton Crews Family Limited Partnership LLLP to change the land use on an 8.55 acre portion of a 10.58 acre parcel from commercial/industrial mixed use (CI) to industrial (I). It sits between the railroad track and U.S. 27, just south of Sun Pure Road. Read more here.
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MICHELLE DENNARD ON THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S WORKFORCE
Florida Chamber Foundation
In the latest Florida Horizon series, the Florida Chamber Foundation met with Michelle Dennard, President & CEO of CareerSource Florida, to discuss the future of Florida, workforce skills, business talent needs and more. CareerSource Florida is the statewide workforce policy and investment board of business and government leaders charged with guiding workforce development for the state of Florida. Watch here.
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Residential Real
Estate Activity
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Residential
Construction Activity
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