Suzanne Christman, CEcD, Senior Manager, Business Development at Pinellas County Economic Development and FEDC Regional Director of Tampa Bay interviewed Michael McHugh, Director at Hernando County Office of Business Development. How long have you been in economic development? I have been the Director of Business Development for Hernando County since 2002. Previous to that I worked in the mining, power and cement industries with responsibilities from management to distribution. My current … [Read more...]
Mickie Birdsall Scholarship Winners Announced
On behalf of the Florida Economic Development Council and our Board of Directors, it is with great excitement that I announce the winners of the Mickie Birdsall Scholarship: Allie Stewart, Marketing Coordinator, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County Adam Myers, Economic Development Coordinator, Greater Pensacola Chamber This scholarship is given to attend the 36th Annual Basic Economic Development Course in Tampa November 13-16, 2012. Stewart and Myers will both attend the course … [Read more...]
IBM Smarter Cities Team Finalizing Research – Focus on Downtown Jacksonville Revitalization
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Aug. 24, 2012 — A consulting team commissioned by the worldwide technology services company IBM at no cost to taxpayers has concluded a three-week research project Downtown and is now finalizing an action plan to help Mayor Alvin Brown's efforts to revitalize the urban center. The work comes as part of the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge, a worldwide initiative to distribute a total of $50 million worth of services and technical assistance to 100 cities through 2013. The project … [Read more...]
CBRE and IDI Sign South Florida’s Largest Industrial Deal This Year
Media contact: Ron Drew, APR Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance (954) 627-0130 rdrew@gflalliance.org Miramar, FL – August 28, 2012 – Miramar Centre Building A within IDI’s 70-acre industrial development, Miramar Centre Business Park, is nearing completion and slated to deliver 264,074 square feet of Class A industrial product to the Southwest Broward County submarket by December 2012. IDI and CBRE announced today that 200,214 square feet in the building has been leased to AeroTurbine, a global … [Read more...]
EDO CEMP Customization Guide
From the federal government to individual businesses, and everyone in between, planning for sudden, unexpected situations is critical. Enterprise Florida has developed a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) which integrates with the emergency management plans and programs of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management & ESF-18 (FDEM www.floridadisaster.org) This plan is now the official CEMP for state EDOs. Florida is the first state in the nation to create an EDO CEMP to match … [Read more...]
Florida’s July Employment Figures Released
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in July 2012, up 0.2 percentage point from June. There were 816,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,269,000. The July 2012 rate was 1.8 percentage points lower than the year-ago rate of 10.6 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in July. Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment was 7,331,400 in July 2012, a decrease of 3,300 jobs (less than 0.1 percent) over the month. The number of … [Read more...]
GrowFL Training Webinar Recording
2012/2013 GrowFL Statewide Initiative Program Review and Implementation Training This webinar provides the following information: Overview of the 2012/13 GrowFL Program - Team GrowFL The Role of the Management Group The Role of the Strategic Research Group The Role of the Facilitator Group The Role of the Program Director Group GrowFL Structure for Client Support Marketing, Social Media and Events Certification Reporting Requirements September Training Questions GrowFL … [Read more...]
Manufacturing’s Wake-Up Call
A new study shows how the decisions made today by goods producers and policymakers will shape U.S. competitiveness tomorrow. A debate over the future of U.S. manufacturing is intensifying. Optimists point to the relatively cheap dollar and the shrinking wage gap between China and the U.S. as reasons the manufacturing sector could come back to life, boosting U.S. competitiveness and reviving the fortunes of the American middle class. Whenever production statistics in the U.S. surge, it seems … [Read more...]
10 Observations on Florida and Its Ability to Compete in Today’s Economic Development Environment
On June 23, 2011, Del Boyette of Boyette Strategic Advisors, an economic development consulting firm, presented his “10 Observations on Florida and Its Ability to Compete in Today’s Economic Development Environment” at the Florida Economic Development Council’s 2011 Annual conference. These 10 observations are outlined below: 1) To be competitive, you have to acknowledge and realize that everything is global. Florida has competitive advantages based on its multi-cultural population and … [Read more...]
The Florida Eight
The Florida Eight initiative is designed to help the eight economic development regions form or improve business retention teams, provide team resources and project communications otherwise not available, develop business retention strategic plans, help convene key team members, and help teams identify mutual and exclusive roles and responsibilities. Though the strategic plans must include some consideration of diversification in international markets, and lead to improvement of business … [Read more...]
