FEDC is proud to announce that we will be awarding three scholarships for the USF 38th Annual Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC), November 3-6, 2014 in Tampa. If you are interested in advancing your career in economic development or if you are going to become certified, this is a great opportunity and is a required element to qualify for the International Economic Development Council’s Certification (CEcD) exam. The scholarships, each valued at $655, will cover registration fees only and will provide entrance to these 4 days of training. Please fill out the application and return to Amy Evancho,
at 5PM. The review committee will notify you by Friday, October 10
Annual Winter Symposium. A big announcement will follow for registration and hotel reservations on Tuesday of next week. Space will be limited so register early.
Florida Job Creation Gets Back On Track In August
After a tepid July, creation of private sector jobs in Florida got back on track last month, according to a report released Wednesday. Florida added 17,900 private sector jobs in August, about double the number added in July, national payroll processing company ADP said. That’s much closer to the monthly total of jobs Florida was adding in the spring. ADP said Florida in August continued to be among the leaders in generating jobs, trailing only Texas (up 26,690 jobs) and California (up 19,680 jobs). Among regions, “the South continues to have the highest growth rate, driven primarily by strength in Texas and Florida,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and head of the ADP Research Institute.
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VT Aerospace Contract Signed, 300 Jobs Expected
The City of Pensacola has inked a lease with VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, Inc. (VT MAE), which will establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at Pensacola International Airport, creating at least 300 jobs. Tuesday’s announcement concludes the nearly two-year campaign by Mayor Hayward and economic development partners, including Escambia County and the Greater Pensacola Chamber, to attract VT MAE, a subsidiary of Singapore-based ST Engineering, to Pensacola. Under the terms of the lease, the City of Pensacola will construct an aircraft hangar complex on 18.66 acres at Pensacola International Airport and lease the facilities to VT MAE for a 30-year term. The hangar will be able to accommodate two wide-body aircraft, and is expected to be ready for operations in mid-2016.
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U.S. Treasury awards $33M to Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity received $33,205,199 in state small business credit initiative funds from the U.S. Treasury that will be used to help the state’s small businesses grow and hire. To date, the Treasury has disbursed $97,662,349 to Florida to support businesses and the local economy. "Access to capital is a critical component for small businesses and entrepreneurs to build their businesses. Through the initiative, the U.S. Treasury Department and private-sector lenders are investing in Florida’s small businesses to help drive economic growth," said the U.S. Treasury Department Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin. "Small businesses are at the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery, and this initiative provides small business owners in Florida with access to the resources they need to create jobs."
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Two Central Florida Businesses Win SBA Awards
Starter Studio in Orlando and Sunshine Labs in Longwood were selected out of 800 applications for the 50 U.S. Small Business Administration awards. Two Central Florida businesses were named winners in the first Growth Accelerator Fund competition by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Starter Studio in Orlando and Sunshine Labs in Longwood were selected out of 800 applications. Both businesses won $50,000 after being selected by a panel of seven judges
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DataMentors Awarded "Technology Company of the Year" by Pasco EDC
DataMentors, LLC, a full-service data quality, data management and business intelligence provider, has been awarded "Technology Company of the Year Award" by Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC), an organization committed to fostering the economic vitality and business development of Pasco County, Florida. DataMentors received the honor at Pasco EDC’s 28th Annual Appreciation Banquet, attended annually by almost 700 Tampa Bay area business and community leaders. Each year, Pasco EDC recognizes outstanding companies for their contribution to the local economy. Companies are recognized for job creation, increased capital investment and for contributions to the community through civic involvement.
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Selling Suwannee: Jackson Seeks Economic Growth And Development
Suwannee County Economic Development Director Alvin Jackson gave a broad overview Tuesday night highlighting a plan of action to bring about economic growth and development to the county. "The purpose of multiple economic development is to build up the economic capacity of the local area to include its economic future and the quality of life,” said Jackson. "It is a process by which the public, businesses, non-government sector partners work collectively with us to create a better condition for economic growth." Jackson said it would create more jobs and expand the tax base of the county, and would mean being competitive with many of the surrounding counties that have continuing successful economic growth. "When we choose to sell Suwannee County, this is a great place," said Jackson. "We have to have the ability to take this greatness to the world, and let folks see how great we are and that this is a great business community."
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Hillsborough Committee Approves $200,000 In Innovation Grants
Hillsborough County’s tech initiative funding program is gaining momentum. The EDI2, or Economic Development Innovation Initiative, received 34 applications — three times as many as the program received last quarter — for its fourth funding round. The EDI2 Advisory Committee approved grants for 31 of those endeavors on Thursday, allocating nearly $200,000 to groups planning events to help jump-start tech initiatives here. The county’s economic development staff approved another $23,266 in smaller grant requests, each for less than $5,000. Since launching in June 2013, the county-funded program has given out $798,580 in grants to support the local technology entrepreneurship community. Applications for the next EDI2 grant funding cycle are due Oct. 31
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Central Florida Regional Planning Council Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Trade and energy development could be key parts of future economic development in the Heartland area of Florida, Pat Steed told the Central Florida Regional Planning Council on Wednesday. Steed, the agency’s executive director, looked ahead as the agency celebrated its 40th anniversary. The planning council is one of 11 councils in Florida. It is concerned with regional planning issues in Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto and Okeechobee counties, and has been working on a regional economic development plan called Heartland 2060, which also includes Glades and Hendry counties.
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2014 Florida Rural Economic Development Summit – Nov 5-7
Florida’s Statewide Rural Economic Development Summit is back and we want you to be a part of Florida’s largest and highest quality professional development event focused specifically on rural economic development issues! Highlighting the Summit will be an Opening Session Keynote address from Enterprise Florida President/CEO and Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope and the Rural Economic Development Champions Legislative Awards Luncheon. 2014_Rural_SummiThe Summit will provide a diverse range of high-quality, practical professional development sessions presented by state, regional and local economic development professionals, national site location consultants and marketing firms, private utility service providers, and project financial experts, among others. Registration deadline is Friday, October 5, 2014.
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