A recent highlight was hosting the prestigious 2025 Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics (MDSM) Conference, a significant step in establishing Tallahassee as the “Magnetic Capital of the World.”

The 2025 MDSM Conference, hosted by the OEV in February, marked a turning point in Tallahassee’s efforts to position itself as a global hub for magnetic technologies. Bowers and his team had been advocating for years to bring the event to Tallahassee, attending the conference annually in Orlando and forging strong relationships with participants and stakeholders.

“One of the things that we kept emphasizing was that Tallahassee and Leon County are home to the world’s largest and most powerful research magnet,” says Bowers. This magnet is housed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, colloquially known as MagLab, located at Florida State University. The lab welcomes over 1,500 researchers annually from around the world, making it a nucleus of discovery and scientific collaboration.

The MDSM Conference provided a unique opportunity to showcase Tallahassee’s exceptional assets. Bowers notes that the event brought “decision makers, researchers, and corporate representatives” directly into contact with the region’s technological capabilities, including MagLab and key companies like Danfoss Turbocor Compressors. This synergy between research, academia, and industry helps build what Bowers refers to as “a pretty good business case” for companies looking to invest or relocate.

Indeed, this initiative is more than just hosting a conference; it’s a foundational step in building a dedicated industry cluster centered around magnetic technology. According to Bowers, “It aligns with our vision and our brand in Tallahassee-Leon County as the magnetic capital of the world,” and supports the long-term strategy of clustering research and development companies involved in applied sciences and magnetic science.

Recognition for these efforts has come from myriad respected sources—Tallahassee was recently ranked as the #4 overall metro location in the United States by Chmura Economics & Analytics, a comprehensive ranking that evaluated economic development activity and job creation, comparing metropolitan statistical areas across the nation.

When asked about the factors that led to this ranking, Bowers credits the “intentionality of the leadership” in Tallahassee and Leon County. He highlights the collaboration between local government and the business community as a major strength, explaining, “We have a very engaged business community. Our leadership both at the city and the county are very focused on economic vitality.”

This collaborative focus, combined with a highly educated population, sets Tallahassee apart. “Tallahassee is the most educated city in the state of Florida and #12 in the country,” Bowers points out. This educated workforce is a critical asset, especially for companies operating in STEM fields. He also emphasizes the region’s moderate cost of living, strong GDP growth, and expanding labor force as appealing factors for corporate decision-makers.

For companies exploring expansion or relocation, third-party recognition like the Chmura ranking provides a vital layer of validation. “Having a third party validate that for us is invaluable,” he says. “It has put us on the map and on the radar screen for a lot of decision-makers at the corporate level as well as the site selectors that they would hire.”

Tallahassee is not just attracting attention; it’s delivering results. The Chmura ranking and MDSM conference have accelerated growth in several key industries, particularly those aligned with the region’s strengths in research and development. “Applied sciences, professional services, software development, and skilled manufacturing are the cornerstone industries of our community,” says Bowers, noting that a targeted industry study helped the OEV prioritize sectors for business recruitment and expansion. Top priorities now include transportation and logistics, healthcare, IT and software, and applied sciences.

Bowers emphasizes the rapid growth of the healthcare sector in particular. “Healthcare is a growing industry. It is very dynamic, and it really leverages technology.” With Tallahassee’s strategic focus on quality-of-life assets and talent development, the region is well-positioned to support healthcare innovation and expansion.

The interconnection between industries and the academic ecosystem—especially Florida State University and Florida A&M University—plays a pivotal role in this expansion. These institutions not only fuel the local talent pipeline but also offer collaborative opportunities in R&D, training, and entrepreneurship. Bowers emphasizes that these universities serve as “anchors” for innovation, helping to commercialize research and launch startups that can grow locally.

Additionally, the city’s strategic location in the southeast U.S., with access to highways and ports, positions it well for growth in logistics and transportation, a sector increasingly driven by advanced technologies and efficient infrastructure planning.

Industry expansion is supported by available sites and infrastructure geared toward scalable, long-term growth. According to Bowers, the OEV maintains a “very robust toolkit of incentives” and provides both financial and technical support to companies. One major advantage is the public ownership of Tallahassee’s utility system. This allows for direct, real-time engagement with companies needing infrastructure upgrades, bypassing much of the bureaucracy that hinders investment in other cities. “We are able to bring people directly from that department to sit down and talk with those folks in real time. That increases our value proposition, and it speaks to the desire to continue to be a very business-friendly environment.”

Available sites across the region, from Innovation Park to industrial corridors, are primed for growth. This physical readiness combined with talent availability and a collaborative business climate makes Tallahassee highly attractive to expanding industries. Bowers also points out that Tallahassee’s unique mix of government, research institutions, and entrepreneurial momentum creates a trifecta that de-risks investment.

A standout feature of Tallahassee’s economic development strategy is its holistic, people-first approach. Rather than working in silos, the OEV coordinates efforts across sectors, guiding businesses through every phase of expansion or relocation. This “concierge approach,” as Bowers describes it, means that businesses don’t get passed around from agency to agency; instead, they’re connected directly to decision-makers and resource providers. “You’re not talking to someone that’s just answering the phone and taking a message. The OEV serves as a resource connector.”

Whether it’s workforce training, permitting, infrastructure, or financial incentives, the OEV ensures nothing falls through the cracks. “We have coalesced the resource providers [and gotten everyone] on the same page,” Bowers explains. “There’s no opportunity for things to fall through the cracks with the system that we have developed and refined.”

This coordination fosters long-term partnerships and creates a business-friendly climate that can scale with a company’s needs. It also aligns with the community’s inclusive and intentional leadership philosophy, which Bowers praises for shaping a strong civic and economic foundation.

For businesses and investors considering Tallahassee-Leon County, the message is clear: come prepared, and you’ll find a willing and capable partner. With a wealth of data, a clear growth strategy, and a collaborative ecosystem, Tallahassee is well-equipped to attract and retain forward-thinking companies. Bowers encourages a realistic, data-driven exploration of the region. “I would say, honestly, do your homework—and we can help you in providing that information,” he advises.

The OEV’s commitment to transparency and partnership means that businesses can assess opportunities with confidence and clarity. “If Tallahassee and Leon County is the right fit, we need to have a very serious conversation to really understand what your goals and objectives are for your company,” he says.

The OEV also offers detailed, customized reports and site selection assistance to empower companies to make strategic, long-term decisions. Whether relocating a headquarters or expanding a manufacturing operation, the Tallahassee team helps streamline the path forward.

With momentum building, Tallahassee-Leon County is poised for continued success. Whether it’s hosting global conferences, nurturing a new cluster of magnetics-based tech companies, or landing in the top five metro areas for economic development, Tallahassee is on a winning trajectory and the region is executing a thoughtful, comprehensive vision. Keith Bowers and his team at the Office of Economic Vitality are focused not just on growth for its own sake, but on building a community where businesses, researchers, and families can thrive together. “Our vision is to create an environment where opportunity is accessible to all, and innovation is nurtured at every level,” Bowers says.

Backed by collaborative leadership, top-tier institutions, and a commitment to strategic investment, it’s no wonder that businesses across the country are taking notice. For Keith Bowers and the Office of Economic Vitality, the mission is clear: to foster a thriving, inclusive, innovation-driven economy that works for everyone.

And judging by the results, they’re just getting started.

The post Tallahassee’s Magnetic Momentum – A Hub of Innovation, Talent, and Opportunity<p class="company">Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Established in 2010 by co-founders Thiago (TJ) Davila, Chief Executive Officer, and his wife, Michelle Sanchez, President, the business is the couple’s second enterprise, focusing on smaller boutique communities, single-family residences, and townhomes. With US Aluminum—a Screen Enclosure company that builds pergolas, sunrooms, pool enclosures, outdoor kitchens, pavers, and more—as part of its portfolio, Davila Homes benefits from having access to top-notch products including patio pavilions, awnings, and other hardware.

As a general contractor with a keen sense of attention to detail, TJ Davila began his construction career building homes in the early days, growing the business based on effusive customer referrals, which have had a key role to play in taking the team to where it is today.

Now, more than 800 residential units later, Davila remains as well-known in the Central Florida construction industry as ever, running a successful company alongside his wife and business partner. Thanks to their vision and the stalwart dedication of their team, the company has forged a reputation for bringing designers’ wildest visions to life. With owners who know how to inspire their team to achieve the impossible, Davila Homes’ capabilities come as no surprise.

The results of their combined efforts are many happy customers and awards recognizing the firm’s commitment to excellence and the industry. These honors include the Grand Award by Parade of Homes, which the firm received in 2019 in the Custom Homes category for its Lakeshore Model. The same model won first place in the same contest that year for units between the $1.8 million and $2.2 million range. The following year, the team brought home the Merit Award for its Florencio Model in the Custom Homes division of Parade of Homes.

Following these successes, in 2023, Davila Homes won first place for its Savannah Model in Parade of Homes—again in the Custom Homes category for units priced between $1.9 and $2.9 million. This year was in fact no exception on the awards front, with the company bringing home the Parade of Homes Lake-Sumter 2025 Merit Award for Best Outdoor Living Space for a custom home with its Savannah model.

Naturally, it takes strong leadership company-wide to achieve such prestigious recognition.

One of these outstanding leaders, Otavio Camara, Chief Operations Officer, has been with the firm since 2019, starting as just its fourth employee. At the time, the company was completing around 15 to 20 custom-built homes annually. Today, Davila Homes employs 35 people, a truly formidable team of professionals. “We grew pretty quickly,” says Camara. “We have a great staff, and I think that’s a big part of it.”

Davila Homes doesn’t exclusively build custom homes, however. With its years of experience in designing custom plans, the team has selected a few such plans to add to its portfolio and make available for clients who want to build their dream home without going through the process of designing a custom home from the ground up. Clients can incorporate a number of high-end, custom options as standard offerings, saving them money and precious time. This is where the firm’s design team shines in presenting the vast range of available material and finish combinations in a warm and supportive way. Once visualization presentations are complete, clients meet their project manager while permitting gets underway.

This process is followed up with scheduled site walks at specific stages to ensure that customers are up to speed and able to give their feedback, and to guarantee that they are satisfied with the final product by the time it is completed—just about a month or so later. During this time, a project manager is always on call during business hours. Thanks to modern technology and the company’s dedicated project management software, it is possible to digitally access real-time project information and make changes to the design as needed.

Davila Homes decided to further hone its processes by ensuring that it has full control of these in-house multi-unit development projects, putting material choices, timelines, floor plans, and every other design and construction aspect into the hands of its team rather than external contributors.

The result of this decision has been a wonderful selection of marquee projects. These include, among many others, the Golden Oaks Reserve, a collection of seven custom luxury, single-family homes starting at $4 million each. There is also Preserve at Lakeside in St. Cloud, a community comprising 10 single-family units that start at $1 million. Moreover, Lakeview Village Estates boasts a boutique community featuring 14 townhomes and 26 single-family homes in downtown Winter Garden, starting at $600,000 per unit.

A far cry from the typical profit-based development strategy one sees so much of around the globe, Davila Homes is motivated by quality instead. “We are trying to create a different identity. Even though we may have 50 to 100 homes in one subdivision, we want high-end products—houses that stand out,” Camara says.

With a dedicated sales team always ready to assist, Davila Homes provides its natural sense of good service with as much elegance as the rest of its offerings. Cultivating a relationship of trust and respect with every customer, this relatively new team has already proven its worth, demonstrating professionalism and dedication with every project and every client interaction.

Indeed, the company’s commitment to creating robust internal systems that form a safety net for project success has been integral to its success. Camara is especially proud of the firm’s ability to keep everyone on the same page by providing ample information and design capabilities in sleek, modern ways. “I think that this transparency with clients and being able to give them what they expect of their dream house is very important,” he says.

These standards of excellence and clear communication apply not only to clients but reach every employee of the firm as well. By creating a healthy and mature workplace ecosystem, Davila Homes’ creativity and problem-solving skills have the space to shine. Moreover, its sincere sense of care for its employees and theirs for one another makes it an even better workplace where design and construction could be called a happy team sport. “Part of our success is bringing in people who are in line with our core values,” Camara adds.

A key aspect of these core values includes doing genuine good in the world. Davila Homes’ non-profit organization, Above and Beyond for Change (ABC), was founded by President Michelle Sanchez during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization facilitates everything from Cultural Day to holiday parties and STEM Club, alongside providing essential items, clothing, and food to underprivileged children. Having identified a need for digital and financial literacy, parenting skills, health and wellness information, and more, Sanchez’s dream is to create a community center for the group that will provide education and skills training to youth and adults. “We hope to make life better and easier for as many people as possible,” she says, highlighting the importance for the Davila family to be part of something bigger than themselves.

The company also has its own expansion plans underway. Set to house its stunning new office and design center, its new facility will inspire all who visit. Another exciting project is its new Richmond Model home in Bella Collina—an idyllic place that’s perfect for its most recent creation.

Beyond this breathtaking new address, Davila Homes aims to further diversify through new projects that continuously explore sophistication, beauty, and quality in ever-evolving ways. By blending classic craftsmanship with leading technology, and by empowering its team with rich opportunities for work-life balance and ample room to grow and develop both professionally and personally, Davila Homes is inspiring and transforming its future—and that of its clients.

The post Ready to Empower, Inspire, and Transform<p class="company">Davila Homes</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

“Palm Coast’s strategic location along I-95 provides unparalleled connectivity for businesses and residents,” says Craig McKinney, Economic Development Manager. “There are thousands of communities across the U.S. that will never be able to say the busiest Interstate on the eastern coast cuts right through their city. For us, it’s a strategic asset that we certainly love to promote.”

Palm Coast’s accessibility is a major advantage for industries reliant on logistics, transportation, and distribution. Interstate 95 not only offers direct regional market access but also connects to Jacksonville Port (JaxPort), one of the busiest shipping hubs in Florida. The city’s location within Foreign Trade Zone 46, the largest in Florida, offers a variety of incentives to businesses engaged in import/export activities.

Foreign Trade Zone 46 serves as a powerful tool for businesses engaged in international commerce, enabling companies to defer, reduce, or even eliminate customs duties, an especially valuable advantage in today’s global economy. Additionally, Palm Coast’s proximity to JaxPort facilitates direct deliveries and a more efficient customs process, further enhancing its appeal to importers and exporters.

Beyond trade, the city actively promotes its competitive cost of living and affordability for both residents and entrepreneurs. Compared to metro hubs like Orlando and Jacksonville, Palm Coast offers lower real estate costs, a more relaxed lifestyle, and fewer overhead burdens for new and expanding businesses. “It allows entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses with lower overhead, and it enables employees to enjoy a higher quality of life with the cost of living here,” says Brittany Kershaw, Director of Communications & Marketing. “It’s a win-win for talent retention and economic vitality.”

The city of Palm Coast also facilitates business growth through its economic development partnerships and streamlined permitting processes. City officials work closely with JAXUSA Partnership and the Flagler County Department of Economic Opportunity to match businesses with local incentives, workforce training, and available real estate.

As Palm Coast evolves, it’s doing so with intentionality. One of the city’s most exciting developments is The Promenade at Town Center, a transformative downtown project designed to foster a walkable, mixed-use environment. The vision includes retail spaces, dining, residential units, and public gathering areas, forming a dynamic urban core in the heart of the city.

The Promenade is a significant milestone in Palm Coast’s journey toward establishing a vibrant downtown district. It’s emerging as a lively, pedestrian-friendly hub where locals and visitors alike can live, dine, shop, and engage with the community. Its walkable design and integrated mix of uses exemplify the city’s goal of creating a modern yet welcoming urban center.

While The Promenade is currently the most visible and well-known development, city officials hint at even more exciting projects in the works. Though details remain under wraps, these future initiatives promise to further enhance the downtown experience and underscore the city’s ongoing momentum in revitalization and smart urban growth.

In addition to commercial and residential growth, Palm Coast’s urban planning incorporates sustainable infrastructure and accessible design. Emphasis is placed on walkability, bike-friendliness, and smart growth principles. The city regularly solicits public feedback and integrates residents’ voices into its long-range development plans.

For many residents and visitors, Palm Coast’s appeal goes far beyond business—it’s about lifestyle. With 130 miles of interconnected trails weaving through parks, preserves, and neighborhoods, outdoor living is seamlessly integrated into everyday life. “You can basically get from one side of the county to the other using just the trail system, whether you’re walking, biking, or skateboarding,” says Kershaw. “It certainly encourages an active and healthy lifestyle and is a big tourist draw as well. People come from all over the region to enjoy our trails.”

These trails connect to 13 premier parks and over a dozen annual events hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. From family-friendly festivals to arts and cultural events and live music, Palm Coast fosters a strong sense of community and inclusion.

While the beach itself is technically outside the official city limits, it remains a major draw. Located just seven miles away, the nearest stretch of coastline boasts roughly six miles of undeveloped dunes, free from hotels, restaurants, and homes. This pristine natural setting offers a stunning and unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean, adding immense value to the quality of life in the area. Palm Coast also holds the unique distinction of having the shortest distance from an I-95 exit to the beach—just three miles. This geographic quirk enhances both tourism and convenience.

Of course, safety and cost of living are two more reasons why families and businesses are choosing Palm Coast. “Our law enforcement and fire departments are phenomenal, and strong public safety encourages a high level of quality of life,” Kershaw says. “Palm Coast has continually been recognized as one of the safest cities in Florida.”

Despite rapid growth, the city has remained committed to affordability through responsible fiscal planning. The City Council continuously works to maintain a low ad valorem tax rate, making it easier for families and business owners to thrive. “Through long-term financial planning and our strategic action plan, the city is able to offer high-quality services while keeping costs low,” Kershaw notes. That strategic planning includes maintaining roadways, lush public landscaping, and clean, safe neighborhoods. “People will comment that they know they’ve entered Palm Coast just by how well everything is maintained,” she adds.

Palm Coast also invests in smart city infrastructure, including traffic management systems, green energy incentives, and data-driven planning tools. These initiatives ensure that as the city grows, it remains efficient, responsive, and sustainable.

High-quality education is another pillar of Palm Coast’s success story, and the city boasts an A-rated public school district in Flagler Schools, as well as a robust technical and higher education network. “We have great partnerships with Flagler Schools, Flagler Technical College, and universities like Daytona State College, University of North Florida, and Jacksonville University,” says McKinney. “That gives us a local pipeline of talent, which is critical to companies looking to relocate.”

Having educational institutions nearby ensures residents have access to lifelong learning opportunities while creating a skilled workforce pipeline for local employers. Whether it’s certification-based training or four-year degrees, the city’s academic infrastructure supports a broad range of career pathways. Additionally, Palm Coast has partnered with business incubators and startup organizations to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students and professionals. This investment in talent development is key to sustaining long-term economic vitality.

As the city grows, leadership is focused on preserving Palm Coast’s identity. “We’re at a really exciting point in our growth,” Kershaw shares. “Palm Coast is committed to maintaining a balance between natural beauty, smart development, and that small-town charm, even though we’ve surpassed 100,000 residents,” she says.

That delicate balance between innovation and preservation is what sets Palm Coast apart. From its clean streets and abundant green spaces to its welcoming community vibe and dynamic economic opportunities, Palm Coast isn’t just a city that’s growing; it’s a city that’s thriving.

“Palm Coast is open for opportunity, whether it’s a small business looking to grow, a large business looking for a new home, or an investor seeking value,” says Kershaw. “We really believe Palm Coast has something for everyone.”

With new downtown developments underway, proximity to global trade routes, unmatched recreational offerings, and a community committed to excellence, Palm Coast stands at the crossroads of possibility. It’s a place where businesses find logistical advantages, families find safety and affordability, and everyone finds room to grow.

As Florida continues to attract attention on the national stage, the city of Palm Coast is carving out a unique position as a forward-looking community rooted in quality of life and opportunity. Whether you’re visiting the beach, relocating for a job, or investing in your next venture, Palm Coast is ready to welcome you.

The post Where Opportunity Meets Lifestyle on Florida’s Growing Northeast Coast<p class="company">City of Palm Coast, Florida</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Mayor Medina is passionate about serving the people of Palm Bay, Florida. During his last campaign, he received endorsements from influential figures including Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, former Florida House of Representatives Speaker Steve Crisafulli, and former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos.

Florida House of Representatives Member Robbie Brackett adds his approval. “Mayor Medina is a proven leader who puts community over self,” he says. “His foundational values, leadership style, and proven track record speak for themselves. For these reasons and more, it is my honor to endorse Rob Medina to serve another term as the mayor of the City of Palm Bay.”

Almost a year into his second term, Mayor Medina is quite proud of the accomplishments of his team. “This past November, we welcomed three new council members: Councilman Mike Hammer, Councilman Chandler Langevin, and Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe,” he says.

“This past May, we welcomed a new City Manager, Matthew Morton. He is a visionary leader with over 25 years’ diverse experience in the public and private sectors, which will be a great mix for our future. Our leadership team is united with a clear vision, and it’s to keep building opportunities in the City of Palm Bay which will be anchored in public safety, smart infrastructure, economic prosperity, and our quality of life.”

To be elected mayor of Palm Bay a second time holds plenty of meaning for Mayor Medina. Not only does it show the faith residents and businesses alike have in his abilities; it allows him to build on goals for the City’s future. In May, he delivered his annual State of the City Address in a video highlighting some of the City’s many recent growth initiatives. These include repaving over 418 miles of road through the $150 million GO Roads initiative. Other significant, necessary work involves water and wastewater system upgrades, new fire stations, expanded recreation services, bringing back the Police Department’s General Crimes Unit, launching a multilingual chatbot, and starting construction of a new City Hall building “to centralize services and support emergency operations,” says Palm Bay’s website.

Indeed, the City is committed to a future of growth and success. “Something I’m extremely proud of is that in this past year, we issued over 14,000 building permits, which totals about $1.4 billion in project value,” says the mayor. “$144 million of that is commercial project valuation alone.”

Last year, the City Council adopted the Palm Bay Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2024-2028. Prepared by Baker Tilly, the five-year strategic plan addresses city-wide goals and objectives, including mission, vision, values, purpose, and direction “for every activity from budget planning to projects and initiatives of the City.”

The aspirational statement for the community reads: “Palm Bay is a thriving community dedicated to economic prosperity, public safety, quality infrastructure, with a diverse culture and recreational amenities for all.” The plan is available at https://www.palmbayfl.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/26149/638164727283270000.

“Our mission is to provide quality services, promote economic growth, and ensure a safe and secure environment for Palm Bay residents and the public,” says the plan, which received feedback from residents and the community. Palm Bay Council and staff identified five key priorities. The goals, according to Mayor Medina, are to: “Develop sustainable and innovative infrastructure; grow the community in a well-balanced manner; increase public safety for residents, businesses, and visitors; increase commercial and industrial growth; and improve community engagement and feedback.”

Himself a 38-year resident of Palm Bay, one of the mayor’s visions for the City is to shatter the false perception of Palm Bay as a ‘bedroom community’ and communicate the many business opportunities and benefits to be enjoyed in this proud Florida city. “We’ve gotten rid of that stigma,” he says. “We want to make sure the public, businesses, and commercial developers know we are open for business. That’s something I’ve been extremely proud of. The direction of this Council is very supportive, and it’s proven by who we hired to fill the City Manager position.”

Located in Brevard County, the City of Palm Bay has access to major highways, airports, rail, Port Canaveral, and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. “Businesses can benefit from seamless regional and international connectivity,” says City Manager Matthew Morton. The area is a well-known hub for electronics manufacturing, technology, and aerospace, and Mayor Medina’s team is actively at work to introduce and establish other spheres of economic development, such as light industrial. “There’s a mission now to get back to the moon, and we want to tap into that with NASA,” he says. Even with a population of about 146,000—making Palm Bay the most populous city in the county, and the biggest in land area—there is plenty of room for business expansion.

Palm Bay and the surrounding “Space Coast” have a strong history and established presence in the aerospace and defense industries, particularly related to space exploration and technology. The presence of related businesses can foster collaboration, create a supportive ecosystem, and attract suppliers and customers. “NASA is a big supplier in Brevard County, and we’ve got the space in the City of Palm Bay,” says Mayor Medina. “We are approximately 60 percent built out, and looking to enhance growth.”

Located between the metros of Jacksonville and Miami, Palm Bay is just 40 minutes from NASA and the Kennedy Space Center, 15 minutes from Melbourne International Airport, one hour from Orlando International Airport, and about 35 minutes from Port Canaveral. One of the world’s biggest cruise terminals, Port Canaveral sees more than four million passengers pass through annually, transports salt, petroleum, lumber, and other cargo, and is known for supporting NASA’s activities.

As a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ 136), Port Canaveral offers significant benefits for businesses involved in international trade. According to the Port, these benefits include deferring duty, or reduction or elimination of duty. Duties are paid only when goods enter U.S. customs for consumption. “This flexibility helps businesses reduce operating costs and improve cash flow, especially for goods that are re-exported or processed into finished products,” says the Port’s website. “FTZ 136 allows your business to quickly adapt to market changes without the immediate duty costs associated with traditional importing, making it an appealing option for companies looking to optimize their international trade operations.”

Mayor Medina and his team are pleased with Palm Bay’s continuing appeal to new business. Right now, this includes an Oregon-based semiconductor manufacturer coming to the area, amongst many other businesses. In late May, almost $800 million in investment was announced in Brevard County. This includes Health First—a not-for-profit, fully integrated delivery network—announcing a significant, $230 million expansion of Palm Bay Hospital on Malabar Road. To be completed in 2028, the new five-floor tower will increase hospital capacity with 60 additional inpatient beds, expanded operating rooms, catheter labs, pre-op/recovery space, additional parking, and more.

These investments and others will improve quality of life in the area. “We are a city on the rise and thriving,” says Mayor Medina. “Health First understands that, and they’re willing to invest in our community.” The large-scale project will not only create more jobs for healthcare professionals but also support hundreds of construction workers, suppliers, and others. “I’m excited about our continued growth,” the mayor says. “Of course, there are always challenges, and we have to continue working on our infrastructure.”

As a testament to its growth, Palm Bay has received various national rankings and accolades over the past few years, including:
• #1 Top Growth City – U-Haul Growth Index (2023)
• #1 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers – WalletHub (2024)
• #3 Best Cities to Move to in Florida – USA Today (2024)
• #13 Best Cities On The Rise – Southern Living (2024)
• #9 Best-Performing City (Palm Bay MSA) – Milken Institute (2025)
• #4 Florida Cities Where Upper-Middle Class has Exploded – GOBankingRates (2025)
• # 7 Best Places To Move In Florida – Southern Living (2025)

Mindful of increasing its commercial base, the City has other projects in the pipeline, including a new supermarket in the permitting phase. “Palm Bay is experiencing strategic and sustainable growth, with future development plans centered on livability, environmental stewardship, and opportunity. New residential communities, commercial hubs, recreational facilities, and educational institutions are all on the horizon. These efforts aim to create a vibrant and inclusive environment for families, professionals, and entrepreneurs alike,” says City Manager, Matthew Morton.

Before Mayor Medina’s administration, permitting was a slow process that has now been greatly improved. When he took office, the City’s Building Department was not accredited; now it is, with valuable information available online. “We had some challenges with driveway permits, and overcame those,” he says. “So the investors in our community—commercial developers and so on—are seeing that we are changing the tide. We are welcoming them to invest in our community, and we want to see how we can help.”

Palm Bay offers a variety of programs to help grow and sustain business and industry within the community such as the Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Program and Building Permit Fee Reduction Program. “We’re ready to lead with bold ideas and creative solutions that attract more jobs, support small businesses, and expand opportunities for all,” says Economic Development Manager, Danielle Crotts.

The City also has the Mayor’s Business Spotlight program, which is designed to feature local businesses “who foster pride in the City’s thriving business community and strong local economy.” Businesses eligible for nomination must have a valid business tax receipt (BTR) and demonstrate attributes such as growth, innovation, involvement, or recognition. Select businesses receive a spotlight feature on the City’s Community and Economic Development website and the City’s newsletter and are recognized via proclamation at a regularly scheduled City Council Meeting, along with an exclusive ‘Mayor’s Business Spotlight Recipient’ window decal or cling. The business is also featured on the City’s social media platforms. “Small businesses are the staples of our community,” the mayor emphasizes.

“The City of Palm Bay,” he says, “is a great example of strength and resilience in our county. Our journey continues, even though we have faced challenges previously. We’ve made significant strides, reinforcing our foundation and enhancing many aspects of our community. Our goals and values are steadfast. Our city prides itself on its values of commitment, integrity, service before self, transparency, and trust. And this has come about through our strategic planning.”

The post Focusing on the Future<p class="company">City of Palm Bay, Florida</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Davie, vibrant and burgeoning, abounds in new residential, medical, and commercial space and is now playing host to another round of development. Civic boosters have been working hard to attract new residents and companies alike to this sun-drenched South Florida locale, while enhancing existing services.

“We promote the concept of people living, working, playing, and learning in Davie,” says Phillip Holste, Assistant Town Administrator and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) director.

A place with promise
Located in Broward County, roughly 25 miles north of Miami, Davie is served by Interstates 595 and 75, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and Port Everglades (the deepest port in the state). In 2023, a total of 106,412 people resided in Davie, reports Data USA (up from 105,054 people at the time of our previous profile). The median age in Davie was 37.2 and median household income $87,171 in 2023.

The booming sectors that employ the greatest number of people in the Town are management, business, science, and the arts, followed by the sales, office, service, natural resources, construction, maintenance, production, transportation, and material moving sectors, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Prominent projects completed since our last profile include the 300,000-square-foot HCA Florida University Hospital. Opening in mid-November 2021, the hospital is located in the Academical Village, an ongoing 2.5 million-square-foot development featuring academic facilities, residences, businesses, and medical offices. “Everything that was envisioned at the Academical Village is coming to fruition now,” says Holste.

New residential projects, such as Zona Village and the Main Street Lofts, are also thriving. The former has become one of Davie’s restaurant hubs, offering a diverse variety of foods, says Holste, while the latter was “the first condo project in the downtown Davie corridor.”

Developing fast
Developers aren’t resting on their laurels but have plunged ahead with new construction. The District in Davie, for example, is a massive new building project set to encompass 1.6 million square feet of residential space and 36,000 square feet of commercial space spread over an 8.5-acre site. Once completed, this development will feature five buildings soaring upwards of 25 stories, says Holste.

Another new residential project, Saddlebridge at Downtown Davie, is set for Davie Road, near the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, an entertainment hotspot for rodeos, concerts, festivals, and other events.

Saddlebridge will offer approximately 286 apartments, 20 percent of which have been designated as affordable housing (three residences are set aside for people earning less than the area median income, while 54 apartments are reserved for people making just above the area median income), says Holste. “It’s great that we’re going to get people into the downtown Davie corridor, but we’re also providing additional affordable housing that’s needed in the area,” he says.

This focus reflects the overall mission of the Community Redevelopment Agency, which aims to alleviate conditions of slum and blight, facilitate affordable housing, and stimulate public sector investment within the redevelopment area.

“Following the start of COVID, housing prices went up significantly in Broward County. It became a priority to make sure new residential development has affordable housing, and the Town has put a lot of effort into that. We have an inclusionary housing ordinance that requires any development of 100 units or larger to have 20 percent affordable housing within it,” explains Holste.

In 2023, the median property value in Davie was $433,600, which was 1.4 times higher than the national average ($303,400), reports Data USA. The home ownership rate in Davie was 66.6 percent that year.

Aerospace taking off
There have recently been several prominent commercial developments in the Town. The Davie Business Center, a 1.1 million-square-foot industrial space cited in our previous article, is now fully occupied, and has proven to be particularly popular with aerospace firms. “You have Boeing, Embraer, and Kellstrom Aerospace all located in that Business Center. It’s turned out spectacularly,” says Holste.

“Aviation as a whole is one of our target industries for the Town,” adds Debbie Thomas, Economic Development Manager of the Town.

The Center accommodates aerospace manufacturers and ancillary firms alike. Kellstrom, for example, specializes in aftermarket aviation solutions and services, while AeroThrust handles maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) duties.

And, amid all this construction, a new Davie Town Hall is being built near the Bergeron Rodeo grounds. The 83,000-square-foot, four-story civic building should be ready for occupation by summer 2027.

Building success
As a pro-business community, Davie continues to extend services and support to private companies. In 2021, Davie formed a partnership with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to launch a business development program. “SBDC has been playing a great role as a partner, offering all businesses within the Town the opportunity to look at various avenues for financial assistance, continuity of operations plans, being able to get grants and loans, even just business planning as a whole,” Thomas says.

Civic officials have also “branched out with other partners to do different types of workforce development incentives,” she says.

These partners include Broward County, CareerSource Broward, CareerSource Florida, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, and the Levan Center. Based at Nova Southeastern University, the Levan Center offers meeting and co-working space, seminars, networking opportunities, and other services for fledgling entrepreneurs.

“Between SBDC offering financial assistance and the Levan Center offering further assistance when it comes to tech-based companies, we have a lot to offer new businesses and existing businesses that want to grow in our Town,” says Thomas.

Family matters
Asked what might attract a family to Davie besides job opportunities, Thomas points to a strong school system (Davie features over 30 K-12 schools and five post-secondary institutions), abundant restaurants and retail, and diverse housing options (everything from affordable housing to luxury residences).

Also, despite its emergence as an economic powerhouse, the community retains a down-to-earth vibe, she adds. “We have a robust equestrian, rural lifestyle. One of the reasons the Town has been known historically as Cowboy Town is because of that cultural component,” notes Thomas.

The Town of Davie owes its existence to a decision by the state government in the early 20^th century to drain swampland in the Everglades to enable settlement. An entrepreneur named R.P. Davie purchased several thousand reclaimed acres and encouraged people to settle. A handful of hardy souls began farming the area, which was originally called Zona but was renamed Davie in honor of its founder.

Despite the occasional flood (hurricanes have wreaked havoc in Davie along with other South Florida communities), the Town grew. A 1920 Census of Broward County listed 190 residents in Davie. Five years later, the Town of Davie was officially incorporated. By 1970, some 5,859 people lived in Davie. The population continued to rise, goosed along by the establishment of the South Florida Education Center (SFEC) among other developments.

Originally launched in the early 1960s, the SFEC is a consortium of post-secondary institutions that reside in Davie (Broward College, McFatter Technical College, Nova Southeastern University, Florida Atlantic University – Broward, and the University of Florida). Over 20,000 students attended Davie-based universities, and more than 7,500 degrees were awarded in 2023. Some 37.2 percent of Davie residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, reports the U.S. Census Bureau.

Now, Davie officials have launched some new initiatives to offer further assistance to companies and to highlight the community.

Talking business
The “Let’s Talk Business Program” enables qualifying firms to participate in a video promoting their enterprise, which is then posted on the Town of Davie’s website and social media profiles. These professionally made promotional videos offer production values beyond what most local businesses (with small marketing budgets at best) could achieve.

The Town of Davie Corporate Outreach Retention & Engagement (CORE) program, meanwhile, aims to cement relationships between civic officials and Davie industry leaders. Businesspeople are invited to discuss challenges, goals, expansion plans, workforce development, or other related topics with municipal staff. The idea is to glean insights into the needs of the business community so local government can respond accordingly.

Another brand-new venture seeks to spotlight the charms of the community itself. “When people think of South Florida, sometimes they just think of Fort Lauderdale and Miami because those are the bigger municipalities. So, we’re trying to get out there. We call our brand the ‘Davie 10 Initiative.’ We want to show people that yes, we are a cowboy town, but we are more than that, too. We are very competitive when it comes to our market,” says Thomas.

Davie’s competitiveness, she says, largely stems from its growing reputation as an epicenter of industry and education.

“It would be great to get to the point where people hear ‘Davie’ and they immediately think, ‘Oh—that’s a very well-educated workforce! That’s a great place to bring our business or to relocate our family!’ I would love for people to hear ‘Davie’ and know who we are and what we have to offer, just by name recognition,” says Thomas.

The post In Davie, There’s Always Something New Under the Sun<p class="company">Town of Davie, Florida</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Creative to its core and enjoying an all-new economic renaissance, the 42,000-strong community of Dania Beach thrives on doing things differently. From its colorful, impeccably tended central business district that draws a large amount of retail tourism to the heartfelt dedication with which its city administration serves the public, there is nothing ordinary about this glorious little stretch of the Atlantic Coast.

Understanding only too well that the success of its local businesses decides its own, the city of Dania Beach dedicated decades to creating a place where families, local businesses, new investors, and visitors are all met with equal attention and care. “We treat people in our city like VIPs,” says City Manager Ana M. Garcia. They feel very, very special, and it’s a culture that goes beyond City Hall. This sense of care is like a blanket that’s over the entire city.”

It is not only people who benefit from this commitment to serve. Dania Beach is also fully compliant in protecting its precious sea turtle population, with custom lighting and other measures in place to ensure that these ancient species remain safe in their original habitat. To this end, the city’s leadership is clear that growth for its own sake is not its main motivation; continuously investing in improving quality of life is more important.

Passionate about service delivery, Garcia and her colleague, Deputy City Manager Candido Sosa-Cruz, have worked together for nearly one and a half decades, offering citizens a fully bilingual business experience whenever they deal with the city. Together with their team, they have pledged to go above and beyond for those they serve by paying attention to detail and striving for progress.

As a result, the city takes its relationships seriously. “We like to treat our business partners like we treat ourselves,” Sosa-Cruz says, highlighting that the business community has a willing business partner in the city. Based on its RISE motto—respect, integrity, and a standard of excellence—the approach serves as a constant reminder of what the city stands for in all its dealings while guiding and supporting investors and other stakeholders in achieving their ideals here.

The city administration also deems its various departments—community development, public services, fire, and police—to be of equal importance, as these services directly feed into community well-being. To this end, Garcia supports Sosa-Cruz’s sentiments. “Whether we’re dealing with a multi-million-dollar project or somebody’s bathroom renovation, we [consider] how we would want to be treated,” she says.

This means there is no place for needless bureaucracy; rather, clear communication and responsiveness make for an institution that protects the public interest by operating as efficiently as possible. The city helps investors, business owners, and citizens navigate the legalese by having well-equipped staff available to help simplify these processes every step of the way. The approach has proven successful with many new business owners who heard about its straightforward systems wanting to get their share of the Dania Beach action.

“We roll out the red carpet for you,” says Sosa-Cruz, highlighting that it is his team’s job to make dealing with the city a pleasure. “We will guide you each step of the way. You’re not on your own.”

Within this context, residents, business owners, and new investors alike are treated as respected customers with whom the city cares to establish and maintain longstanding relationships, and Dania Beach is now drawing new investors—all thanks to the high standard of excellence the city maintains.

“[With regard to] turnaround time in responsiveness, permitting, inspections, [a client] told us that he had never worked with a place like Dania Beach,” Garcia says. The hard work is certainly being rewarded as the same investor is currently in the process of investing in his second local project.

And, as the nature of business dictates that not every project runs equally smoothly, this team is adept at swimming upstream to help effect change in this beautiful place and its communities. The result is that in Dania Beach, there is always a solution to even the toughest challenge.

In its efforts to improve its services further, the Dania Beach marketing and communications department has also seen significant expansion. Garcia notes how “casting a very wide net” through this marketing channel has brought about the knock-on effect of spreading the news of its services.

In other successes, Dania Beach’s property values remain outstanding. At a 12-plus percent increase over last year (#1 in all of Broward County)—despite the rest of South Florida’s real estate trends—property here remains robust in comparison to surrounding cities. Dania Beach’s water management system, with its advanced metering infrastructure, has also significantly improved its water resources outlook. Thanks to new technology, the city can now monitor and notify homeowners and occupants of any unusual spikes in consumption. As that could be due to damaged infrastructure, the new monitoring system allows for speedy repairs and tremendous savings in the long run.

With its perpetual drive to modernize its zoning and building codes as a means of remaining accommodating, relevant, and in stride with the times, the city also listened to residents when they reported a need to reduce density and protect the skyline from an overpopulation of high-rise towers. The city also opened up the possibility to build tiny homes, in contrast to older codes that would not allow for the small sizes of these modern, affordable housing solutions.

One of the city’s great attractions, Dania Point, is a popular outdoor shopping center known as one of the state’s best. The city also celebrated the launch of a beautiful new affordable housing development by Landmark Development Corporation of Miami. As the county’s oldest city, it is also revamping aging infrastructure, and much of its new revenue investment has also gone into improving public safety through the appointment of a multitude of new first responder staff over the past five years.

In 2019, the city introduced a stormwater masterplan alongside a major parks masterplan—a first of its kind here. The result is a tremendous investment of $100 million to be spent over a decade on ensuring that the city’s residents and visitors have access to world-class parks and critical infrastructure. To this end, it is wrapping up a 22-million-dollar project at CW Thomas Park, which will see its ribbon cutting in January next year. Then there is the Patrick J. Meli Park, which is also being completely renovated. Such projects are underscored by transparency and clear communication.

Well-equipped with a long list of other strategic plans to further enhance the city, this team achieves its goals methodically and at a healthy pace. For this reason, leadership’s hands-on involvement also extends to its teams on the ground. From the community development team to parks and recreation, the beach rangers, police officers, building inspectors, and more, everyone in service and management positions working for the city is expected to attend public meetings where the specific communities directly affected by its projects are kept up to speed in a friendly, open environment where questions are always welcomed.

This high level of communication is further maintained through a quarterly, award-winning hardcopy newsletter, The Pioneer, which is delivered to every household in the city. Despite the cost and effort of printing a hard copy newsletter, it is worth it as its reception by the public is simply invaluable. While Dania Beach does go to great lengths to also employ social media and its website, Garcia and Sosa-Cruz report that the proven results in its marketing and communication efforts are achieved through The Pioneer.

Moreover, the culture afficionados of Dania Beach were happy to learn of the city’s recently introduced public arts masterplan, together with an arts board. There is also the new Dania Beach Arts Park that opened in 2024, and one of the city’s impressive murals even won a national award this year.

Dania Beach also looks after its industrial partners. Exceptionally well situated between Palm Beach and Miami Dade Counties, and as the corporate headquarters for Spirit Airlines, air, harbor, marine, and transportation industries flourish here. “We have some of the largest shipyards in the world here,” says Sosa-Cruz. “One shipyard in particular has one of the largest lifts to lift mega yachts over 120 feet, and they do repairs and retrofits.”

Naturally, with business being this good, the city increasingly sees families move here. With two elementary schools, Dania and Collins, alongside Olsen Middle School, parents have a high-quality school district to count on for their children’s education. There are also several options to choose from for tertiary education, with institutions like Florida Atlantic University’s Dania Beach campus right on the doorstep.

To further support local growth and evolution, the city provides grants for opportunities like after-school activities, summer camps, scholarships, and much more. “These great relationships with the schools, enhancing what we provide for families and kids… I don’t think any city does it better than us,” Garcia says.

With its strong culture of employing high-achieving team players, the city is proud of its dedicated staff. When business needs to be done, they are there to help. And, thanks to a city leadership that understands that good service means measuring itself against the private sector, it employs the best people for each role. “Our staff have a lot of autonomy; they’re able to make their own decisions. We don’t micro-manage people,” Sosa-Cruz says of the incredible group of people behind the scenes who keep Dania Beach ticking.

While the team knows that no city was ever built in a day, Dania Beach remains a precious treasure to be developed and polished to perfection for the enjoyment of all by people who genuinely care. With a thoroughly developed succession plan in place, locals, investors, and visitors can rest assured that the city’s commitment to excellence will persist. Using their passion as fuel to grow, these visionary leaders promise to continue making the waves that take Dania Beach to ever-expanding heights.

The post Say Hello to the Happy City<p class="company">City of Dania Beach, Florida</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Setting businesses up for success
Strategic guidance, networking opportunities, professional guidance, site selection assistance, identifying funding, and access to talent are just a few ways the NEFEDC helps businesses achieve success.

“We have state support, and have built relationships with Florida commerce,” says Strategic Alliances Business Partner Amber Shepherd. “So when businesses are ready, we can move quickly and talk about incentives available in the state. Florida has great incentives, especially for high-impact sectors, large manufacturers looking to move.”

One of these advantages is the Capital Investment Tax Incentive. It starts at $25 million in CapX investment and 100 jobs. Companies can recoup 50 percent of their investment via taxes for 20 years, which increases with greater investment. At an investment of $100 million or more, and 100 jobs created, companies are eligible to recoup 100 percent over 20 years from the corporate income tax revenue, up to 50 percent of the total revenue. At the 21^st year, they can begin drawing down as much as available from revenues and can continue up to the 30^th year.

Another advantage of the area is the JAXPORT FTZ No. 64. At this designated Free Trade Zone, “goods can be imported, stored, and processed with deferred or reduced customs duties and increased savings,” according to the NEFEDC. A few of the well-known companies taking advantage of the FTZ include Bacardi, Bridgestone, Mazda, and Shoreside Logistics.

Unlike some larger municipalities where space is tight, Bradford County has an ideal site available—OSCEOLA 301 & 16 Greenfield. Currently zoned for agricultural and low-density residential, future land use includes commercial and high-density residential, with the highest and best land use being distribution freight/logistics.

“Bradford County is nicely nestled on the west side of Northeast Florida, very close to Central Florida,” says Shepherd. U.S. 301 runs right through the county and through the city of Starke. They have created a track route to go on the outside of it, which opens it up for new development, and we also have greenfields available for development. And then, we are very close to I-95, I-10, and I-75, so having that major highway system makes us a great place for warehousing, logistics, and distribution,” she shares.

“I would love to see these buildings that may have been dormant for some time be utilized and brought back to life,” she says. “Every time a business opens up a new location, it’s really a startup in that space. I have a heart for startups and what it takes for them to be successful.

Support, support, and more support
“In our membership, we have tiers that range from an individual membership at $250 all the way up to the government membership level at $10,000,” Shepherd explains. “And for every single one of those membership opportunities, we offer strategic advice and guidance… But we also offer some operational support at a discounted rate,” she says.

“That’s one thing that separates us from a lot of other organizations out there. We are more than just, ‘Put your name on a website and logo and join the member list. We really are about helping businesses grow and thrive in our region. We have a great community that wants businesses to immerse themselves and become part of that community.”

Simply put, “We are looking for visionaries,” she says. “We want to build, and not be outdated for the next movement. We want to build Bradford County for the future.”

A team effort
The Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation (NEFEDC) is guided by a seasoned leadership team with deep expertise in business growth, infrastructure, education, and regional planning. With backgrounds spanning global executive consulting, real estate development, military leadership, finance, and workforce development, the board and executive team are uniquely equipped to support the evolving needs of the region. Together, they work to connect businesses with the tools, partnerships, and strategic guidance necessary to fuel expansion, attract investment, and strengthen the economic landscape across Northeast Florida.

Strategic Alliances Business Partner Amber Shepherd’s economic development journey began about 15 years ago. Working for a staffing agency in Jacksonville, Florida, Shepherd hoped for an opportunity where she could help others reach the next level. She became a career services advisor for Everest University, where she helped graduates secure employment in their chosen fields.

Soon, she realized the institution was ill-equipped to prepare students for genuine success. She developed a curriculum and progressed from career services advisor to career services manager. Just a few years later, Shepherd transferred to Fortis College as director of career services. “I was able to branch out on my own and build out a full-scale presentation and curriculum,” she says. “Students learned how to write résumés, prepare portfolios, present those portfolios and interviews, answer tough interview questions, follow up, and all the nuts and bolts of how to be employable.”

Shepherd noticed early on that many technical career colleges waited until students graduated to offer them career support services, so she focused on providing that education from the beginning. “They needed an extra measure of attention, so I provided that to them,” she says.

Her efforts saw a graduate placement increase of about 85 percent in most programs from 2010 until 2019, when she left. “I could help both organizations turn their graduate placement rate from way below industry standard to well above,” she says. “I really worked to prove an easy to repeat methodology that helps people drive success.”

Securing a master’s degree that same year in Human Resource Management, Shepherd reached the pinnacle of her college career as a director but wasn’t able to move up in the organization. Encouraged by colleagues to move forward, Shepherd worked for a time at a local non-profit in Jacksonville, helping to develop a unified data systems management solution. It was an opportunity for her to go further into software and tech, and to learn more about Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

COVID-19 hit a few months later, and the grant under which Shepherd had come on board was not renewed. Undeterred, she soon connected with boutique executive management consulting firm Massive Dynamics Labs (MDL), based in California. Starting as a business analyst, she soon worked her way up to director of consulting services, providing the same sort of guidance she had previously given to graduates, but now to CEOs regarding how to build their sales organizations.

“Sales is really about relationship-building,” she says. “And when you recognize that, it’s very easy to get into conversations—people buy from people they like. As I listen to people, I learn to understand their needs and find a solution to fill that need.”

She did just that in her work with MDL, securing contracts and arranging meetings with South Korean SMEs looking to expand their footprint into the United States. Soon, a contract came through with the Korean Business Development Center in Washington, DC, operated by KOSME, the Korean SMEs and Startups Agency. It was at an accelerator hub in Washington, where South Korean businesses were invited to come and build a footprint at the American facility. A consultant was needed to provide strategic advice on how to tap into the market, and Shepherd stepped into the role.

Making connections
One organization housed at the accelerator hub was a bio-supplement producer. The company wanted to bring a new product to market, but had only had testing done in South Korea, and couldn’t afford to do it in the United States. To find a solution, Shepherd reached out to farms local to her area. She found a willing hay farmer, testing was performed, and the network was expanded.

It was also around this time that she connected with the Bradford County Development Authority, as it was called at the time. Simultaneously, South Korean entities were utilizing services to start conversations and support delegations being sent from South Korea to America by arranging meetings with manufacturers for the purpose of expanding manufacturing in South Korea. “I thought, ‘I need to do this for Florida,’” she says, after seeing a PowerPoint about trying to attract manufacturers to South Korea. In 2023, Governor Ron Desantis passed the edict to cancel special tax districts, including the Bradford County Development Authority (BCDA).

While the BDCA could have filed for an exemption, a decision was made to reform as a private entity, which helped businesses keep their proprietary information secret. Following the closure of the development agency, the Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation (NEFEDC) was created in July 2023, with Shepherd on the board.

At the same time that Shepherd was attending the Florida Rural Economic Development Association (FREDA) summit, a request for proposal (RFP) came through looking for properties. “There was an opportunity for me to support the organization in that moment, utilizing the tools and techniques I had identified while setting up these conversations before with South Korea,” she tells us.

When the RFP came through, the NEFEDC realized it was not well enough equipped to support them and needed someone to provide operational support on more than just a volunteer basis. Their bylaws said directors could not receive compensation, so Shepherd resigned from the board and linked up in an operational support role. This meant establishing an organization essentially from the ground up.

Soon, Shepherd developed the NEFEDC website, creating customer relationship management (CRM) strategies, building relationships, and more. In May 2024, the corporation supported Bradford County by writing the application submitted for a community planning technical assistance grant for Bradford County, the first of its kind. Shepherd requested $75,000, the full amount, for creating an economic development strategic plan, developing marketing materials, and implementing outreach using tools and techniques she’d learned while consulting. After several months, the full grant was awarded.

“Bradford County is a fiscally constrained community,” says Shepherd. “It is a rural area of opportunity, so it is challenged financially. And so we have to look at grants to get Bradford to where it needs to be.”

Working tirelessly, Shepherd submitted the economic development strategic plan in February, which was approved by Florida Commerce. The team also created the site landing page on the NEFEDC website, which includes an introductory video and site selection inventory list, along with details of incentives and resources available in Bradford County. “It really was a nice kickstart to this economic development outreach.”

The coming months saw the NEFEDC send out thousands of emails and conduct direct marketing via LinkedIn. Connection rates were impressive, with about 25 percent (1,077) connecting through Shepherd’s profile. Her persistence paid off, with expressions of interest, meetings, and diverse international and national executive teams coming to the community.

Identifying opportunities
Amber Shepherd understands all too well that Northeast Florida holds tremendous business opportunities. Centrally positioned, it offers convenient access to Jacksonville, Gainesville, Lake City, and Clay County. And with more industries realizing just how much the area offers, Shepherd is seeing considerable interest.

She is currently in talks with an organization based in India that wasn’t initially looking at the U.S. but, thanks to her team’s outreach, is considering building an innovation and manufacturing hub in Northeast Florida on 500 acres for smart technology manufacturing including hydrogen components. The company was recently awarded $1 billion from investors globally, making this project a real potential for the region.

Florida is also home to countless aerospace businesses, and the NEFEDC is having conversations with an American organization that builds rocket capsules for transporting items into space. And, owing to its many waterways, an electric boat manufacturer is considering expanding manufacturing into the state. Yet another interested company is eyeing the area for manufacturing land-to-rail transferable vehicles; others include a company building smart HVAC systems.

“There are many interesting technology outfits looking at the community,” says Shepherd.

The post Bringing Support and Success to Northeast Florida<p class="company">Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation (NEFEDC)</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

While Kissimmee remains an American tourist mecca, with Disney and Universal Studios on its doorstep, this community of 85,000 has also turned itself into a prime location for business and industry, and it is flourishing. But, although famous tourist destinations continue to provide ample job opportunities, the city’s leadership believes that its residents, especially the younger demographic, are ready for higher-paying jobs to allow them to live the best of lives in this vibrant place.

Upgrading job opportunities
Kissimmee’s efforts to attract a younger population have paid off. The city’s average age is 35—significantly lower than the statewide average, which falls in the mid-40s and above. This shift is the result of various city-led initiatives aimed at fostering opportunity and growth. Combined with the support of key local industries, these sustained efforts have steadily boosted residents’ earning potential in recent years.

NeoCity, a major development in the region, is a tech hub for microchips and semiconductors alongside optics, smart sensors, and photonics. With plans to become one of the area’s largest employers, the campus’s proximity to the city’s downtown provides ample economic opportunity for businesses there.

Kissimmee is also home to the third-largest healthcare corridors in Central Florida, boasting a two-square-mile medical district. This area is home to two major hospitals, Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) Florida Osceola and AdventHealth Kissimmee, both of which are currently expanding.

In addition to other established medical facilities, Everest Rehabilitation Hospital, a new 40,000-square-foot rehab facility, is also under construction and will create around 120 new high-wage healthcare jobs.

Aviation taking off
The aviation industry is also a strong economic contributor, generating over a billion dollars for the economy. And, with 200 acres ready for development, the city sees the sky as the limit. Already, Kissimmee Gateway Airport is known to be one of the country’s preferred airports among private aviation-related businesses.

“General aviation is attractive to businesses because they don’t have to compete with the commercial airlines for space on the runway and space on the airfield,” says City Manager Mike Steigerwald, pointing out that local enterprises benefit tremendously from having such easy access to an airport of this kind.

For that reason, there are multiple flight schools at Kissimmee Gateway. Programs range from high-altitude flying and maneuvers in small jets to Aviator College’s Federal Aviation Administration-certified, two-year degree program to become licensed Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanics. Aerostar is internationally recognized for its advanced airline pilot training in full-size simulators for Boeing 737 and Airbus 320, and students travel from around the globe to attend its state-of-the-art facility in Kissimmee.

One of the most attractive aspects of the aviation training offered at Kissimmee Gateway Airport is the accessibility of some programs to individuals with no prior aviation experience. “Several introductory courses, including those in pilot training and aviation maintenance, prepare students for FAA certification and entry-level careers in the industry,” Steigerwald says, highlighting that these opportunities make it easier for people in hospitality or other, more Earth-bound jobs to pivot into new careers and far brighter futures reasonably quickly.

Beyond convenience and education, this airport has also given rise to related businesses serving the industry that benefit from more affordable rents as opposed to the inflated rates that the presence of a commercial airline would encourage. “We look at it very simply as a big business park with an airfield,” says Steigerwald.

Living and learning
With affordable taxes, many well-paying job opportunities, and an outstanding school district, this ideal location further seals the deal for families when they discover golden beaches just an hour away, a climate with endless sunshine, and some of the best entertainment in the world. Kissimmee is an indisputably great place for families to live, love, and learn.

Kissimmee’s college entry ratio ranks fourth in Florida, while its high school graduation rate is just short of 90 percent. It also ranks fourth out of 67 counties for the number of high school students opting to pursue tertiary education. And, with the city administration’s high-paying employment mission in full swing, these students typically have the option to stay in their hometown and be part of something bigger, helping to build the future.

For this reason, the city’s communications department is crucial in creating connections and building networks. “Our role is more critical than ever. We’re shaping the narrative of a city striving and open for business,” says Communications Director Alibeth Suarez, with regard to creating transparency and actively connecting individuals with all the opportunities here.

With a specialized up-skilling program underway, mature students can also benefit from assistance in making such career changes, attending accelerated programs offered by bodies such as Osceola Technical College and Valencia College, amongst others.

Florida Technical College also offers an accelerated nursing program. Career Source Central Florida is a crucial partner in this initiative, connecting prospective students with available resources. “Upskill Kissimmee will provide tuition assistance for individuals currently in low-wage jobs, like hospitality or retail, who want to pivot and get retrained, be certified maybe as a semiconductor manufacturing technician or medical assistant,” explains Economic Development Director David Rodriguez.

Housing matters
With more jobs and more staff comes the need for more housing, and here, once again, the city is proactive, offering a wide range of housing prices, sizes, and styles.

The city is also collaborating in a public-private partnership to establish a 100,000-square-foot medical tower adjacent to City Hall. Located in the downtown area, this facility will expand the availability of new Class-A medical office space, further supporting its thriving healthcare industry.

In addition, significant multi-family residential construction is underway. At present, 6,200 new units are at various stages of the development process. Of these, around 70 percent are multi-family homes and are being added to the nearly 900 units introduced in the downtown area last year. Another 600 units are currently under construction.

The rest of Kissimmee’s new construction includes single-family homes, senior living, and more. Subsidies and rental assistance are available to those in lower-paying jobs to help mitigate the increase in housing costs.

Speaking of assistance
Kissimmee also provides support for locals and newcomers seeking jobs. “If we’re doing the right thing here in providing job opportunities for people to be paid a living wage, the goal is that they won’t need to go into a different city,” Steigerwald says. This also means ensuring that people have access to a wide range of services.

Providing easy access to information, the city’s website offers a services page packed with helpful resources ranging from housing and development to events, public safety, and social services, plus quality of life programs and more. “Our website, kissimmee.gov, is a great starting point. You can even sign up for our updates and information related to newsletters to get involved in the community,” says Suarez.

Kissimmee’s entrepreneurial Latin American community has also inspired the city to provide comprehensive information, support, and financing to simplify and encourage the opening of businesses and grow its economy even further. More information on these efforts can be accessed at GrowKissimmee.com. Moreover, a University of Central Florida business incubator helps foreign businesses settle in the area through its Soft Landing Program. A local chapter of the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network and two chambers of commerce further encourage local businesses to thrive.

Looking its best
Of course, powerful growth demands infrastructure, and to this end, leadership has identified the importance of investing in quality, leading to capital investments of more than 150 million dollars over the past few years to make the city attractive to new businesses. Prospects looking to buy here are inevitably impressed and motivated by the constant activity keeping Kissimmee looking and functioning at its best.

Examples of this activity include the beautiful lakefront developments and the re-imagining and upgrading of downtown street networks. These are intended to shape a more active, leisurely, and outdoor lifestyle while creating a greater sense of community. Surplus traffic lanes will give way to wider sidewalks with cafés and space for more people to walk side-by-side. Street crossings and the slowing of traffic through the retail zone with smart streetscaping will also provide a more wholesome downtown experience.

These upgrades will extend to the rest of the city’s roads and transportation as well. To enable the smooth flow of people between retail and restaurant areas and their places of work, Freebee—like Uber but at no cost to users—runs on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. through the medical, downtown, and adjacent areas, keeping the downtown core vibrant and connected.

Kissimmee is also collaborating with developers in revitalizing under-performing properties, redeveloping and repurposing buildings that have fallen into disrepair and disuse over time. Now, private developers have engaged with the city to propose two new hotels in the downtown area. And with multiple proposals for further development of aviation infrastructure and other projects around the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, the momentum and excitement in Kissimmee is palpable.

After many years of enthusiastically welcoming companies looking to settle in a place where local government is progressive and supportive, setting the scene for vigorous growth in all sectors, including tourism, Kissimmee and its hardworking communities are reaping the benefits. “Our workforce is young, skilled, diverse, and ready to serve new businesses coming to town,” says Rodriguez. “The city of Kissimmee is open for business.”

The post City of Opportunity<p class="company">City of Kissimmee, Florida</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

At the heart of this legacy is the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, one of Florida’s oldest chambers, which has been a steadfast advocate for local business and community development since its inception. Vicki Matteson, the Chamber’s Vice President, provides a comprehensive look at the organization’s history, ongoing initiatives, and its pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian River County.

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce’s origins trace back to the early 1920s, notably predating the formal establishment of Indian River County itself. “Our Chamber is actually older than our county,” says Matteson. “It began as a board of trade back in the early ’20s. We have things that date back to 1915 when it was being established.”

This historical depth reflects the Chamber’s foundational role in fostering economic growth even before county lines were drawn. The Chamber officially became a formal business organization in 1922, operating with the mission of uniting business leaders and advocating for infrastructure improvements. To commemorate its centennial, the Chamber hosted a gala at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in 2022, gathering community stakeholders to reflect on the past and envision the future.

Simultaneously, the county itself is gearing up to celebrate 100 years of community, culture, and development in 2025. Parades, public events, and collaborations between local groups such as the Chamber, the Historical Society, and community associations, are set to highlight this milestone. “We’re proud of how intertwined our Chamber’s history is with the county’s,” Matteson notes. “It really shows how business and community development go hand in hand.”

The Chamber’s early leaders were visionaries who recognized the importance of infrastructure and public health to economic success. One of the Chamber’s first big wins was advocating for State Road 60, a key artery connecting the region to the rest of Florida and beyond. “Early on, the Chamber was instrumental in having the airport opened and promoting State Road 60,” Matteson explains. “Our business leaders, who were part of the Chamber’s board, were really advocating for this road because it was so important to bring more business into the county.”

This emphasis on connectivity and accessibility helped transform Indian River County from a primarily rural area into a hub for commerce and tourism. The Chamber also helped pioneer the county’s first mosquito control program in the 1930s, addressing a critical public health issue that directly impacted quality of life and economic stability.

Throughout the 20^th century, the Chamber continued to play a vital role. During World War II, it supported the local Naval Air Station and service clubs, reinforcing the community’s patriotic spirit. In the 1950s, the county gained national prominence when the Brooklyn Dodgers used local facilities for their summer training camp. “The facility called Dodgertown, named in honor of Jackie Robinson, has been recently renovated and still hosts games,” Matteson says, underscoring the county’s rich cultural and sporting heritage.

Further infrastructure milestones include the opening of the 17^th Street Bridge in the 1960s, named Alma Lee Loy Bridge in 2012 after community leader Alma Lee Loy. “Alma Lee Loy dedicated her life to improving this area,” Matteson reflects. “Naming the bridge after her was a way to honor that commitment and symbolize the county’s growth.”

Today, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce is much more than a traditional business organization. It functions as an active economic development partner with various committees focused on government affairs, workforce development, and industry support. “We have a list of committees that meet regularly and advocate on behalf of different facets of our community, such as economic development and government affairs,” Matteson shares.

Each year, the Chamber conducts comprehensive surveys of its members and the wider business community to identify concerns, opportunities, and priorities, and these insights inform its advocacy strategy during legislative sessions in Tallahassee and beyond. “We’re not elected officials, but we advocate fiercely. We ask questions others can’t, and we present a unified voice for our business community.”

Recent advocacy efforts have addressed the rising costs of insurance, which have become a significant concern for businesses of all sizes. The Chamber’s role in representing local interests to state lawmakers ensures that policies consider the needs of Indian River County’s employers and workers.

The Chamber also serves as a bridge between business leaders and policymakers, organizing regular meetings with state representatives, local officials, and large employers. These collaborations facilitate a proactive approach to challenges and opportunities alike.

Indian River County’s economy is marked by diversity, balancing boutique local businesses with significant healthcare, manufacturing, and financial sectors. “I’m currently working with a medical company looking to open an office here, which will create 25 to 30 new jobs and bring five new physicians to the community,” Matteson shares enthusiastically. This expansion will not only boost local healthcare options but also enhance the county’s reputation as a regional medical hub.

Manufacturing companies, many relocating from northern states, are drawn by the region’s favorable climate and appealing lifestyle. “A lot of people are done with the winter and the snow; they’re ready to move to Indian River County,” says Matteson. This influx of new residents and businesses fosters economic vibrancy and job creation.

The county’s seasonal residents, known as “snowbirds,” also play a crucial role in sustaining the local economy. Many are high-net-worth individuals who winter in Indian River County, increasing demand for luxury services, real estate, and financial planning.

Supporting existing businesses remains a Chamber priority. From facilitating expansions to helping firms access tax incentives, the Chamber provides hands-on assistance. “We recently helped a growing local company find new space and access tax credits they qualified for,” says Matteson. Such personalized support strengthens the local business ecosystem.

To be sure, the county offers attractive incentives to encourage new business development and expansion. “There are tax benefits and grants available, especially for businesses creating high-wage jobs,” Matteson highlights. These programs complement the Chamber’s active economic development efforts, providing a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and companies. The Chamber assists businesses in navigating site selection, permitting, and incentive applications, helping reduce bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating growth, a level of support that makes Indian River County an appealing destination for investment in sectors like medical services, manufacturing, and technology.

Indian River County’s geographic location does make it vulnerable to hurricanes, with the season officially beginning June 1 each year. The Chamber plays a crucial role in helping businesses and residents prepare for and recover from these events. One signature initiative is the Hurricane Ready Preparedness Day, organized in partnership with local media outlets like TCPalm. This event educates the community on storm readiness, providing valuable resources and expert advice.

Matteson stresses the importance of post-storm efforts as well: “The most important part is what happens after the storm. We each have roles to play, connecting businesses to resources like the United Way, Red Cross, and Florida Power & Light, monitoring what services are open, and ensuring emergency responders have what they need.”

Following recent hurricanes, the Chamber’s role as an information hub has been vital. “We had people calling weeks after the storm asking if the beaches and roads were open,” Matteson recalls. By maintaining real-time communication channels, the Chamber helps restore normalcy and supports economic recovery.

Beyond business and emergency support, Indian River County’s quality of life is a defining attraction. Vicki Matteson passionately describes the region’s lifestyle: “What I love about Vero Beach and Indian River County is the pride people have for their town,” she says. “If you’re an outdoor person, there’s just so much to do.”

Contrary to popular perception of Florida as just beaches and theme parks, Indian River County boasts a rich agricultural heritage. “We have so much more than that—we’re a huge agricultural area with cattle farms, orange groves, grapefruit, and pineapples,” Matteson says. Visitors driving west from town experience a countryside dotted with farms that symbolize the county’s roots. And the area offers diverse small towns, each with its own character: Vero Beach is known for boutique shopping and dining; Fellsmere holds onto its rural agricultural charm; Sebastian charms with its riverfront parks and historic district.

Education is strong here, with quality schools and Indian River State College offering a promissory scholarship program to local high school students. This focus on education ensures a skilled and prepared workforce for future economic growth.

Outdoor recreation opportunities also abound, from kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon to visiting nature preserves and wildlife centers. “You could try a different outdoor activity every day for months and never do the same thing twice,” Matteson enthuses.

As Indian River County celebrates its centennial, the Chamber looks ahead with a clear vision. Its century-long commitment to advocacy, economic development, and community support remains steadfast. “We take an active role in connecting people, whether it’s helping new businesses settle in, advocating for our community at the state level, or supporting businesses after a storm,” Matteson summarizes. “It’s about being a partner every step of the way.”

The Chamber’s blend of historical perspective, proactive leadership, and community engagement positions Indian River County as one of Florida’s premier places to live, work, play—and build a successful business.

The post A Century of Community<p class="company">Indian River County Chamber of Commerce</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

“What I’ve learned in this industry is when companies are looking to invest millions—even billions—of dollars into a community, they want to know the community they’re coming to is going to welcome them and be there with them through the process,” she says. That process starts with a site visit to learn more about the company and what they’re looking for.

Beginning with trust
“Often we don’t even know who they are when they start out, because confidentiality is very important in this industry,” says Daniels. “Many times, companies that are publicly traded or have competition in the area or the state don’t want their expansion plans getting out before they’ve had a chance to update their stakeholders or inform their boards of the process.”

Earning that company’s trust early on—and not letting word spread—helps to ensure success.

“When you establish that trust, then the rest of this process is so much smoother,” Daniels says, citing AgroLiquid as an example—the first company into the North Florida Mega Industrial Park (NFMIP), which has been underway for over a decade, with people working to ready the industrial park with water, sewer, and gas available in quantities sufficient to support industrial growth.

This means taking companies through the process of selecting the site that best fits their needs and then introducing them to partners within the county—the permitting department, building and zoning, fire marshals, and law enforcement—with whom they’ll do business and work with while getting plans approved. “We walk them through that process because we understand that, even though they may have expanded many times before, every community they go into is a little different in their process and policies,” Daniels explains.

Tucked away in north central Florida, Columbia County offers numerous benefits for business, including a large amount of open land, a well-connected system of interstate highways, federal highways, and railroads, and a wide array of enterprises unmatched in logistical prospects.

Building a vital business climate
The goal of establishing a strong and supportive business climate has been driving Columbia County’s economic development for decades, with a team that has been instrumental in attracting various sectors, fostering creativity, and supporting regional businesses over the years.

“When they get to the point of a ribbon cutting or a groundbreaking, we also ensure that there’s an introduction to the Chamber of Commerce so they can get involved with our workforce partner who will help them find the employees they need,” says Daniels, noting that there are also educational partners in the mix, both at the high school and middle school levels. “We have a fantastic career and technical education department within the Columbia County school system, which is represented on the economic development board, so we stay in close contact,” she says.

Beyond that, companies that have been doing business in Lake City and need to expand can call the department to say they want to add on to their building or are looking for a second site. “We’re the first person they call, because they have that relationship already, and we can help them grow here in our community,” Daniels says, adding that the department also has specific criteria it aspires to meet when welcoming new businesses to the area.

“We’re an agricultural-based community rooted in the farming industry, blue-collar jobs—and maybe it will be a smaller industry coming; we may never be a Fortune 500-headquarters type of community, but we’re okay with that,” she says. “We’re very rooted in agriculture, and there’s a lot of manufacturing as far as building materials go.”

There will be companies, Daniels adds—and there have been in the past—with significant water requirements that “just don’t fit,” as the area is environmentally sensitive, sitting next to many springs in the state of Florida. “We have to be cognizant of the water we draw out of the aquifer as it impacts the river and the spring levels,” she explains. Companies that need 10 million gallons of water a day simply aren’t viable in Columbia County, so it’s about being aware of constraints as far as the environment is concerned. “We never say no to an initial request or at a first meeting, but we like to learn more about what a company needs and what drives their business.”

Sweet spot for business
Florida is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing states in the U.S., due largely to its rural communities, Daniels explains. “There are a lot of smaller manufacturing industries that locate here, bringing in something like 10 to 20 jobs. Typically they’re making something that’s part of a bigger project.”

To that end, ad valorem tax rebates are critical to the toolkit of any economic developer in the state of Florida. When a company tells Daniels it wants to expand or open an office and is looking at purchasing 300 acres to build a half-million-square-foot manufacturing facility, the property tax that comes from that is substantial. “We offer a scorecard that gives points for the amount of capital investment the company brings to the employees, how many jobs they’re going to hire, and the wage they’re offering. If it’s above our median wage, they get extra points for that.” Just as the incoming company will be investing in Columbia County, the community will be investing in them as well.

“Logistically speaking, we’re in the sweet spot in the state of Florida,” Daniels adds. “In the southeast, you can get to Atlanta and back in a day, and to Miami and back in a day. From here, you can get to anywhere in the U.S. from Lake City, because we’re the only place in the state of Florida where I-75 and I-10 intersect.”

When coming south on I-75, it’s the first major city that has all the amenities travelers are looking for—hotels, restaurants, and places to shop. “It’s a fantastic location for any business that needs to reach the southeast within a day.”

Additionally, Lake City Gateway Airport, a regional airport, boasts an 8,000-foot runway that can handle the largest airplanes out there. Three Class 1 railroads also service the area, including Pinsly, which is not only the company partner in marketing and attracting companies, but works with any incoming businesses to build out rail to maximize property and the parcel within the industrial park.

“We’re also surrounded by natural springs, the Suwannee River, the Santa Fe River, and Ichetucknee Springs,” says Daniels. Rather than the palm trees and beaches some tourists might be imagining, there are instead beautiful pine trees, springs, and natural forests. “The Osceola National Forest takes up half of our county, and there is hunting, camping, fishing; anything that you want to do outdoors, you can do here. If you want to go to the beach, it’s a short hour’s drive to Jacksonville.”

First things first
Florida itself has had its share of ups and downs in economic development, and while some of the states it competes with are more aggressive in their efforts to attract, Daniels views it from a different perspective.

“In Columbia County, we’ve been specifically focused on the infrastructure needed in the areas of development over the last five to eight years,” she says. “We have several areas identified for development that are fantastic locations. They just didn’t have water and sewer, or natural gas available. Through the county working with the state of Florida and the various grants available, we’ve extended water, sewer, and gas, in most cases, to the northern end, which is our Bell Road corridor.”

Infrastructure improvements have been key for the county, and while this was challenging at first for a fiscally constrained community, funding millions of dollars of infrastructure improvements without asking taxpayers to pay that bill is possible. “We get very creative when it comes to grant writing and funding sources,” says Daniels. “We have partners who help us identify funding, both from a federal and a state level, and we write multiple grants that have funded these infrastructure improvements.”

Recently, at the Florida Economic Development Council annual conference, the county was recognized with two separate awards, one of these being the 2025 Rural Deal of the Year, the first time Columbia County has been recognized for any award at an FEDC event. It was also recognized for innovation and public-private partnership, imperative for any small community.

“You can’t do this on your own,” says Daniels. “You’ve got to have relationships with your landholders, landowners, developers, the state of Florida, and the Department of Commerce.”

The North Florida Mega Industrial Park, for instance, is a 2,600-acre readied industrial park permitted to the point where if a company comes in and needs a 50-acre parcel, the county can easily accommodate that and have their project under construction in 90 to 180 days. “That’s very rare when it comes to building a business,” says Daniels.

Broad benefits
Ultimately, Columbia County offers a wide variety of benefits and opportunities for any number of businesses to explore everything the area has to offer, from partnerships to communication, support, and collaboration.

“What’s interesting now is we’re entertaining much more advanced manufacturing,” Daniels shares. “It’s technology-based, even in farming and agriculture. It goes hand-in-hand with what’s happening in the federal government, trying to bring many of these industries, for which we’ve relied on other countries for so long, back on shore.”

While companies may have been manufacturing steel abroad, now they are looking at how they can do that at home in the U.S. “We have the workforce availability,” says Daniels. “Back to that sweet spot we’re at: I have the luxury of claiming a 1.5 million labor shed because of the metropolitan areas around us and the fact that people will make that drive to come to work here.”

As Columbia County continues to strengthen its infrastructure, workforce pipeline, and community partnerships, it is positioning itself not just as a desirable location for business but as a partner in progress. With a proactive, relationship-driven approach and a clear understanding of its strengths, the county is cultivating sustainable, strategic growth that honors its rural roots while embracing innovation. From advanced manufacturing to agriculture and logistics, Columbia County is ready to welcome the next generation of businesses that value collaboration, environmental stewardship, and a community that’s truly invested in their success.

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