Gadsden County, Florida – The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce that Gadsden County has been chosen to participate in the Competitive Florida Partnership, a rural community development initiative launched in 2013 by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
Gadsden County applied for the program in an effort to bring additional resources and partnerships in support of the work of the County’s designated economic development organization, the Gadsden County Development Council (GCDC).
An exciting opportunity
“The County is excited about this opportunity to work side by side with the Department of Economic Opportunity,” said Board Chairman, Eric Hinson. “This partnership will increase the economic competitiveness of Gadsden County and strengthen our ability to attract new businesses and grow existing businesses.”
The Competitive Florida Partnership focuses on improving local economic development activities, particularly in the rural areas of our state. DEO will assist the County in creating strategic economic development plans that are tailored for its unique assets. For example, DEO will create community asset inventories that will be available to potential businesses wishing to expand in or move to Gadsden County, Florida.
Representative Williams applauds DEO and county
“The people of Gadsden County are among the strongest assets to be leveraged through this program. I applaud DEO and Gadsden County for this new partnership and look forward to actionable results,” said Representative Alan Williams.
Asset-based economic development is a bottom-up approach that focuses on developing and promoting existing local resources to strengthen the local economy. This approach focuses on a rural community’s tangible and intangible assets combined with economic advantages and how these can be leveraged into sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
Senator Montford proud of effort
“I am proud of the work accomplished by the communities of North Florida to grow their economy, better their community, and improve the lives of the residents. The Competitive Florida program has helped coordinate these efforts and highlighted what makes this part of Florida truly special,” said Senator Bill Montford.
The Competitive Florida Program will help Gadsden County to market identified assets and to set realistic goals for advancing the county’s economic development vision. The program will focus on the tangible and intangible assets combined with economic advantages and how these can be leveraged into sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
GCDC Chair Garner congratulates county
Lee Garner, Chairman of the Gadsden County Development Council, said, “The GCDC congratulates the County on receipt of the Competitive Florida Partnership Program. We look forward to our continued partnership with the County and to putting the proven tools of DEO to work on behalf of Gadsden County.”
Gadsden County is one of four communities selected out of 17 applicants to be a full partner in the FY2014-15 program year of the DEO Competitive Florida Partnership.
For more information regarding Gadsden County and the Competitive Florida Partnership, please contact Beth Kirkland, CEcD at bethkirkland@live.com, or (850) 212-1056
