The strengths of Gadsden County highlighted by industry leading magazine

Business in Focus magazine recently featured a positive review of Gadsden County, Florida. The county, which is part of the Tallahassee metro area, is comprised of six municipalities.

The article covers the Gadsden County Development Council’s commitment to leveraging the county’s strategic assets to strengthen its economy. Executive Director Beth Kirkland spoke about “the assets and initiatives that make Gadsden County an ideal location for doing business.”

Gadsden’s art community and outdoor recreational opportunities were featured prominently. Kirkland was quoted as saying:

“Gadsden is that outdoor playground, with the lakes, the watersports, the fishing and hunting, all the things that people so enjoy, … People here have the balance of lifestyle they’re looking for.”

The story also noted the county’s designation as a Rural Area of Opportunity by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity:

“This designation allows the development council to seek infrastructure funding necessary to facilitate capital investment and job creation. A recent award of $387,575 from the state will build a road and extend utilities to the greenfield site of a $2.1 million build-to-suit project expected to create 31 direct jobs.”

Its membership in Opportunity Florida, a nine-county regional economic development alliance in northwest Florida, was pointed out as well.

Gadsden’s economic growth in a variety of sectors was highlighted. They include manufacturing, distribution, transportation, retail, and senior living.

Lee Garner, Chairman of the Gadsden County Development Council, emphasized the county’s focus on three drivers of economic growth and development: “… identifying and positioning commercial and industrial sites proximate to transportation assets (interstate, rail, air and sea ports), using the sector strategy approach to workforce development, and developing local policies that support small businesses and induce game-changing business expansion and attraction.”

The coverage also pointed out Gadsden County’s strategic location and transportation assets. The emphasized its ideal location for companies with a regional footprint.

Business in Focus described how that location has attracted distribution facilities in Gadsden County. The list includesKauffman Tire, SafeLite AutoGlass, and Rental, Inc..

See the entire Business in Focus, Gadsden County article here.