Throughout this month’s EDC Newsletter, you will notice an exciting theme beginning to emerge: Manufacturing is firmly planted as an industry in St. Lucie County, and it is thriving.

As one of the three main components of the Treasure Coast Skills Gap Study (the others being Trades and Healthcare), we knew this community held great potential for expanding the capacity of manufacturing businesses.  It was for this very reason that industry leaders, local officials, and those vested in economic development came together to form the Treasure Coast Manufacturing Association. Having celebrated its first year as an organization, there is no doubt that the TCMA proved to be a tremendous asset in promoting and advocating for this targeted sector.

Renewed focus on manufacturing is also paying off for the efforts of the St. Lucie EDC. In the past several months alone, our organization has provided assistance to a half dozen manufacturers with relocation or expansion efforts in St. Lucie County.

While the present offers much to get excited about, it pales in comparison to the prospect of our manufacturing industry future.

• The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners has approved moving forward with purchasing property at the Port of Fort Pierce, opening up new doors for manufacturing in marine- and yacht-related industries;
• St. Lucie County, Indian River State College, CareerSource Research Coast, and numerous other partners are awaiting word on training and infrastructure grants through the Department of Economic Opportunity, many of which would enhance manufacturing;
• Indian River State College continues to push for legislative funding ($14.8M) in the 2018 session to break ground on the much needed Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing Center, a community focal point for manufacturing and trades education.

As these pieces begin to come to fruition, manufacturing has the opportunity to rise to even greater prominence in St. Lucie County. And that’s a theme I know we’d all be pleased to see continue.

Dr. Edwin R. Massey, PhD
EDC Chairman
President, Indian River State College

The EDC has ‘Mo.’

Throughout his many books on leadership, famous American author John C. Maxwell has echoed the sentiment that, often the only difference between winning and losing is momentum.  In other words, ‘Big Mo’ is a big deal. As we move into the summer months, I’m confident that the EDC is sustaining the kind of momentum required to win in the arena of community and economic development.

Business retention, expansion, and attraction efforts have been heating up faster than the May weather in Florida. In Q1 of 2017 alone, we’ve had more than 20 visits to companies, and the EDC has made progress on projects including Maverick Boats, Radical Cosmetics, Tattoo Yachts, Precast Specialties, ABC Home Medical Supply, and more. In addition to those efforts, the EDC has made tremendous inroads in working with the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, the Treasure Coast Builders Association, city and county officials to create a more efficient permitting process for development.

In the month of April, the EDC was busy attending and hosting numerous events. Our presence at the Aviation Trade Show and Manufacturers Job Fair was only eclipsed by our annual Leadership Dinner and presentation of the Pete Hegener Leadership Award on the 27th. This tremendous honor was bestowed to a true St. Lucie County icon and one of Florida’s most respected cattlemen, Mr. Alto “Bud” Adams, Jr. I know you all join me in congratulating Bud for his dedication to and leadership in our community.

Momentum is here, and I believe it’s here to stay. It’s only a matter of time before St. Lucie County realizes some big wins because this momentum. 

Mind the Gap, St. Lucie. 

Anyone who has ever been a passenger on the London Underground is familiar with the iconic phrase: ‘Mind the Gap.’ The warning is there to make people aware of the space existing between the train and platform. It’s simple: know there’s a gap and find a way to bridge it as you enter. 

At the St. Lucie EDC, we’ve teamed up with partners across our region to do just that in respect to the Treasure Coast Skills Gap. For the better part of a year, we have sought out how to better bridge our industry demands with the talent pipeline, specifically in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, skilled trades, and construction. We’ve enlisted the help of Gehant and Associates to help us understand areas where the skills gap is wide, deep, or if it exists at all. This report will be vital in advancing economic development efforts in St. Lucie, and I’m pleased that results are scheduled for delivery before close of 2016. Additionally, the analysis will be presented in full at our February 2017 regular EDC Luncheon meeting, and I hope you will join us. 

We know a gap is present. A better understanding can help us bridge it.  If St. Lucie County minds the gap, we will surely enter a new age of economic progress.

Dr. Edwin R. Massey, PhD
EDC Chairman
President, Indian River State College

Welcome to the EDC's Inaugural e-Newsletter

As part of our Five-Year Strategic Plan, the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC) is laser-focused on creating quality jobs and committed to keeping our investors engaged and updated on the progress we are making with respect to our organizational initiatives. With that goal in mind, this new digital bulletin, released to our network quarterly and made available via the web, will help us honor that commitment to you.

The inaugural newsletter looks back at the first half of 2016 and reflects on the key events and milestones that demonstrate how the EDC is strategically positioned to advance its mission: promotion of economic vitality through business recruitment, retention, and expansion in the St. Lucie County community. Future publications will include announcements, featured news stories, upcoming events, and other informative items that will convey the good work of your EDC. As always, thank you for your support.   

Edwin R. Massey, PhD
President
Indian River State College