BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation pitched participation to the county commission in Bradford as well as the community during a meeting last week.
The corporation’s efforts are something the county commission has already demonstrated support for. When the Bradford County Development Authority was dissolved last year, nearly $200,000 in financial assets was turned over to the county in hopes that funding would be set aside for the new corporation’s economic development activities. The county followed through, and corporation Vice Chair Bob Milner told commissioners they are using that money in “a very fruitful way.”
Other familiar business and community leaders — some previously involved with the development authority — make up the board of the Economic Development Corporation. They include Chairwoman Sandra Kahle, Treasurer Patricia Evans, Secretary Marty Shaw and board members Dean Weaver, Avery Roberts, Evan Douglas and Dawn Strickland.
Milner said their budget does not include enough to fund the salary of the average executive director, but he did introduce Amber Shepherd from Keystone Heights, who is serving as the corporation’s strategic alliances business partner. With her wide-ranging experience in business, Milner said Shepherd has hit the ground running.
As the designated organization to coordinate economic development and working closely with County Manager Scott Kornegay, outside inquiries from businesses and industries about Bradford County and the region will be funneled through the corporation. They will also help existing local businesses and new entrepreneurs expand and sustain their success.
Shepherd shared the mission and vision statement for the NEFEDC.
“The mission of the Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation is to empower the Northeast Florida region through strategic economic initiatives, fostering public-private alliances, catalyzing business growth, and enhancing workforce opportunities, all aimed at securing a resilient and prosperous future for all stakeholders.
“Our vision is to position Northeast Florida as a cornerstone of economic innovation and sustainability, where new and existing businesses flourish, communities experience enhanced economic prosperity, and opportunities for employment and growth are plentiful, for all stakeholders.”
Passion for the work
“I love the startup world,” Shepherd said, introducing herself at the county commission meeting March 21.
Shepherd said she has lived in the area since 1984. She was director of career services at Fortis College for nine years, and prior to that at Everest College.
“Workforce development is in my heart and is a passion of mine,” she said.
Shepherd pursued a master’s degree in human resources management when she was developing professionally and looking for opportunities. The COVID pandemic, while difficult to navigate, created an opportunity she never imagined, she said. Connected to consultant in California, she was able to expand her reach globally by working with businesses in South Korea that were considering locating in the United States. That mission continued working with the Korean Business Development Center in Washington, D.C.
Having grown up on a dirt road in Clay County, Shepherd said she never imagined a future in global economic development.
“I never thought about the global marketplace as I was growing up, but I see how things are changing and how we have to be at the forefront of that if we want our children and our children’s children to have opportunities for those better wage jobs,” she said.
Selling Bradford
Collaboration is a key word for the NEFEDC, working with state and local governments and businesses. They want to bring the right kind of businesses to Bradford County, Shepherd said. Collaborating with stakeholders can help ensure their choices are “good for everybody.”
“We know that we can’t move forward without all of us working together. And to be honest, and to be fair, when businesses are considering moving here, they don’t know everything. They don’t know what they don’t know,” she said.
As a liaison, EDC will facilitate these public-private partnerships, creating new relationships and opportunities for both new and existing businesses.
“We want to drive business expansion and innovation. We recognize that Bradford County and its surrounding counties have really good businesses that are already established, and a lot of people are ready for growth, but maybe they don’t know how. So, we want to be a resource for those organizations as well,” she said. “We want to elevate the community economic opportunity, because that’s really what this is all about — strengthening our community so that we are all doing well together.”
Thus far, NEFEDC became incorporated, built its website (www.nefedc.com) and is working on its marketing materials. Shepherd said she’s busier than she has been in some time, including meeting with local business and community leaders and attending conferences with board members.
“We want to in our next phase begin some outreach. And with my experience, in the work that I’ve been doing, it really opens up a lot of opportunities for us to reach out nationally here to people in the United States, plus the opportunity to reach out to organizations that are growing globally and offer them the opportunity to come to the United States,” she said.
Shepherd said that could include European businesses exiting the continent to seek more affordable energy costs, which she said Florida can provide. She also wants to learn from commissioners what their constituents want.
“With my marketing capabilities, I can target those specific kinds of industries. As a matter of fact, for the work that we were doing with South Korea, they had a really big push to drive activity in smart technology. So, the AI but also electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, all of that. Semiconductor manufacturing. We’re seeing a lot of these parks formulating and growing down South. Those are high wage jobs, that bring opportunities for our students and our college graduates as well.”
Shepherd said they will work with Florida Power and Light to create an inventory of developable properties served by the utility so FPL can help market those sites to potential businesses and industries.
“I’m the new kid on the block, but I have heard many great things about the working relationships that you guys had in the past with the BCDA, and we definitely want to be able to continue that as we grow forward,” she said.
Invest
Shepherd shared investment information, which allows nonprofits and individual investors to join for as little as $250. Business and public sector members can join from $500 to $1,000 depending on the size of the organization. Additional tiers include Bronze at $1,500, Silver at $2,500, Gold at $3,500, Platinum at $5,000 and Government at $10,000.
Become an EDC member investor to:
—Join a growing group of organizations and individuals that are creating a better economy.
—Invest in and help define initiatives that drive economic vitality and enhance the regions quality of life.
—Enable NEFEDC to carry out its work to move the region forward and expand economic opportunities.
Each level includes certain perks, including attendance at the NEFEDC annual meeting, appearance in promotional materials and media.
For more information, visit www.nefedc.com, or call 352-721-1209.
