BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation held its annual meeting on Thursday, October 9, at the Keystone Heights RV Resort.
The principal objectives of the corporation are to increase employment opportunities and expand business and industry in Bradford and Union Counties and portions of Clay, Putnam and Alachua Counties.
During the annual meeting, Amber Shepherd, the organization’s strategic alliances business partner, recapped the corporation’s achievements over the past year.
She highlighted the release of Bradford County’s comprehensive economic development strategic plan. The 77-page document details goals the county should achieve to attract more employers to the area.
Immediate goals include identifying funding sources for infrastructure upgrades, formalizing a business attraction, retention and expansion plan, improving school grades and supporting workforce development and creating a business park and innovation hub within the community.
Longer-range goals include constructing water and sewer utilities to the Starke truck route, increasing workforce housing, bringing advanced manufacturing to the community, and expanding incentives for potential employers.
Shepherd also recounted two recent meetings she had with prospective employers interested in moving to the area.
One would create 100 jobs paying around $50,000 a year. The company converts biowaste into 100%, comparable diesel fuel.
“Not like the biodiesel you hear about that turns to jelly when it gets cold,” she said. “One hundred percent comparable to fossil diesel.”
The second prospect could bring 400 jobs after building a $400 million research and development and manufacturing hub for aviation, aerospace and defense products.
“Of course, there are still many hurdles to jump over, many details to iron out,” she said, “but I think it’s really valuable to share with everybody some of the progress that we’re making.”
Make a bolt that goes on a rocket
Heather Shubirg, Vice President of Business Development for Florida Commerce, informed the crowd about Florida Commerce’s business development team, which she said is focused on key sectors including aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, life sciences, technology, financial services, and headquarters operations. She said the team also supports international trade and foreign direct investment, working to position Florida as a prime destination for business expansion and job creation.
Shubirg said she recently hosted a delegation from Taiwan that is interested in importing North Florida Beef into the Chinese democratic republic.
She also emphasized opportunities in aerospace manufacturing.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in the State of Florida,” she said. “You might have an opportunity for some type of job creation in that industry. Sometimes something as small as a bolt that goes on a rocket can be manufactured anywhere across the state.”
‘Made in the USA’ still carries clout
Joseph Bell, the Orlando/Central Florida director for Select Florida, explained how his agency helps local businesses with between three and 500 employees reach international markets. He said his agency removes much of the uncertainty small companies face when exporting to foreign countries. Bell added that local businesses are already competing internationally, whether they realize it or not.
“The U.S. is the largest economy in the world, and for that reason, you have a lot of competition from overseas companies that want to come and (sell their products) in the US,” he said. “So why not go and challenge them on their own playing field?”
Bell said the label “Made in the USA” still carries clout around the world.
“There is a certain quality standard that goes with USA products,” he said. “Oftentimes you have people say, ‘Well we cannot beat the Chinese on the price of the product.’ That’s not the case. If you are producing a great quality product in the US, which is what we’re known for, there is a market for it out there.”
Dawn Strickland, the development corporation’s 2024-2025 board chair, introduced the 2025-2026 board. The board members are Patricia Evans, Strickland, Amber Shepherd, Marty Shaw, Soo Gilvarry, Dean Weaver, Gen. James Eifert, James Coats, A.J. Graves, Evan Douglas and 2025-2026 Chair Derick Thomas.
