September, 2009 Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
Economic Development | CEO Progress
Treats for National Site Location Consultants

The Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) in partnership with the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation, Progress Energy and the Heart of Florida Regional Coalition recently hosted seven site consultants from around the country at the annual Heart of Florida weekend in Alachua and Marion Counties.

September marked the fifth annual Heart of Florida consultants' weekend, a time when site consultants from around the country come to see what Alachua and Marion counties have to offer businesses looking to move or expand. The Heart of Florida initiative represents a coalition between the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Council, Progress Energy and the Council for Economic Outreach (CEO). The groups collaborated in 2004 to leverage their combined resources with regards to legislative matters, education, health care, tourism and economic development. The consultants' weekend highlights the strengths of the combined region instead of what the individual counties have to offer.

A number of the consultants visiting this year were first introduced to CEO through economic development mission trips coordinated by Enterprise Florida. Site location consultants are a pivotal link between businesses looking to establish operations and the communities that they're best suited for. Events like the consultants' weekend help develop these relationships and help CEO connect site consultants with business locations here in the Heart of Florida.

This year, the consultants toured business and industrial opportunities through the Heart of Florida before enjoying the Sister Hazel concert at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for Performing Arts and the UF vs UT game at the Progress Energy sky box. Consultants left with a comprehensive familiarization of the area and had the chance to interact with a range of community leaders. In the past, the Heart of Florida weekend has been successful for Gainesville and CEO. A consultant who attended the weekend in 2008, for example, was instrumental in locating the recently completed Enterprise Rent-A-Car Claims Center in Tower Center.

Meet the Consultants

Keith Scott & Jess Andrews
Jones Lang LaSalle (Dallas)

Mike Huber
Cushman Wakefield (New York, NY)

Mitch Jacoby
CresaPartners (Boston)

Jeb Atkinson
ProVenture Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Nashville)

George Tobjy
KPMG (New York, NY)

David Munson
David Munson & Associates (Adrian, MI)