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South Central: Growing Strong
Agricultural experience puts South Central Florida on the fast track to green energy success.
HIGHLANDS COUNTY
Expanding healthcare options: A new Heart & Vascular Center has opened at Florida Hospital Heartland Division’s hospital in Sebring to provide expanded cardiology and vascular services using state-of-the-art technology. The 159-bed hospital — which has 200 physicians and more than 1,400 other medical professionals — now also boasts the area’s only interventional cardiologist, Dr. Roger Wittum.
As one of the largest employers in Highlands County, CEO Timothy Cook says, “Economic development is a big issue for us. Providing quality medical care locally is even more important. We continually survey the community to find what is needed, attempting to build the medical services that serve our population best.”
Workforce support: Since opening in Sebring in 2001 with 300 employees, Cross Country Automotive Services has hired 200 additional associates to provide roadside aid to motorists from its call center. The company also has steadily upgraded services, says Charlie Cavolina, senior vice president. “The quality of our service is key,” he says, noting that a partnership with Highlands County Economic Development Commission, Heartland Workforce and South Florida Community College has enabled Cross Country to hire good employees, train those hires and maintain an award-winning customer service team. “We’re very happy to be here in Sebring,” says Cavolina.
Impact fees suspended: To boost the local economy, Highlands County Board of County Commissioners has suspended impact fees through June 30, 2010.
EZ enhancements: Highlands’ Enterprise Zone has been reconfigured to include new land and eliminate unproductive areas. Businesses locating here may be eligible for a variety of incentives, including tax credits, refunds and exemptions.
 The fermentation area at the planned Vercipia Biofuels’ cellulosic ethanol production plant in Highlands County will be similar to this one at parent company Verenium’s pilot plant. [Photo: Verenium Corporation] |
Ethanol on Tap The goal, officials say, is simple: “Making gas from grass” at the first such U.S. commercial-scale facility. “Not only are we advancing much-needed alternative energy resources to the market, we are also creating important new green jobs and supporting the area economy,” says Chuck Grawey, the venture’s general manager. The plant is expected to create 400 construction jobs and 140 permanent jobs. Some of the latter will be in agriculture — growing sugar cane-like “energy cane” (e-grass), which will be converted to ethanol. Agricultural giant Lykes Brothers Inc. plans to grow energy cane on 20,000 acres east of Brighton in Highlands County. Support for the proposed 36-million-gallon-per-year plant is coming in from several directions. In mid-2009, the facility was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to begin due diligence for a loan guarantee program that would support debt funding for up to 80% of eligible costs. In 2008, the project was awarded a $7-million Florida Farm to Fuel grant by the Florida Department of Agriculture. |
