March 29, 2024

« RETURN TO THE 2013 ECONOMIC YEARBOOK

Florida's Big Bend Region

Charlotte Crane | 4/8/2013

Hamilton/Suwannee/Madison Counties

» Hamilton Energy Resource Opportunities, a private company proposing to build a 70-megawatt solar farm on 450 acres, has signed an agreement with Progress Energy that permits electricity produced at the farm to be carried on the Progress grid. The project could create more than 200 construction and 25 permanent jobs, says managing director Jack Levine.

»  Austria-based Klausner Group announced plans to build Klausner Lumber One sawmill, a high-tech plant in Suwannee County that will create 700 construction jobs, 350 permanent jobs and inject $130 million into the local economy over three years.

» Madison County is seeing a small influx of new businesses and expansions, says Billy Washington, chairman of Madison County Development Council. Among them: Stahl-Meyer has begun processing and packaging hot dogs, employing 100; Annett Bus Lines is building a terminal along Interstate 10; and United Methodist Church has picked a site for a new children's home and camp.

Hamilton Population: 14,960
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 0.05%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
16.14% 5.96% 29.58% 33.80% 14.51%
Per Capita Income: $20,856

Suwannee Population: 43,292
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 1.21%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
19.19% 5.74% 22.25% 32.59% 20.23%
Per Capita Income: $30,429

Madison Population: 19,241
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): -0.11%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
18.06% 5.54% 25.88% 33.62% 16.91%
Per Capita Income: $28,559

 

Jefferson/Gadsden/Wakulla Counties

» Camilla Pecan Co. is building a processing facility, Harrell Nut Co., in Jefferson County, that will employ 50 in its first phase and 200 at full expansion, reports EDC Executive Director Julie Conley. The county contributed 10 acres for the project.

» Gadsden County is seeing business upticks at companies including Quincy Joist, and health care positions are available at Florida State Hospital, according to the regional WorkForce Plus office. The unemployment rate has dropped from 10.2% at end of 2011 to 8.6%.

» Groundbreaking could come this spring for the Wakulla Environmental Institute; the initial phase will consist of an administration center and first
set of classrooms on 158 acres. The Tallahassee Community College full-phase project is expected to create 950 direct and indirect jobs.

Jefferson Population: 14,987
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 0.48%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
15.92% 4.70% 22.83% 37.79% 18.76%
Per Capita Income: $31,994

Gadsden Population: 46,602
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 0.18%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
20.44% 5.87% 24.37% 34.37% 14.95%
Per Capita Income: $30,768

Wakulla Population: 32,513
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 1.65%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
18.04% 5.53% 27.04% 37.33% 12.05%
Per Capita Income: $31,888

Tags: Big Bend, Economic Yearbook

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