Southwest Florida Economic Indicators

Amy Keller | 4/9/2012

Hendry/Glades Counties

Universal Space Network is investing $5 million in a satellite communications tower.

Universal Space Network is building a satellite communications tower on eight acres at Airglades Airport in Hendry County — a $5-million investment that will create three jobs. Meanwhile, an Airglades Airport privatization/development project is on track. The original developer has formed an alliance with local agriculture giants United States Sugar and Hilliard Bros. of Florida. Several major aviation organizations have also joined the effort, and state highway projects, including the reconfiguration of U.S. 27/State Road 80 interchange, are also helping to fuel interest from potential airport tenants and users, according to a local economic development official.

In neighboring Glades County, Lykes Bros. and A. Duda & Sons are moving forward with plans to build a logistics center on 4,700 acres on the outskirts of Moore Haven and have hired Cushman & Wakefield to begin marketing the facility, which will include distribution centers, warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

Hendry Population: 39,786
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 0.39%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
23.45%	7.74%	28.49%	28.55%	11.79%
Per Capita Income: $30,196

Glades Population: 13,488
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 1.41%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
16.22%	5.07%	24.81%	31.87%	22.03%
Per Capita Income: $24,908

DeSoto/Highlands/Hardee Counties

National Solar Power will build a 200-megawatt solar farm in Hardee County.

Highlands EnviroFuels, which aims to use non-food-based sweet sorghum and biofuel cane to make 30 million gallons of advanced biofuel ethanol per year, is close to being fully financed and is on target for a groundbreaking this year, says project manager Bradley Krohn. The new plant, which will be at the southwest corner of U.S. 27 and State Road 70 in south Highlands County, has nine local growers invested in the project. An economic impact study conducted by John Urbanchuk at Cardno Entrix indicates that the project will generate 740 jobs (60 direct jobs, 470 indirect jobs and 210 induced jobs) throughout Highlands County.

While Hardee County lost out on its bid to become home to the world's largest solar farm — the project went to Gadsden County — National Solar Power will build a 200-megawatt solar farm in Hardee County. The $700-million project is expected to create 200 jobs during the five-year construction phase and as many as 50 permanent operations jobs.

DeSoto Population: 35,815
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 1.03%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
15.97%	5.50%	20.02%	30.91%	27.61%
Per Capita Income: $25,155

Highlands Population: 105,597
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 1.48%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
15.18%	5.07%	17.71%	29.39%	32.66%
Per Capita Income: $30,963

Hardee Population: 28,302
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 0.63%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
23.44%	7.03%	28.19%	28.16%	13.18%
Per Capita Income: $30,196

Tags: Southwest