Demographics for the South Central/ Heartland Region can be found at Business Florida's interactive map of Florida.

Regional Assets Universities/Colleges • South Florida Community College Airports • Sebring Regional Airport

In the 5,000-square-mile, six-county South Central region, traditional agricultural products like sugar cane, citrus and cattle have long been the economic mainstays. Today, near the shores of America’s second largest lake — Okeechobee — new sources of sustainability are taking root.

First came nontraditional “ag” in the form of bee colonies, aquaculture, sod farms and greenhouses devoted to decorative horticulture and vineyards. Now, the focus is shifting to alternative energies, and as farmers region-wide experiment with the cultivation of biofuel crops, South Central Florida is on track to become a green energy capital.

With its subtropical climate, abundant natural resources and local talent eager to apply their agricultural skills, this region can “lead the state in production of renewable energy,” says Dr. John Alleyne, director of Highlands County Cooperative Extension Service. Toward that goal, Highlands County hosted its first carbon credit workshop in May 2009 to explore carbon credit opportunities and provide information about carbon sequestration.

Elsewhere in the region, green capitalism is already earning profits. At its 14,000-square-foot facility near the Labelle Municipal Airport in Hendry County, RKO Industries Inc. makes railroad ties from used agricultural plastics such as plant-cover films and irrigation tubing. “We keep about 20 to 25 million pounds of plastic out of Hendry County and other landfills every year,” says the firm’s CEO Rex Crick. “For every four railroad ties that we produce, one tree is saved.”

Alan Shaffer, left, and Wayne Heskew check the progress of recently planted eucalyptus seedlings, which will be used by 7L Brands to make environmentally friendly mulch. [Photo: 7L Brands LLC]

After signing a $3-million contract with the U.S. Army and a $5-million deal with BNSF Railway Company, RKO Industries and sister firm Recycle Technologies International Inc. doubled their workforce in 2009. Together, the companies now have more than 50 employees who produce as many as 500 PermaTie railroad ties per day.

Crick’s companies have had a lot of local help since landing in Hendry County in 2004, including economic aid in the form of expedited permitting, loans and fiscal incentives. More recently, RKO/RTI has had help in pursuing tax exemptions for electricity use and equipment purchases.

Workforce training aid has flowed in, too, from the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board. Under the board’s “Employed Worker Training” program, RKO/RTI will be reimbursed $76,000 for lean manufacturing, safety and ISO 9000 workforce training programs completed in 2009.

“Ultimately, we do this for job creation,” says Jim Wall, development director for the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board. “Training makes employees more valuable, and normally we reimburse 100% of training costs.” In turn, Hendry County’s economy benefits from the monthly payroll of $120,000 that his company generates, says Crick.

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 A $300-million eco-friendly cellulosic ethanol production plant is slated for construction in Highlands County beginning in 2010. Vercipia Biofuels, a joint venture of global energy giant BP (British Petroleum) and Massachusetts-based Verenium, a cellulosic ethanol developer, is expected to be operational by 2012. 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.

Zoom, zoom ...

Sebring may be small in size, but it looms large in the annals of sports car racing. Here, nestled among citrus groves and cattle ranches, is Sebring International Raceway, the oldest permanent road racing track in North America. Every year on the third Saturday of March, this one-of-a-kind venue draws thousands of fans to witness the grueling “12 Hours of Sebring Endurance Race,” part of the prestigious American Le Mans Series.

Businesses locating at Sebring Regional Airport enjoy many advantages: excellent air, road and rail connections, plus eligibility for various tax credits and tariff exemptions. [Photo: Heartland Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1240]

Development Hub

Sebring Regional Airport, the only U.S. airport to encompass both a Foreign Trade Zone and a Community Redevelopment Agency, is a major hub for economic development in Florida’s heartland. About 700 employees work for a variety of companies at the airport’s commerce park in businesses that include animal hide tanning, vintage automobile restoration and aircraft repair.

The 2,000-acre airport is itself an Enterprise Zone; businesses locating here may be eligible for many related tax credits and refunds. On-site businesses also may receive various tariff and duty exemptions thanks to the airport’s designation as U.S. Foreign Trade Zone No. 215.

In addition, Sebring Regional Airport is South Central Florida’s designated Rural Economic Development Catalyst Project site. Infrastructure planning (roads, storm water retention, utilities, site planning, etc.) is under way for the 100-acre catalyst site, where officials hope to land healthcare and life science companies. The anticipated costs for long-term infrastructure improvements total $38.7 million, officials say, and full-press marketing of the site is set to begin in 2010.

In the meantime, plans are moving ahead for other airport infrastructure improvements: a new $700,000 fuel farm; a $3.8-million rehabilitation of Runway 14-32; and extension of Runway 18-36 to accommodate larger private aircraft now and perhaps, regional commercial air service in the future.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

“The permitting process was very favorable here.” - Bill Harvey, owner Silver Palms RV Village Okeechobee

Easy permitting spurs development: Phase I development has been completed at the gated, upscale Silver Palms RV Village that is taking shape on land formerly used for cattle grazing and sod farming just north of Lake Okeechobee. “The permitting process was very favorable here,” says owner Bill Harvey, who has invested $15 million in the development so far. Plans call for 512 sites for high-end recreational vehicles, with prices ranging from $55,900 to $80,000 per site. Amenities include: a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse; a three-acre recreation facility; multiple pools, athletic courts and game areas. About one-quarter of the residents are expected to live year-round at Silver Palms, which opened in March 2009.

Aiming for an upscale lifestyle: The 2,400-acre Pine Creek Sporting Club opened late in 2008 just outside the town of Okeechobee; honorary members include golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Equidistant from Palm Beach and Orlando, Pine Creek is self-described as an “exclusive, members-only champions’ clays and wing shooting club.” Members can buy a home on the Pine Creek grounds or an annual club membership, either of which allows them to enjoy “roughing it” in total luxury.

Wide open: Okeechobee transportation infrastructure includes State Road 70, currently being widened by the Florida Department of Transportation.

DESOTO COUNTY

Reaping energy from sunshine: Florida Power & Light (FPL), the state’s largest investor-owned utility, is building the world’s largest solar panel “farm” on a site just north of Arcadia. Situated on 1,525 acres, The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center is a 25-megawatt facility featuring 90,000 photovoltaic panels. Slated for completion in late 2009, the project is expected to provide enough energy to power 3,000 homes.

Focused on transportation improvements: Elected federal representatives from DeSoto and Hardee counties are teaming up to secure funding to improve 21 miles of U.S. Highway 17, a key north-south artery through the region.

HARDEE COUNTY

Downtown activity: Quality development is under way in Wauchula, designated a Main Street community as part of a National Trust for Historic Preservation program. From the creation of the city’s Main Street Heritage Park to a beautiful streetscape completed in 2008, downtown Wauchula has been reborn as a center of activity for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

GLADES COUNTY

Ready to grow: Glades County is home to more than 1,500 acres of industrially zoned property, some with infrastructure in place and easy access to rail lines and U.S. 27. In the city of Moore Haven, located on the Okeechobee Waterway, creative development opportunities are emerging as marina improvements continue.

Sustainable manufacturing: 7L Brands LLC, a division of Lykes Brothers Inc., opened a new 35-acre manufacturing plant in Palmdale late in 2008, where about 15 employees process eucalyptus and pine logs into environmentally friendly mulch. The plant is situated in the center of the Lykes forest — 16,000 acres of plantation eucalyptus to the north and 50,000 acres of plantation pine to the west and south — conforming to American Tree Farm System standards for sustainability of forests, watershed and healthy wildlife habitats.