County Commission applauds THAT! Company’s accomplishments

TAVARES — At its meeting Tuesday, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners congratulated Ken Knorr, President of THAT! Company, which was recently selected as one out of 18 Florida companies to receive the 2010 Governor's Business Diversification Award.

The award recognizes successful job creation and distinctive community involvement and investment efforts, many of which fall into industries Florida targets for economic diversification and high-wage job growth: aviation/aerospace, cleantech, financial/professional services, homeland security/defense, information technology, life sciences and manufacturing. Eighty-five companies competed this year. The awards will be presented today in Tallahassee during Florida’s Annual Industry Appreciation Week.

In addition, Knorr was honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2010 Lake County Community Service Awards on April 28 at Lake Receptions in Mount Dora.
“These honors are in part to the support this Commission has had for economic development,” Knorr said. “Investment in small business and economic development can and does work.

“I am living proof, our company is living proof and the jobs we have here in Lake County because of this is living proof that your investment in economic development does work.”

THAT! Company, also known as Buildtelligence Web Solutions, was awarded a High Value Job Creation (HVJC) Program award by the Lake Board of County Commissioners in 2009. The award of $62,000 was for the creation of 31 additional jobs. The High Value Job Creation Program assists with stimulating short-term economic growth either by attracting new businesses to the County or by expanding existing businesses that would otherwise expand elsewhere.

“It [HVJC award] has been very helpful to us in building and growing our organization and employing people here in Lake County,” Knorr said.

For more information about the Lake County Economic Growth & Redevelopment Division, call (352) 343-9866 or log on to http://egr.lakecountyfl.gov.