Businesses, community invited to participate in upcoming Economic Action Workshop

CLERMONT —Local business leaders, along with interested members of the community are invited to attend a follow-up meeting to the Economic Action Workshop on Friday, March 11 beginning at 9 a.m. at Lake-Sumter Community College’s South Lake Campus’ community room located at 1250 N. Hancock Road, Clermont.

At the meeting, an update will be given on the progress in developing an Economic Development Action Plan for promoting economic growth in the community. The Metro-Orlando EDC will present an update on regional initiatives, followed by a presentation by County Economic Development staff on local economic statistics.

The program will also feature a panel discussion with local business leaders focused on their experiences in opening or expanding their businesses in Lake County.

In early February, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners hosted an Economic Action Workshop in an effort get the business community and residents involved in discussing Lake County’s economic outlook and ways to promote Lake County as a business-friendly community. Strengths and weaknesses for marketing Lake County to businesses were also reviewed, along with specific suggestions and policies that need to be addressed.

At the close of the workshop, Commissioners agreed to host a follow-up meeting in 45 days to report on the progress in developing Lake County’s Economic Action Plan.
The input received at the workshop, along with ideas received through the Business Growth Suggestion forms submitted to the County, will be used in the development of the plan.

The County is still in the process of actively seeking suggestions from the community for ways to grow business in Lake County. For details on how to submit suggestions, log on to the Lake County website at www.lakecountyfl.gov/businessideas. The deadline for submissions is March 4.

For more information about the follow-up meeting, contact the County Manager’s Office at (352) 343-9888.