Latest News and Events

SECO Energy Groundbreaking Ceremony

Sumter County Economic Development recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony for SECO Energy’s new Headquarters location and Central Operations Center. We are proud to support SECO in securing funding assistance and economic development recourses that help make transformation projects like this possible. Partnerships between industry and local government are essential in creating opportunities and strengthening our regional economy.

Florida Ranks in the Top 10 for Best State Economies

U.S. economic growth depends heavily on the performance of individual states, and some contribute more than others. For example, California, Texas, New York and Florida have economies so large that if they were countries, they would rank in the top 20 in the world.

In order to determine which states are pulling the most weight in moving the U.S. economy forward, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength. Our data set ranges from GDP growth and the unemployment rate to startup activity and the share of jobs in high-tech industries

Florida Businesses Set Record $78.9 Billion in Export Sales in 2025

Florida businesses exported a record $78.9 billion in goods in 2025, up $6.4 billion, or 8.9%, from 2024, according to a Wednesday announcement from FloridaCommerce and SelectFlorida. State officials said the total marked the largest export sales year in Florida history and extended growth seen over the longer term, with exports rising $21.6 billion, or 37.8%, since 2018.

Apprenticeship Strategies for Business Success

Future-Proof Your Workforce

Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M., at Orange Technical College West Campus located at 2010 Ocoee Apopka Road, Ocoee, FL, 34761.

Registration starts at 11:00 A.M. The program starts at 11:30 AM. A light boxed lunch will be provided. You’re invited for a tour of Orange Technical College campus after the program.

2026 International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit

Sumter County Economic Development, along with other economic development leaders from around Florida, attended the 2026 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit, March 1-3, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Florida Reaches #1 in Workforce Education

Today, in recognition of Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s achievement as the number one state in the nation for workforce education fulfilling Executive Order 19-31 five years ahead of the 2030 goal. This milestone reflects Governor DeSantis’ more than $12 billion commitment to workforce education and builds on Florida’s broader record of excellence, including top rankings in higher education, talent attraction, and education freedom. These accomplishments position Florida as the national leader in preparing a skilled, future-ready workforce through historic investments and industry-driven programs.

LEADERSHIP SERIES 101: Excellence in Manufacturing

The Leadership Series 101: Excellence In Manufacturing course is designed to give participants a better understanding of what it means to “lead” the workforce , what their roles and responsibilities are, learn tools and disciplines of being in a leadership / supervisory role in a manufacturing setting, and how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. During this training, participants will learn the skills needed to transition from a high performer to an effective leader in the organization.

Best Companies to Work for in Florida

Our program is built to identify those employers in your great state who are doing things right and creating cultures that make employees proud to be a part of them. We give recognition where it’s due and provide companies with valuable feedback from their teams.