EDC Executive Director Outlines Priorities

The new executive director of the Highlands County Economic Development Commission told the EDC board of directors that bringing high-paying jobs to the county is a "real high priority."

Dan Murphy talked about his priorities and outlined his plans during the board's annual retreat Wednesday at Sebring Regional Airport.

"I would like to put us on the knowledge-based jobs map," Murphy said. "I look around and with the exception of the community college and a couple of others, there are not that many jobs that are Silicon Valley type jobs and that's a real high priority for me.

"I brought a lot of those into Arizona when I was working there," Murphy added. "It takes a special effort and it also takes consideration instead of just looking for zoning for industrial, we have to think with the municipalities and the county about areas where can put business parks and create office parks...."

Murphy said he wants to host meetings and bring in "top leaders of those

companies." Aerospace is a targeted industry for Highlands.

"We could host an aerospace industry issues meeting here, bring in four or five top people," he said. "You bring Bill Gates in here, for example, to talk about issues and two or three of his colleagues. They are going to look around and they're going to say 'this is a pretty nice place.' Suddenly one of them will say 'we could put a facility in here.' "

Murphy plans to approach the universities about locating research facilities - particularly environmental - in Highlands.

Another priority is to trigger an entrepreneurial incubator environment for business startups.

Taking the message to C-level executives about opportunities in Highlands is a priority. Murphy said he and Mike Willingham, the airport's executive director, are planning a trip to Miami to talk with people about Sebring's air park. Murphy added there are facilities at airports such as Opa-locka that are overflowing. He said there are businesses not going there because they are too crowded.

"The idea is to go directly to companies in these counties and invite them to expand here, to grow here and to make them aware," Murphy said.

Retaining and growing satisfied existing businesses is also a priority.

Murphy also talked briefly about the county's strengths and weaknesses.

Quality of life and lots of land are strengths.

"They will come here because it is a great place to live; it doesn't have the urban problems that are out there," he said. "We need to protect that."

Weaknesses are lack of foresight and consensus.