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Highlands Today

Heartland Workforce to relocate

Moving to new building in summer of 2010

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By BILL ROGERS

Highlands Today

Published: November 15, 2009

SEBRING - Heartland Workforce will be the primary tenant in a new building it will be moving into next year.

John Payne, president of C.M. Payne and Son Inc., said his company is planning to build a building that is a little under 27,000 square feet on a 13.5-acre site on the south side of Sebring. The property is located about 150 yards north of the intersection of U.S. 27 and George Boulevard and just south of West Coast Furniture Gallery.

Heartland Workforce, which offers employment and job training information at its One-Stop Centers in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties, will occupy 13,500 square feet of space. The remainder will be leased to other businesses, Payne said.

Heartland Workforce's lease in the Sebring Plaza shopping center runs out on July 31, 2010. Roger Hood, president/CEO of Heartland Workforce, said he had been led to believe he would have to terminate the lease before that date because of the anticipated construction of Sam's Club in the shopping center.

There have been several delays in the closing of the shopping center property and that apparently has yet to happen.

A member of the Heartland Workforce Board of Directors and the executive and business enhancement committees, Payne said he knew of the organization's need to find space. Payne noted that he abstained when the issue was brought up for a vote.

Payne said he originally planned to move his boat sales and service business from Lake Placid to Sebring and locate it on the property along with self-storage units.

He backed away from the idea because he said he didn't have a "good feeling about the economy at the time."

While moving from the shopping center is a big enough undertaking as it is, Hood is glad he will have to move only once. Hood was planning to go to a temporary location while the new building was being built, which would have necessitated a second move.

"The staff is very excited that we have input on the interior design," Hood said.

"We can build it to our needs," he added. "We have some spare room if we grow."

Hood and Payne both talked about the location being equal distance for people traveling from Lake Placid and Avon Park. Its proximity to State Road 66 for people coming from Hardee and DeSoto is also advantageous.

Payne said he is hopeful to break ground on the project in January. Construction is expected to be completed by early summer. Heartland Workforce could be open in its new location by the end of July.

There will be space for other office and retail businesses. Payne said he plans to lease seven spaces that each covers 1,800 square feet.

Payne said doing this project allows the agri-business company to diversify.

Although the construction schedule is somewhat tight, Payne is looking forward to seeing it progress.

"You enjoy the process, look back and see what you have accomplished," he said.

Bill Rogers may be reached at 863-386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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