Editorials

Massive distribution center nearby could change everything

Highlands Today
Published: July 8, 2012

Can it be true that Moore Haven is going to be the center of the distributing universe in the near future? Maybe not, but if the plans that are being proposed for a massive center are even close to what's being talked about, it will be a game changer for this part of Florida.

The 30 million-square-foot facility would be a hub of manufacturing and distribution for all kinds of goods, according to a senior vice president for Lykes Bros., which plans to build the center with A. Duda & Sons.

Moore Haven is the perfect place, they say, because of the canal linking Florida's east and west coasts that runs through the area, rail access and highways. Goods can be shipped almost anywhere in the state or world from there using a variety of methods. Widening of the Panama Canal even plays into investors' plans.

An estimated 24,000 to 65,000 jobs could be produced by 2030 at the 4,700-acre facility. Manufacturers could use the site to contract parts from various places, put them together and ship them from the same location. All kinds of Florida foods could be shipped, as well as everything else under the sun.

There's little doubt that the low cost of land and cheap labor are a big part of this project. There's not much in Moore Haven as it stands. To outsiders it's mainly known as the speed trap town with a giant bridge. If this project goes through, well, Moore Haven would explode with growth.

That part of the state needs revitalization. Jobs in Moore Haven mean much more employment for people in Highlands County, too. In fact, the impact will be felt in many counties as a result.

We hope this huge project is a giant success. It would change a lot of people's lives and bring opportunity to an area where there hasn't been a lot. We'll know soon enough if this is really going to happen, because construction could begin in a year.

This is exciting stuff for our region.