EDC Director Discusses Job Needs

Highlands County will need to add 11,000 jobs by 2015 when the population will be nearing 110,000 people, according to its economic development director.

"What kinds of jobs do we realistically want to bring in?" Dan Murphy asked a group of Lake Placid residents during a community workshop on economic development Tuesday morning at the Century 21 Compton Realty office.

Murphy gave an answer during a presentation that also covered other topics including planning and training.

The county needs to have more manufacturing and professional positions that Murphy calls "knowledge" jobs.

Environmental jobs should be available in Highlands because of its location, Murphy said, noting that the county should "be able to draw research money."

It will be primarily small companies of perhaps 10 to 15 people or fewer that will provide the jobs.

"IBM is not coming to Highlands County," he said.

Murphy said small companies will want to locate in Lake Placid if there are commercial parks.

Training will become critical and it should be done here to keep young people in the community after they graduate. He said the "high schools need to be up to par."

"Do we want to keep kids here or build a retirement community?" he asked.

While visiting the county's larger employers, Murphy said he has heard on occasion they have had to recruit from outside the area to find employees.

Murphy said he intends to hold similar workshops in Sebring and Avon Park as well as with Highlands County. He noted that "close communication" between the communities will be needed as the county grows.

Economic development involves job creation, job retention, improving the tax base and quality of life, according to Murphy.

"We don't want to sacrifice that," he said, referring to quality of life. "All of us are here for that."