AVON PARK ? Shannon Peacock summed up in four words the reason small businesses may be hesitant about exporting their products: ?fear of the unknown.? Peacock?s fears were alleviated after he attended an exporting workshop earlier this month that was hosted by the Hardee County Economic Development Council, Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, Florida?s Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative and the Florida Foreign Trade Association ?It was informative,? said Peacock, the plant manager for Bowsmith Irrigation Inc. in Avon Park. ?They laid everything out in a way that I could understand.? ...more

October 28, 2007

WAUCHULA – The Hardee County Economic Development Council, Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative and the Florida Foreign Trade Association will be hosting an exporting workshop Oct. 4 at the Heartland Workforce Hardee One-Stop Career Center from 8 to 11 a.m. The center is located at 205 Carlton St in Wauchula. The workshop is designed for company decision makers who are considering exporting or wanting to expand existing exports. Hardee County is hosting an inbound trade mission bringing foreign buyers from Peru to Hardee on Oct. 17 to spotlight business partnerships in the Heartland. ...more

September 23, 2007