SEBRING – Before last weekend, it had been four years since Lynn Topel had taken a bike ride. Topel also loves gardening but there has been no time for that either. However, that will soon change for the executive director of Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI). Topel will be leaving her position after four years in leading the organization that covers six counties – Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, DeSoto and Hardee – as well as communities in Palm Beach and Collier counties. In the first two years on the job, 80-hour weeks were the norm for Topel because of the devastating impact from the hurricanes – especially Charley – had on the region. "I can tell you that those weeks were long," she said. "Now it's gotten much better. This past year has been much more normal – 40 to 50-hour weeks. But it also took those two years to create those relationships all through the state that are important to the region." ...more

January 13, 2008

Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) is a private enterprise initiative by the University of South Florida's Small Business Development Center at SFCC. The purpose of the program is to promote local economic development through self employment and private enterprise. During the 12 week REAL course, attendees are exposed to business basics, entrepreneurship and the mechanics of writing a business plan. To date, the program has awarded certificates of completion to 26 attendees who are either currently in business or are planning to start a business. ...more

January 7, 2008

SEBRING — The town of Lake Placid wants $2.7 million for a new water plant. ...more

December 6, 2007

SEBRING — Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative completed a regional broadband study in the spring of 2007 that concluded the region is a strong candidate for the launch of a Rural Internet Service Provider. Jerry and Deanna Pollard of VistaNet are in the first phase of deploying a wireless broadband network in Hardee, Highlands and Okeechobee counties. Their plans are to extend the wireless network from coast to coast and into the Heartland. Jerry Pollard said "the feasibility study was a tremendous help in making this deployment of wireless broadband a reality." He described the study as a valuable tool in his decision making process. ...more

November 18, 2007

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