“The Competitive Florida Partnership program piloted in 2014 was a huge success for the participating communities, helping them to harness their strengths and assets for economic and community development,” said Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “We look forward to working with the City of Webster to explore the economic development opportunities in the community, share best practices, and engage a robust network of community and business leaders.”

DEO’s Division of Community Development Director William B. Killingsworth said, “The City of Webster is a great fit for the Competitive Florida Partnership program as they endeavor to grow and bring jobs to their community. As we kick off the program this week, we are looking forward to working with local leaders and learning about the unique and valuable assets of Webster.”

The City of Webster’s Competitive Florida proposal demonstrated the city’s ongoing effort to build economic development in the community, while continuing to nurture the agricultural roots for which the community is known. Webster possesses a unique and established economic history in Florida, boasting the largest flea market in the state, as well as the place of origin of the Parson Brown Orange. The city would like to use the Competitive Florida Partnership process to preserve this history, while simultaneously developing a more diverse economic base.  The community is behind Webster’s vision, as cooperative partnerships with local stakeholders and agencies have already begun to take root. Their commitment to the City of Webster’s success is strong and will serve as a catalyst for moving forward.

Senator Wilton Simpson said, “The City of Webster’s selection to participate in the Competitive Florida program is great news for area businesses and families. Learning how to market the city’s unique history while enhancing economic development efforts is a step in the right direction to reenergize the community.”

Senator Alan Hays said, ““I am proud to see that Webster’s potential for growth has been highlighted as it becomes part of the Competitive Florida Partnership. This is a great opportunity to focus on economic and community development that will certainly benefit the families, businesses, and community as a whole.”

Representative Marlene O’Toole said, “Competitive Florida is a fantastic opportunity for communities to learn best practices and receive special assistance for increasing their economic development and job creation efforts. I look forward to seeing the City of Webster build on their knowledge and resources as participants in this exciting program.”

“Webster is extremely excited that the DEO chose us as a Competitive Florida Partnership Community in only the second year of this wonderful program!  The City of Webster has a rich history, and this invaluable opportunity to develop an economic plan which will capitalize on our unique heritage, coupled with our burgeoning future, is something we could not have dreamed would happen this soon in Webster’s recent revitalization.  We plan to jump in full-force and take complete advantage of all that the Competitive Florida Partnership has to offer,” said Webster Mayor Kelly Williams.

The Competitive Florida Partnership helps rural communities value and market local assets and challenge them to set realistic goals for advancing their economic development vision. The four participating communities will design and develop innovative strategies that promote partnerships, community design, and a viable local economy. Earlier this year, the City of Port St. Joe, the City of Newberry, the City of White Springs, and Desoto County were the first four rural communities chosen to participate in the program.

Asset-based economic development is a bottom-up approach that focuses on developing and promoting existing local resources to strengthen the local economy. This approach focuses on a rural community’s tangible and intangible assets combined with economic advantages and how these can be leveraged into sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Assets in a community may include but are not limited to: individuals and human capital; associations and voluntary networks; political advocates; historical and cultural resources; natural landscapes (including renewable and nonrenewable material resources); financial assets; the built environment including transportation networks, communications facilities, utilities, public facilitates and commercial buildings; institutions such as schools, hospitals and government agencies. DEO will work with the selected rural communities to identify and market these assets and facilitate promotional opportunities to bring economic development to their community. 

For more information regarding the Competitive Florida Partnership, please visit: www.floridajobs.org/CompetitiveFlorida

About DEO

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts.  This new approach helps expedite economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities.  For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.floridajobs.org.

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