DEO program highlights local assets to spur economic development for rural communities throughout Florida


PUTNAM COUNTY - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced that Putnam County has been selected to participate in the Competitive Florida Partnership, a rural community development initiative. The Competitive Florida Partnership focuses on improving local economic development activities, particularly in the rural areas of our state. DEO will assist Putnam County in creating strategic economic development plans that are tailored to the community’s unique assets.

“As Florida’s economy continues its strong growth, we need to ensure that all communities are well prepared to create economic prosperity. The Competitive Florida Partnership helps rural communities capitalize on 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 Putnam County to explore the economic development opportunities in the community, share best practices, and engage a robust network of community and business leaders.”

“Putnam County has great assets to leverage for a highly successful economic and community development campaign,” said DEO’s Division of Community Development Director William B. Killingsworth. "DEO looks forward to partnering with the community to achieve its aspirations."

Located in North Central Florida, Putnam County is near several major cities, offering prospective businesses and individuals a variety of attractions and opportunities for growth. With a myriad of natural resources, such as the St. Johns River, Rodman Reservoir, bike trails, and Ravine Gardens State Park, Putnam County is a beautiful place to live and work, but currently lacks an economic development strategy to capitalize upon those resources. Their proposal focused on these attributes, including employment opportunities, as well as their extensive community engagement in the form of 20 letters of support for the program, indicating to DEO that Putnam County was energized, motivated, and committed to improving economic development within their community.

"We are ecstatic that Putnam County has been selected by the Department of Economic Opportunity to become a Competitive Florida Partnership Community.  As we continue to endure critical rural economic challenges, we embrace this unique, invaluable opportunity to meet with the DEO team to facilitate a process to formulate a viable economic development plan through competitive analysis and technical assistance to provide the catalyst that will ensure successful business and industrial partners coming to Putnam County," said Karl Flagg, Commission Chairman.  

Senator Travis Hutson said, “I am grateful Putnam County has earned this opportunity to join with the Competitive Florida Partnership. The infusion of expertise and coordination the program provides in our local economy is an excellent foundation to continue the development of economic opportunities for our business and residents. Thank you to Governor Scott and DEO for selecting Putnam County.”


Representative Charles Van Zant said, “This opportunity for Putnam County could not be better timed.  The DEO’s selection of Putnam will provide a needed analysis of county assets with high-level leadership for upcoming economic development strategy.  State level resource matching will help us achieve the goal of much needed jobs in Putnam County.  This is the most exciting news Putnam has received in years.”

The Competitive Florida Partnership helps rural communities value and market local assets and challenges them to set realistic goals for advancing their economic development vision. The three currently participating communities, the City of Defuniak Springs, Putnam County, and the City of Madison, will design and develop innovative strategies that promote partnerships, community design, and a viable local economy. Since the inception of the program in 2013, the City of Port St. Joe, the City of Newberry, the City of White Springs, Desoto County, the City of Webster, the City of Starke, the City of Chiefland, and Gadsden County have participated 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: 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 transportation networks, communications facilities, utilities, public facilities, and commercial buildings; and 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.