EDC: COUNTY GETTING ATTENTION
Highlands News-Sun By Phil Attinger

Business developers have begun to take note of Highlands County, Business Development Manager Meghan DiGiacomo said Tuesday. "We're starting to see where we're really getting a lot of interest in the area," DiGiacomo told the Board of County Commission. Read more here.

AP APPROVES JOBS GRANT TO FUND UTILITIES EXPANSION

Highlands News-Sun By Marc Valero

The Avon Park City Council accepted a $971,500 grant to fund water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to serve businesses to the north of Avon Park. The grant funds were awarded from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The project will include the extension of a 12-inch water distribution line for approximately 2.25 miles and an 8-inch sewer force main for approximately 2 mile along U.S. 27 in north Avon Park up to the county line. Read more here. 

SPRING LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
Highlands News-Sun By Kim Leatherman

Spring Lake Improvement District Board of Supervisors, residents and Rep. Cary Pigman will probably want to celebrate their win this past legislative session. The District won nearly $1.1 million in appropriation funds for a sewer infrastructure project effective July 1. Read more here.

AVIATION/AEROSPACE PROGRAM LANDING AT SEBRING AIRPORT

Highlands News-Sun By Marc Valero

The school district’s aviation/ aerospace classes will be moving next school year to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1240’s Aviation Development Center (ADC) at the Sebring Regional Airport.Highlands Aviation/ Aerospace Program Director John Rousch, who has been teaching aerospace curriculum in the Highlands School District for 20 years, said it is an exciting situation bringing the program from all three high schools to the EAA Center. Read more here.

SOLAR FARM PROJECT UNDERWAY
Highlands News-Sun By Kim Leatherman

True to their word, Duke Energy Florida has started a solar farm in Highlands County. Motorists on U.S. 27 can see the progress off the east shoulder, just north of the new Town Hall. The location is on St. Johns Street.Hundreds of acres of orange groves are being cleared to accommodate the plant that will produce 45 megawatt (MW) of energy. The solar plant, at peak capacity, could power about 12,000 homes at any time, Duke Energy’s spokeswoman Ana Gibbs said. Read more here.

FLORIDA RANKED FIRST IN THE NATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Florida once again is rated first in the nation for higher education, according to U.S. News and World Report rankings. The rankings are based on the percentage of residents who have college degrees, the time it takes students to complete two- and four-year programs at public institutions, the cost of in-state tuition and fees and the average debt for the graduating class of 2017. See the rankings here.

PHILIP LEARY TO SERVE AS STATE DIRECTOR FOR USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN FLORIDA/U.S. VI

Philip Leary, AICP, was named State Director for USDA Rural Development in Florida/U.S. Virgin Islands in April 2019. Leary has thirty years of experience in the fields of agriculture, forestry, land use planning and environmental regulation working for local, state government and the private sector. As State Director, Mr. Leary will use his leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs in a customer-focused manner to restore prosperity in rural Florida/U.S. VI. Read more here.