Gadsden county commissioners are planning several infrastructure projects they hope will boost the local economy this year. The funding is coming through both the federal and state governments.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Gadsden County had the highest unemployment rate in the Capital Region last year. That can mostly be attributed by the county’s small size—it has a population of about 40,000. That’s a number NeSmith hopes to build on with the board’s new purchase of a 52-acre plot of land in Quincy. The property will be for industrial and commercial use.
County commission Chairman Kimblin NeSmith believes the projects could attract businesses and eventually become a job growth engine in the county.
“We need to serve as we service the need of the residents of Gadsden county," said NeSmith. "We need to be the spark for economic development and enhancing infrastructure. That 52 acres is the beginning of the message that the people are sending to the region that Gadsden County Florida is open for business.”
Mark Petis owns a local sports bar in Havana. He’s seeing an increase in the number of people coming to the area on the weekends, and he believes the only way to meet future demand is to continue investing in infrastructure.
“Having more people here means we have to do more," said Petis. "We have to provide more services, it would have to be better place to live, more vibrant community. That number is getting bigger and bigger. If you are not growing, then you’re dying. That’s true of a community as much as it is for a person.”
Last year the county secured 9 million dollars from the federal government. That money was divided between cities throughout the county to redevelop sewage systems, expand broadband internet, and create new job opportunities.
Gadsden’s NeSmith says the board will request an additional $46 million dollars this year to fund more infrastructure projects.