- Grants will support 15 economic development organizations
working to attract businesses to the state
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation is
investing $200,000 in grants to
support 15 economic development organizations working to attract
business to the state and bolster Florida's vibrant economy.
"Companies often consider establishing, expanding or relocating
their operations to Florida
because of the state's economic strength," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state
president. "It's a privilege to support innovative strategies that
will build on that success and help ensure our economy continues to
grow and thrive for generations to come."
The Orlando Economic Partnership will use a $20,000 grant to develop a tool that will compare
Orlando's key business location
factors to those of the 30 most populous large regions in the
country.
"The Duke Energy Foundation's grant will allow us to have a tool
designed to generate new business development leads, create jobs
and drive investment in the Orlando region," said Neil Hamilton, Orlando Economic Partnership vice
president of market intelligence. "Having access to this data
will be invaluable to our economic development efforts, and we are
confident it will attract new business opportunities and elevate
Orlando's standing as a top
metropolitan area."
Another grantee, the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development
Corporation, will use $12,500 to
increase awareness of the city as a business location –
highlighting the Historic Gas Plant District – among site
consultants.
"The Duke Energy Foundation grant will help the St. Pete EDC
capitalize on this inflection point in our community's growth,"
said Mike Swesey, St. Petersburg
Area Economic Development Corporation president and CEO. "We are
poised to become one of the most desirable cities in the country
for businesses, and this grant allows us to tell our story to key
decision-makers. We are so fortunate to have the backing of
Duke, who continually supports the
economic growth that benefits our residents."
A complete list of grant recipients can be found below, with
additional details available here.
- City of Apopka
- CareerSource Polk/Haines City Economic Development Council
- Citrus County Board of County
Commissioners
- CORE Business Center
- City of Deland
- City of Eustis
- Florida's Great Northwest
- Hernando County Board of
County Commissioners
- Highlands County Board of
County Commissioners
- Nature Coast Business Development Council
- Orlando Economic Partnership/Foundation for Orlando's Future
- Pasco Economic Development Council
- Pinellas County Board of
County Commissioners
- St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation
- Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation
For more information about the Duke Energy Foundation, please
visit duke-energy.com/community/duke-energy-foundation/Florida.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500
megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million
residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Media contact: Aly Coleman
Raschid
Media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy