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« Back to News MainWalton County Leadership Attends Florida 2011 Rural Summit
DeFuniak Springs, Florida, February 22, 2011 – Scarlett Phaneuf, Managing Director, Elizabeth Brannon, Vice Chair, Walton County Economic Development Alliance and Freeport City Council Member, and Walton County Commissioner, District 3 Larry Jones attended the 2011 Florida Rural Summit last week in St. Augustine, Florida. The conference was hosted by the North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP), a 14 county regional economic development organization.
Florida’s Rural Economic Development Future in the New Economy was the theme of this year’s conference and was focused on the economic development challenges and opportunities facing rural Florida communities in today’s technology driven, knowledge-based economy. Executive Director, Jeff Hendry and Chairman, Rick Breer of the NFEDP were gracious hosts and prepared an agenda that covered topics pertinent to rural communities including community stakeholder visioning, planning, economic gardening, the power of regional partnerships, innovative capital project investment and financing, and many other informative breakout sessions.
Pat Lien of Government Services Group also spoke about the broadband grant application process for Opportunity Florida, the regional economic development group representing the 8 County Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern in Northwest Florida, and the plans for the new broadband network within the region. Further, the grant award and development of the network will present new opportunities for broadband access for additional communities outside of the 8 county service area such as Walton County.
On the last day of the conference, the attendees were treated with an unexpected visit from Governor Rick Scott. Governor Scott took the time to meet attendees and also to speak about his plans for economic development in the state. “I want Florida to be the number state for economic development, and the number one place to do business,” was Governor Scott’s proclamation to the audience filled with economic development professionals, elected officials, county/city managers, and other professionals.