strength: it has a highly educated population, strong household incomes, major employers, regional connectivity and a quality of life that continues to attract residents and investment.”
Christine Valliere
Growth is also top of mind for Volusia County Economic Development Director Lou Paris. But not just growth for the sake of growth.
“ It’ s not just about growth, it’ s about the right kind of growth,” he said.“ Our key performance indicators include high-wage job creation, capital investment, industry diversification and workforce alignment with in-demand sectors. As you probably know, economic development today goes beyond recruitment. It’ s about building an ecosystem that sustains opportunity and competitiveness over time.”
Paris said the county’ s growth strategy rests on three pillars: strategic recruitment, support for existing businesses and cultivation of entrepreneurs.
“ The county targets industries where Volusia has a competitive advantage, which include aerospace, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and technologydriven sectors,” Paris
Lou Paris said.“ Recruitment alone is not enough. Retention and expansion of existing employers are equally important, because when local companies succeed, the entire county benefits.”
On the infrastructure side, Paris said economic development efforts have to keep pace with the changing needs of businesses.
“ Site readiness is critical,” he said.“ Companies move quickly, and communities must have development-ready sites with utilities, zoning and transportation access already in place. Without that preparation, opportunities can be lost. Workforce infrastructure is equally important. This includes aligning education, technical training and industry needs, particularly in healthcare, manufacturing and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.” Looking ahead, St. Johns County’ s Valliere said while planning efforts are important, maintaining and expanding infrastructure will be a key issue in the next decade.
“ Infrastructure will be one of the defining competitive issues of the next 10 years,” she said.“ Roadway improvements remain critical, particularly along major growth and employment corridors, and continued progress on projects such as improvements to County Road 2209, State Road 16, and the First Coast Expressway will help improve mobility, unlock strategic development areas and support employers that depend on efficient regional access. Utility capacity and site readiness will also remain essential for business recruitment and expansion, especially in industrial and employment centers.”
Aaron London is a veteran journalist and editor with decades of experience covering the people, businesses, and issues shaping North Central Florida. He now serves as Editor of EVOLVE News.
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