experienced during and just after COVID,” he said.“ St. Johns County continues to be projected as one of the fastest growing counties in Florida for many reasons. Our top-ranked school district, being voted as the healthiest county in Florida, our low crime rate and just the overall quality of life make St. Johns very attractive.”
Looking ahead, Maynard said the economic outlook is positive, citing a surge in healthcare construction and strong residential growth.
One county to the south in Flagler, Economic Development Manager Tywan Arrington said business rankings like WalletHub’ s aren’ t necessarily just fluff.
“ While these types of rankings do not necessarily drive a site selector ' s or a small business owner ' s decision, it certainly helps with perceptions and keep us in the conversation in a positive light,” he said.
Arrington said the ranking is just one of several advantages Flagler has in encouraging and sustaining economic growth.
“ There are a handful of factors that make Flagler County attractive for new business development, which are: strategic location for connectivity and being able to move goods quickly; relatively affordable compared to larger Florida metro areas, which is appealing to workers and small business owners; ongoing mixed-use development, such as The Promenade in Town Center [ which ] creates new opportunities for retail, office and creative spaces for entrepreneurs; [ the county’ s ] high quality of life appeal with its beaches, trails, parks and outdoor recreation; and a pro-business environment through various incentive programs, as well as offering tax-exempt financing of Industrial Development Revenue Bonds( IDRB) that is available for qualifying projects, which helps lower project costs,” he said.
While Arrington said moderate and stable growth is projected for the county in 2026, the county is focused on attracting higher-paying jobs, specifically in the aviation and aerospace industries.
For Bliss Jamison, president of the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Coalition, the region is particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the WalletHub ranking.
“ Volusia County offers a strategic location along Florida’ s Space Coast within the Daytona – Orlando – Melbourne technology corridor,” Jamison said.“ The county benefits from strong multimodal transportation infrastructure, including direct access to Interstate 4 and Interstate 95, rail, air service, and proximity to major ports, supporting both ready-built and developing industrial sites. A deep talent pipeline from Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona State College, the University of Central Florida, Florida Institute of Technology, Stetson University, and a strong K-12 system ensures workforce readiness. Combined with excellent healthcare, diverse housing options, cultural amenities, and a pro-business environment, Volusia County is well positioned for sustained economic growth.”
Jamison said the availability of a skilled workforce is an important asset for the Space Coast and the concentration of higher education institutions in the area – many offering programs in high-tech fields, cannot be overlooked.
“ Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a global leader in aviation and aerospace education,” Jamison said.“ Along with other regional colleges and universities, it develops a highly skilled workforce with transferable skills applicable across aerospace, aviation, marine, automotive, advanced manufacturing, and technology sectors. Daytona State College further strengthens this pipeline through targeted certification and degree programs aligned with industry needs.”
Jamison said the Space Coast region is poised for growth and has the necessary infrastructure in place to take advantage of opportunities.
“ The outlook for Southeast Volusia in 2026 is very strong,” Jamison said.“ The region has spent years preparing for growth driven by its proximity to the space center and the expansion of aerospace, aviation, defense, and advanced manufacturing industries. Continued growth in the commercial space and aviation sectors, along with their supply chains, is expected to drive sustained demand for manufacturing, technology, and research and development companies.”
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