WORKFORCE KEY PIECE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUZZLE
by Aaron London
Checking items off a bucket list is a goal for many people looking to improve their lives , but Flagler County officials are hoping to fill the buckets on their lists .
Rather than new experiences , the county ’ s bucket list comprises four areas — live , learn , work and play – that form the foundation for economic development efforts . And for Amy Lukasik , the county ’ s tourism director who also oversees economic development , the “ learn ”
bucket is overflowing . Amy Lukasik “ That bucket for the county , we are actually
in a really good position . It ’ s probably one of the strongest of the four buckets ,” she said . And with those learning and training opportunities , that means Flagler County is in position to attract new business development and compete against other communities .
Lukasik cited Flagler Schools ’ Classrooms to Careers program as well as the Flagship programs in the district ’ s primary and secondary schools as economic development drivers .
“ It ’ s very attractive to future prospects , whether they want to expand or come into the county ,” she said . “ That is something we can hang our hat on .”
But the county may be hanging more than its hat on the workforce development and training landscape available to residents . In the coming weeks , Lukasik said county officials will be working to tighten the focus on learning and its relationship to economic development .
Specifically , that means taking advantage of a burgeoning health care sector with major projects on the horizon including the University of North Florida ’ s medical nexus , slated for the Town Center area , Jacksonville University ’ s launch of a new healthcare education program in Palm Coast , as well as expansion plans by AdventHealth and Flagler Health +.
“ That is the one area we are going to put all our outreach efforts into ,” Lukasik said of the health sciences industry in Flagler County . “ As far as targeted industries , we will laser-focus on the one that makes the most sense , the healthcare sector .”
That doesn ’ t mean other industries and sectors will be ignored , but county officials want to take advantage of the growth opportunities in healthcare-related industries right now .
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