Shannon McPherson

The council discussed various grant agreements, including the Local Emergency Planning Committee Grant, Hazards Analysis Grant, and the Florida Commerce Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant for the Heartland 2070 visioning project. The agenda also included the designation of the council as the Community Transportation Coordinator for a joint service area, the procurement of fleet vehicles, and the selection of a consultant for transit operations and management services. Additionally, updates were provided on regional activities, resilient Florida vulnerability assessments, and city administration reports.

The meeting commenced with the swearing-in of a new Council Member. Key administrative actions included the approval of the June 2025 Financial Report. The Finance Committee recommended and the Council unanimously approved the Budget Amendment #2 for FY 2024-2025, Member Assessments for FY 2025-26, the Proposed FY 2025-26 Annual Budget, and the FY 2024-25 Audit Engagement Letter and FY 2025-26 Organizational Chart. Reports were presented covering Hardee County activities, economic development updates from The Development Group, and activities of the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO). The Council also approved an Interagency Agreement with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) and authorized the Executive Director to negotiate a new Contract for Technology Services. Emergency management updates included a review of flood modeling using the INUNDATE! tool for extreme rainfall scenarios. The Executive Director also reported on Florida Regional Councils Association (FRCA) activities.

The 2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Central Florida region, encompassing DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Polk counties, serves as a regional blueprint to foster a stronger, more diverse, and resilient economy. The strategy is built upon six pillars: Talent Supply & Education, Infrastructure & Growth Leadership, Innovation & Economic Development, Business Climate & Competitiveness, Civic & Governance Systems, and Quality of Life & Quality Places. It aims to guide economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life by focusing on target industry clusters such as Agriculture, Life Sciences & Health Care, Logistics, Manufacturing, Research, Technology, & Creative Industries, Tourism & Ecotourism, Business Services, and Energy.

The meeting agenda includes recognitions and a review of CFRPC's 2025 accomplishments, an update on Bartow's activities, and a Polk County activities report. The Finance Committee's recommendations, including the approval of the Final Budget Amendment for FY 2024-2025 and a cost of living adjustment for staff, will be discussed. The agenda also covers the 2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) update, a Florida Commerce Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant Agreement, and FY 2026 Public Transportation Grant Agreements (PTGA) with the Florida Department of Transportation. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for a public hearing for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grants, an off-cycle FTA Grant Application, and a discussion on Community Transportation Coordinator Designation. The meeting will also include the election of Council Officers for 2026, appointments to the Florida Regional Councils Association (FRCA) Policy Board and the Finance Committee, and an update on Bartow's economic development activities, along with the Executive Director's report.

This Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) serves as a regional blueprint for fostering a stronger, more diverse, and resilient economy. It outlines six strategic pillars: Talent Supply and Education, Infrastructure and Growth Leadership, Innovation and Economic Development, Business Climate and Competitiveness, Civic and Governance Systems, and Quality of Life and Quality Places. The plan aims to guide economic prosperity by diversifying the economy, building a skilled workforce, increasing wages, improving infrastructure, and promoting job creation within the five-county Central Florida region. It also identifies key target industry clusters for growth, including Agriculture, Life Sciences & Health Care, Logistics, Manufacturing, Research, Technology, Creative Industries, Tourism & Ecotourism, Business Services, Energy, and Aviation & Aerospace.