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Apopka confirms Antoinette Forbes as economic development director; council highlights business retention priorities
Summary
The council confirmed Antoinette Forbes July 2 as Apopka's economic development director following a competitive search; Forbes said her first priorities are supporting local businesses and business retention.
The City Council confirmed Antoinette Forbes as the city's economic development director at its July 2 meeting.
Interim city administrator Radley Williams reviewed the competitive recruitment: 34 applicants and eight interviews led to Forbes' selection. Williams cited her 19 years of economic- and business-development experience, including current work in St. Cloud where she served as economic development director and CRA director; Forbes holds a Master of Public Administration and economic-development credentials.
Forbes told the council her priorities will be local-business retention and resource navigation: she described programs that help brick-and-mortar owners pivot to e-commerce and offered examples of making technical assistance available in city hall so owners without long commutes can access services. Commissioners asked about prior results, including increases in business tax receipts in her prior job; Forbes said registration programs increased her ability to reach businesses and that data collection, not the fee itself, is the tool she relies on to identify and serve local companies.
Council voted unanimously to confirm Forbes. Members welcomed her and asked staff to define which responsibilities she will handle directly versus in support roles in coming weeks while onboarding.
