Hardee County EDC/IDA advances Commerce Park deals, moves multipurpose project to Riveter buildings

At a meeting of the Hardee County Economic Development Council and Industrial Development Authority, members approved a modification to a vacant‑land sale and adopted a budget amendment shifting the designated site for a $4 million multipurpose facility grant to the R Riveter buildings, staff said.

The board voted to terminate an earlier contract for two Commerce Park lots with Ecosteres and to approve a new purchase contract under the same per‑acre terms that covers two lots to be purchased immediately and a five‑year exclusive option to buy a third lot, Sarah Everson said. “They will be purchasing the 2 lots today and then we'll have an exclusive option for 5 years on that third lot,” Everson said during the discussion.

The budget change adopted by the board (Resolution 25‑4) reallocated previously budgeted local funds after staff identified the R Riveter buildings as a better home for the multipurpose facility than the previously identified 101–111 East Main site. Kristen (executive report presenter) said the project’s state grant totals $4,000,000 and that staff had initially budgeted an additional $3,000,000 because the team expected construction costs closer to $7,000,000 if the facility were built at 101–111 East Main. By moving the multipurpose facility to the R Riveter buildings — where renovation work already exists — staff said the grant should cover the renovation and the board reclassified the remaining local budgeted funds to continue renovation or commercial reuse at 101–111 East Main.

Staff also gave progress reports on several county projects. Sarah Everson and other development staff reported that Aloha’s facility construction is complete and that final county walk‑throughs are scheduled; a ribbon cutting was scheduled for a date in May with a 9 a.m. start. Debut Development has poured a slab and begun vertical construction on its new Commerce Park building. Safe Gauge held a kickoff meeting with engineers and construction management and will begin site layout and initial design work; Safe Gauge will occupy four lots in the park’s new section, Everson said.

At the Riveter site, staff said crews will erect scaffolding and remove and rebuild a structurally deficient south wall next week; the work is a precursor to interior renovations that will accommodate the multipurpose facility once that design phase begins. For the historic Rife Building at 122 West Main, staff said they are working with the National Register of Historic Places and the State Historic Preservation Office on plans to restore elements of the building’s 1920s bank appearance and to recruit a restaurant operator for the rehabilitated space.

Staff said they will submit the Commerce Park to the Ready Sites designation process, a national/site‑selector program that evaluates and rates properties (bronze to platinum) to help market them to prospective companies. Denise Grimsley and Commissioner Albritton were mentioned as participating in recent state‑level advocacy around rural development funding.

Board members and staff highlighted local workforce connections with incoming firms. Staff noted ongoing coordination with CareerSource Heartland, South Florida State College and local high‑school CTE programs to support recruiting and training for new employers, including a local employer named TrustWorks that is advancing site work and has discussed partnerships with schools.

The meeting closed with the board approving other routine items and staff reminders about upcoming events, including a public talk by Peter Kageyama scheduled for April 15 and other outreach efforts.

The board recorded voice votes with aye responses and no recorded dissent on the motions summarized here.