Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
TCDA director reports international outreach, $800M wood‑processing lead and fresh list of seven active projects
Summary
Taylor County Development Authority director Bob Kate described Select USA outreach, follow‑up with international leads and a prioritized list of seven active projects including a potential $800 million wood‑processing investment that could require major infrastructure support.
Bob Kate, director of the Taylor County Development Authority, told the county commission that Select USA meetings in Washington, D.C., produced dozens of business contacts and follow‑up opportunities and that the TCDA is pursuing several active projects.
"We're just trying to get companies to come," Kate said, adding that the more important goal is that companies be “profitable long term” in Taylor County. He described conversations with firms from Turkey, Brazil, Wales and other countries and said he returned with roughly 80 business contacts to follow up.
Kate highlighted one opportunity described to him by Florida Commerce as a project involving "a million tons of wood a year, 65 jobs, $800 million investment," and said his office filed a detailed application under tight deadline constraints. He credited county and utility staff—naming Florida Gas Transmission and Duke Energy contacts—for helping prepare complex application material quickly.
Kate also briefed commissioners on a fresh internal list of seven active prospects across defense, light industry, aviation and wood processing, and said TCDA will continue targeted follow‑up and broker engagement. On data centers, Kate explained the typical concerns (power, water and noise) and said Florida law and project designs increasingly require self‑provision of power; he noted some prospects seek as little as 10 megawatts and others intend to build their own generation to avoid impacting local rates.
Kate said TCDA is about 50% funded and is working with state and local partners on funding stability; he asked the board to continue support for active outreach and site‑readiness work. Commissioners thanked Kate and his staff for the work; several staff and commissioners offered procedural follow‑up to capture and support leads.
The board asked staff to report back on specific utility availability and to continue coordinating with Florida Commerce on high‑priority prospects.
