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County economic-development CEO urges Lake Worth Beach to set a clear vision, build 'ready' sites and expedite permits
Summary
Kelly Smallridge, CEO of the Palm Beach County Business Development Board, told the commission the county works to attract higher-paying employers and recommended Lake Worth Beach create a clear target vision, inventory development-ready sites and consider expedited permitting to land jobs and support resident workforce pathways.
Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Palm Beach County Business Development Board, described the board's role as a countywide public-private recruiter and urged Lake Worth Beach to identify a clear economic vision for the city to help win high-quality employers. "The average age in your city is 36," Smallridge told the commission, noting the city's role as a source of workforce housing and the need to connect residents to career ladders through training and college partnerships.
Smallridge recommended creating an inventory of development-ready sites, exploring expedited permitting for projects that generate significant jobs, and coordinating with Palm Beach State College and CareerSource to strengthen local talent pipelines. Commissioners discussed downtown character, available light-industrial space on Dixie Highway and safety/perception issues that affect recruitment. Smallridge stressed that economic-development work requires matching what the city wants to attract with the actual real-estate product and permitting processes the city can offer.
Why it matters: The presentation connected local zoning, permitting and workforce strategies to the county's ability to market Lake Worth Beach to prospective employers and to create higher-paying jobs for residents.
