May Contact Breakfast
Thursday, 05/22/2008 7:15 a.m.
Central Florida Health Alliance
Leesburg Community Building
“Saturday Night Live at Leesburg” with “Celebrity Host” Lee Huntley
May Business After Hours
Thursday, 05/15/2008
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Jesse Black Saloon
1850 East Hwy 441, Leesburg
!
Lake County's strategic
development has attracted an impressive array of manufacturers
and distribution centers. Available land and a pro-business
attitude contribute to the county's success in attracting
new and expanding businesses.
The county-owned Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park serves
as a model for efficient permitting. Other key assets are
Lake Technical Center and Lake-Sumter Community College, both
of which prepare citizens for the challenges of the job market.
The University of Central Florida, Troy State University and
St. Leo University also provide higher education for an increasingly
skilled workforce.
Large distributors, such as Domino's Pizza, Sprint North Supply,
Circuit City, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, have found
the county's central location a significant business benefit.
Convenient access to Florida's Turnpike allows for easy and
efficient distribution throughout the state and the Southeast.
An emerging industry in Lake County has been sports medicine
and technology. South Lake Hospital's 150-acre all-in-one
campus is home to the National Training Center, which is designed
to meet the needs of all ages and at all fitness levels, from
residents in the local community to national and international
athletes. Together the Central Florida Sports Commission and
National Training Center partner to develop triathlon training
programs and events throughout central Florida.
Another emerging market for Lake includes agra-technology.
Companies such as Agri-Starts III, Inc., Florida Food Products,
Inc. and Seninger Irrigation, Inc. call the county home. Creation
of the 80-acre Eustis Commerce Park has attracted high-wage,
high-value tenants such as U.S. Nutra and Traymax, Inc.
As one of the top economic development groups in the world,
the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) generates
new business investment, technology industry growth, international
trade, and film and television production for Lake County
and the rest of the four-county Metro Orlando region. The
EDC also works to ensure that companies remain and expand
here.
Population Trends
1990
2000
2004
2009*
* As projected.
Source: Decision Data Resources - 2005
152,104
210,528
256,893
311,975
Population
By Ethnicity *
White
224,429
87.4%
Black
21,607
8.4%
Asian
2,141
0.8%
American
Indian/Eskimo/Aleut
856
0.3%
Other
4,824
1.9%
2
or more races
3,036
1.2%
Total
256,893
100.0%
Hispanic
20,693
8.1%
*
Note: Hispanic is not a race, thus are not delineated separately.
Source: Decision Data Resources - 2005
Population
By Age
0-14
43,875
17.0%
15-24
37,915
10.9%
25-44
59,302
23.1%
45-64
60,375
23.5%
65
and over
65,426
23.5%
Median
Age
44.2
Source:
Decision Data Resources - 2005
Population
By City
Astatula
Clermont
Eustis
Fruitland Park
Groveland
Howey-in-the-Hills
Lady Lake
Leesburg
Number
of High School Graduates (2004) 1,751
Source: www.firn.edu/dot/eias/flmove/lake.htm, Lake County School
Board - 2004
Test
Scores (Average)
Mean
SAT
Scores (Verbal/Math)
653/654
501/307
ACT
Scores
28.7
20.8
*Top
10% of test-takers.
Source: 2004 FL Department of Education - 2003
Education
Profile
Graduate
Degree
9,890
5.3%
Bachelor's
Degree
20,833
11.3%
Associate's
Degree
10,961
5.9%
Some
College
42,560
23.0%
High
School Graduate
63,418
34.3%
Grade
9 - 12 (no diploma)
26,840
14.5%
Grade
K - 8
10,581
3.7%
Number
of Adults
185,103
100.00%
Source:
Decision Data Resources - 2005
Economic
Projections
2000
2001
2002
*
2003
*
Population
210,528
214,904
219,358
228,281
Employment
62,652
64,492
62,703
63,712
Income
(Billions)
$6.2
$7.4
$8.6
$9.8
Unemployment
Rate
2.7
3.0
4.8
5.0
Housing
Starts
5,117
3,930
4,030
3,213
Single
Family
3,863
3,689
3,432
2,885
Multi-Family
1,255
241
598
328
*
As projected. Source: Fishkind & Associates Econocast - 2002
Housing
(MSA)
2002
2003
2004
2005
Average
Home Price
$136,600
$145,100
$169,600
$232,200
National
Average
$158,100
$170,000
$184,000
$208,500
Note:
Not seasonally adjusted.
Source:National
Association of Realtors, 2nd Quarter 2005
Facilities
Each WEEK Metro Orlando
Welcomes AN ESTIMATED:
$508 million in retail sales
1,275 new adult residents
549,407 air travelers
531 residential building permits
$689 million total buying income
103 new businesses
3314 new jobs
866,000 visitors
Source: Orlando Sentinel Market Book - 2005
Leesburg
Regional Airport Located 30 miles northwest of Orlando, the Leesburg
Regional Airport features a 5,000 foot asphalt runway. The
airport, accommodates general aviation and corporate pilots
with 24 hours a day services which
