The Development Group

🎉 Exciting Leadership News! 🎉

We are proud to announce that Sarah Evers, CEO of The Development Group, has recently been elected as Vice President of the South Florida State College Foundation Board.

This appointment comes just a few short months after Sarah joined the Foundation Board and reflects the confidence her fellow board members have in her leadership, vision, and commitment to serving our region.

Sarah’s election as Vice President further demonstrates her dedication to economic development and her strong belief in the critical role education plays in building a skilled workforce and creating opportunities for future generations. Through her leadership, she continues to champion initiatives that strengthen the connection between education, workforce development, and economic growth throughout our communities.

Please join us in congratulating Sarah on this well-deserved achievement! 👏🎉

Don't Miss a Thing!

From transformative projects and community events to business growth and economic development news, The Development Group's monthly newsletter keeps you informed and connected to what's happening across Hardee County.

Stay in the know. Stay inspired. Stay connected.

Subscribe today and be part of the progress!

Click the link to sign up: https://thedevelopmentgroup.net/news/

📣 Calling Downtown Wauchula Business Leaders!

The Development Group is excited to open interest for the next cohort of our CEO Round Table!

In partnership with Main Street Wauchula and the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, this initiative is designed specifically for Downtown Main Street business owners and leaders who are passionate about growing their businesses and strengthening our community.

The CEO Round Table meets quarterly throughout the year, bringing local business leaders together to collaborate, share ideas, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities that impact Downtown Wauchula.

If you are a business owner or leader located within the Downtown Wauchula Main Street district and are interested in collaborating with fellow business leaders, we encourage you to apply!

🗓️ Interest Forms Due: August 31, 2026
Complete the interest form today and join us in building a stronger, more vibrant downtown business community.

Apply Here: https://forms.gle/D1YtNffoLNyMvGux9

❓ Questions? Please contact Amy Tubbs at [email protected].

CEO Round Table The Development Group is excited to open interest for our next cohort of CEOs. This initiative will focus specifically on our Downtown Main Street businesses and the continued growth and success of our local business community. In the past, participants have been selected through direct outreach, bu...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Available!

This week, Amy sits down with Sarah and Krystin to reflect on their experience at the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) Conference.

From emerging trends and industry challenges to innovative ideas shaping the future of economic development, Sarah and Krystin share key takeaways from the conference and discuss what lies ahead for communities, organizations, and economic development professionals across Florida and beyond.

Join the conversation as they explore leadership, collaboration, and the opportunities driving the future of economic development.

🎧 Tune in now and hear what’s next for our communities and our profession! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wyg4g-1add6d4

The Development Group Podcast Episode 31 (feat. Krystin, Sarah, and Amy) This week, the podcast features a conversation with Krystin, Amy, and Sarah as they reflect on their experience at the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) Conference. They share key takeaways from the event, discuss emerging trends and challenges facing economic development professionals, an...

📢 Calling All Hardee County Businesses! 📢
The Development Group, in partnership with the Hardee County Industrial Development Authority, is launching our Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program—and we want to hear from you!

This program is designed to strengthen relationships with local businesses, identify opportunities and challenges impacting your operations, and connect you with valuable resources, industry leaders, workforce solutions, infrastructure support, and economic development initiatives.
Whether your business is growing, facing challenges, or simply looking to stay informed about available opportunities, the BR&E Program provides a direct line of communication to help us better advocate for the needs of Hardee County's business community.

⚠️ Please note: This program is not associated with any financial assistance, grants, incentives, or funding opportunities. It is strictly an advocacy program focused on supporting and strengthening local businesses.
Interested in participating? Complete the interest form today!

🔗 Link to the interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/Vsck81sYbX

Together, we can continue building a stronger business environment and a stronger Hardee County.

🚀 Big News! 🚀

We are excited to officially launch our new Online Project Hub and Budget Dashboard!

This initiative was a key component of CEO Sarah Evers' 90-Day Plan and reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and keeping our community informed.

The Project Hub gives staff, board members, stakeholders, and the public access to the latest information on our ongoing projects, including:

✅ Project descriptions and purpose
✅ Monthly progress updates
✅ Timelines and milestones
✅ Budget outlines
✅ Risk factors
✅ Accomplishment checklists and next steps

In addition, our Budget Dashboard provides a real-time snapshot of available funds, current balances, budget allocations, active grant funding, and resources available for future projects, offering a clear look at how investments are helping move our community forward.

We believe transparency builds trust, and this new platform shines a light on the work happening behind the scenes while giving everyone a glimpse of what's ahead.

Whether you're interested in project progress, upcoming milestones, or how resources are being utilized, the Project Hub and Budget Dashboard put that information right at your fingertips.

🔗 Explore our Project Hub:
https://thedevelopmentgroup.net/project-updates/

📊 View our Budget Dashboard:
https://thedevelopmentgroup.net/about/

Project Updates - The Development Group

🌟 Congratulations to The Development Group’s Melanie Roberts!🌟

We are proud to share that The Development Group’s Melanie Roberts has graduated from Leadership Hardee.

Through this program, she gained valuable insight into local industries, leadership development, and community challenges, while also building a strong network of professionals across Hardee County.

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the Leadership Hardee graduates on this outstanding accomplishment. Your dedication to growing as leaders and investing in our community is truly commendable.

A special thank you to the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce for organizing and leading this impactful program.

Please join us in celebrating their success! 🎉

🚨 Time Is Running Out! 🚨

The IDA is accepting sealed bids for two 20-ton Carrier rooftop AC unit.

Interested? Click the link below for full bid details, submission requirements, and deadline information.

🗓 Bids Due: June 1, 2026 by 4:00 PM

Don’t miss your chance to submit a bid before the deadline!

Exciting progress continues at the Debut Development project site as construction enters the final stages and the vision for this project becomes a reality.

With major milestones now completed, we are getting closer every day to the next big step, closing with Culver’s later this summer. We know the community has been eagerly anticipating this announcement, and we are just as excited to welcome Culver’s to Hardee County.

These projects represents continued momentum, investment, and new opportunities for our community.

More updates coming soon. The countdown is on!

🚨 Surplus Property Available for Sealed Bid 🚨

The IDA is accepting sealed bids for a 20-ton Carrier rooftop AC unit.

Interested? Click the link below for full bid details, submission requirements, and deadline information.

🗓 Bids Due: June 1, 2026 by 4:00 PM

Don’t miss this opportunity.

🔗 Click here for complete information: https://thedevelopmentgroup.net/bid-information/