Business and education join forces at Heathrow Center

Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp joined Seminole Community College and local business leaders to open the new Center for Economic Development at Heathrow on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. In addition to housing the third major location in Seminole County, the facility also includes an economic development suite. A first-of-its-kind public/private partnership, this arrangement is expected to strengthen Central Florida's economic development efforts and produce highly skilled workers to attract high-paying jobs to the area.

"This new Center is a dynamic space for our college and our community to converge, learn and create," said Dr. E. Ann McGee, president of the College. "Working with community and corporate leaders, we have created both a premier facility and the very best curriculum to train tomorrow's work force - today."

In addition to offering state-of-the-art facilities for Seminole State's construction and digital media programs, as well as some of its core curriculum classes, business leaders expect the Center to heighten the county's economic development efforts. A number of agencies, including the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Seminole County Economic Development Department, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Leadership Seminole and the Metro-Orlando Economic Development Commission, are now located in the new Center.

Pictured above left: President Dr. E. Ann McGee presents Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp with a key to the Center.

Pictured (left to right) are Ray Gilley, president and CEO, Metro Orlando EDC; Dr. E. Ann McGee, Seminole State president; Jeff Kottkamp, Florida Lieutenant Governor; Dede Schaffner, Seminole State board of trustees member; Rep. David Mealor; Charles "Chick" Gregg, Board of Trustees member; and Lisa Michelle Greer, vice chairman the Board of Trustees.

Return to the top