Duke Energy has selected six properties in Florida for its 2025 Site Readiness Program. The initiative is designed to prepare business and industrial sites for economic development and market them to companies seeking expansion or relocation opportunities.
Since the program’s launch in 2013, Duke Energy has evaluated 60 sites across Florida. According to the company, 10 businesses have chosen locations that went through the program, leading to more than $493 million in capital investment and the creation of 1,950 jobs statewide.
One example of a recent project involves Amazon establishing a facility in Highlands County, which brought 60 new jobs and $25 million in investment to the area.
The Site Readiness Program engages consultants such as Zev Cohen & Associates, Kolb Design Group, Vision First Advisors, Strategic Development Group and Site Selection Group. These groups work with state and local organizations to analyze potential sites and help communities improve their competitiveness for attracting businesses.
The six properties selected for the 2025 program are located in Seminole, Taylor, Levy, Lake, Osceola and Polk counties.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida, said: “The Site Readiness program is one example of the proactive economic development initiatives that Duke Energy pursues to help spark investment in the communities we serve. Through this program, we’re able to connect high-potential sites with companies that infuse capital and jobs into local communities for years to come.”
Destin Wells, senior vice president of economic development at Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP), commented: “Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program plays a critical role in strengthening the Orlando region’s ability to attract and compete for transformative business investments. By identifying and preparing high-potential sites, the program accelerates development timelines and brings greater visibility to our region’s industrial assets. Through the leadership of our economic development team, led by Senior Director Tracy Garcia, our collaboration with Duke Energy also enhances OEP’s site readiness program, D.I.R.T. (Development Initiative for Regional Transformation), combining local insight with infrastructure expertise to drive quality job creation and sustainable growth across Central Florida.”
Duke Energy Florida serves two million customers over a 13,000-square-mile area with an energy capacity of 12,500 megawatts. Its parent company Duke Energy supplies electricity to more than eight million customers across several states while pursuing upgrades to its grid infrastructure and cleaner generation resources including renewables.
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