Sarah Alway, Economic Development Coordinator for the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC), has been named the 2024 recipient of the Dan Webster Young Innovator Scholarship Award. The award is presented by the Florida High Tech Corridor and the Florida Economic Development Council to recognize emerging leaders in Florida’s economic development sector.
The annual scholarship includes a $5,000 grant intended to support coursework and fees toward achieving the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation.
During her two years at Pasco EDC, Alway has earned three promotions and contributed to various initiatives. Bill Cronin, President & CEO of Pasco EDC, highlighted her work: “Sarah consistently demonstrates innovation in economic development, notably spearheading the successful redevelopment of Pasco EDC’s workforce development website, workforceCONNECT, which underscores her forward-thinking approach and her ability to leverage technology to achieve goals,” he said. “Her leadership and collaborative skills have cultivated strong relationships within our industry, enhancing her contributions to economic and workforce development, and embodying the spirit of innovation.”
Alway led updates to workforceCONNECT that added features such as an Employer Resource Library, Careerseeker Resource Library, and ConnectOPP tool aimed at improving talent engagement. She also plays a role in business retention and attraction efforts for Pasco County.
Reflecting on her goals, Alway said: “Since embarking on my journey in economic development, my ambition has been clear – to become a Certified Economic Developer and effect positive change while breaking barriers as one of the few female business leaders of an economic development organization in Florida.”
Alway holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from West Virginia University with minors in Leadership Studies and English. She also earned a Master of Science in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Florida High Tech Corridor CEO Paul Sohl presented the award during the Florida Economic Development Council’s Diamond Jubilee Awards Dinner at its annual conference. The award was established in 2015 to honor Congressman Daniel Webster’s contributions to economic development in Florida.
“This scholarship represents our belief in the potential of rising talents like Sarah, who demonstrate the innovation and leadership essential to Florida’s continued economic growth,” Sohl stated. “The Corridor is proud to invest in the next generation of our state’s economic development workforce and empower them to excel in a rigorous process without financial barriers.”
Beth Cicchetti, Executive Director of the Florida Economic Development Council added: “As an emerging leader in the field of economic development, Sarah embodies the drive, creativity, and passion that are crucial for fostering innovation and growth within our communities. Her achievements set a sterling example for the state’s emerging leaders in economic development.”
With this recognition Alway joins previous recipients from organizations including universities, local governments, utilities companies such as Duke Energy https://www.duke-energy.com/, public agencies like City of Tampa https://www.tampa.gov/, Hillsborough County https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/, Ashley Capital https://ashleycapital.com/, among others.
The Pasco Economic Development Council supports businesses seeking opportunities for growth or relocation within North Tampa Bay through programs funded by corporate and public investors since 1987. More information can be found at www.pascoedc.com.
The Florida Economic Development Council serves as a resource for policy advocacy and education related to state-wide economic issues through its not-for-profit membership network.
The Florida High Tech Corridor is an initiative involving three research universities—University of Central Florida https://www.ucf.edu/, University of South Florida https://www.usf.edu/, University of Florida http://ufl.edu—focused on supporting innovators across 23 counties with programs including industry clustering initiatives such as Cenfluence https://cenfluence.com/.
