Sumter County Economic Development, a division of county government, has been accredited by International Economic Development Council.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said the division is one of five accredited in Florida and one of 61 internationally.
The economic development division promotes awareness of Sumter County as a place to locate new businesses, provides support for existing businesses, monitors demographic changes and focuses on quality of life and tourism development.
“Although we’re small in size, we’ve been able to make a significant impact,” Arnold said.
The county was notified of its three-year accreditation in an Oct. 12 letter to Jada Glover, county economic development professional, from Glenn Smallwood, committee chairman of the Accredited Economic Development Organization in Washington, D.C. The accreditation will be announced in that organization’s publications and the county will receive a plaque.
Smallwood cited the county’s “high professionalism, commitment and technical expertise.”
Sumter County Board Chairman Doug Gilpin praised the achievement.
“They were really impressed and surprised by what is accomplished with a small team in a small county with tremendous results,” he said.
Despite the rapid pace of residential development, agriculture and related businesses remain a strong industry in Sumter County with an estimated market value of $42 million in products sold.
The number of farms rose by 63 percent to 1,367 in 2012 and acreage devoted to farmland also increased by 15 percent to 183,246. The average farm size declined by 30 percent to 134 acres.
