The Christmas gift-giving season comes but one time a year— and what a fun and delightful time this is! But in the arena of economic development, the potential for gift giving locally is year round.

Starting with the lead group, the Central Florida Development Council, Polk County is fortunate to have several quality and vibrant economic development agencies. Their reasons for being include bringing new businesses and industry to the region, diversifying the local economy, increasing the number of jobs available to Polk County residents, and boosting wages.

The management of Tucker Paving Inc. has taken note of the progress in each of these areas of economic development and is pleased that so many more people— from all walks of life— are benefiting from it. From an economic standpoint, what better blessing or gift can there be than a healthy jobs environment— the kind that provides good and steady work and better income opportunities for everyone?

The Tucker Paving team is proud and happy to be a participant in local economic development— not only in the construction work we love to do but also through membership with three economic development councils. Those are the Winter Haven EDC, the Lakeland EDC, and the Haines City EDC. Bruce Lyon is the president of the Winter Haven EDC, Steve Scruggs is president of the Lakeland EDC, and Cyndi Jantomaso is president and chief executive officer of the Haines City EDC, and each leader is doing a fantastic job!

Could 2016 be the year that you and your business or organization get involved in local economic development efforts, too? We hope you’ll give the idea some consideration. It’s worthwhile work— and very rewarding.

In the meantime, Team Tucker would like to use this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas; a safe New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!