Duke Energy Spotlights Work Of Florida Economic Development Team In Bringing New Jobs, Capital Investment to the State During National Economic Development Week

 In honor of National Economic Development Week, May 12-16, Duke Energy is highlighting the importance of its economic development program and the contributions made to Florida’s local economy throughout the years.

“Our Economic Development team has helped strengthen the communities we serve through their local knowledge and dedication to Florida’s success,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Duke Energy is committed to creating economically vibrant communities and we look forward to exploring new innovative programs that will benefit all of Florida.”

Since 2020, the Duke Energy Economic Development team has helped expand or attract 57 companies to Florida, drawing more than 6,691 jobs and over $2 billion in capital investment to the state.

For 21 consecutive years, Duke Energy’s economic development efforts and programs have been recognized by Site Selection Magazine in the publication’s annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development.”

Some of the programs include:

• Site Readiness Program: Through the Site Readiness Program, Duke Energy identifies high-potential sites and partners with county officials, local economic development professionals and landowners to develop a strategy for getting sites fully ready to market to industrial prospects. In Florida, the Site Readiness Program has resulted in 1,650 new jobs and over $545 million in capital investment in Florida since 2013.
   
• Economic Development Grants: In 2024, Duke Energy Florida provided more than $890,000 in economic development grants to organizations in support of marketing, research, strategic planning, lead generation, product development and other initiatives. The funding was provided by Duke Energy Foundation, with help from Duke Energy Florida’s Economic Development group, which supports organizations that increase awareness of a community or region’s economic development strategies.
   
• Project Management: Energy can be one of the most significant drivers in a company’s location decision. Duke Energy’s team of professional project managers partner with local, county, regional and state economic development organizations to serve as the voice of energy in expansion and recruitment projects considering Florida. This program offers a wide range of resources to empower community partners, making them more competitive for business investment and growth.

“We are very fortunate to have so many professionals, leaders and businesses that are dedicated to supporting and growing Florida’s economy,” said Beth Cicchetti, executive director of the Florida Economic Development Council. “Duke Energy is one of those key players and we are proud to work alongside their Economic Development team to drive the state forward as a more competitive place to launch and grow a business.”

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.