State Officials To Tour Hendry/Glades

State Officials Will Spend Several Days Touring

CLEWISTON, FL. -- Officials with the Florida Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development will fly into Hendry County's Airglades airport Tuesday as the first stop on a multi-day trip to the area.  The first scheduled activity will be to tour the Airglades Industrial Park and privately owned Hilliard properties in the Clewiston area.

Created in 1996 by the Legislature, the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED), within the Executive Office of the Governor, assists the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Legislature to formulate policies and strategies designed to provide economic opportunities for all Floridians.

OTTED provides executive direction and staff support to develop policies and advocate for economic diversification and improvements in Florida�s business climate and infrastructure. Economic development programs are implemented through public/private partnerships for which OTTED provides direct oversight.
                      
Following the airport inspection, the group will tour with the South Florida Water Management District including a flyover of the communities of Clewiston and Moore Haven, areas targeted for use for Everglades Restoration, and over proposed Inland Port sites.  Hendry Commissioner Kevin McCarthy is expected to join with  OTTED members Dr. Dale Brill and Sherry Martin. 
                        
Tuesday afternoon will be spent visiting local businesses followed by an open meeting at 6 p.m. with Clewiston and the Hendry County community at John Boy Auditorium.  Dr. Brill will lead a discussion followed by questions and concerns from the audience.

On Wednesday, meetings will be held with local representative and a tour of the Pahokee Marina, the Belle Glade hospital and land owned by the state next to the Belle Glade Industrial Park. An open public meeting will be at 2 p.m. in Moore Haven. In the evening Dr. Brill will address the Glades County Economic Development Council at it's annual dinner and meeting.

Thursday, the group will meet at the Clewiston Inn for breakfast and public meetings with "non-large scale" agriculture interests, including independent sugar cane and citrus growers.