EMPLOYMENT IN PLANT CITY GOES UP BY OVER 5,000 JOBS IN 10 YEARS | Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BRINGS HOME THE BACON.

Since 2015, 5,521 new jobs have come to Plant City, while the population growth has been 5,048 people. The average wage has risen from $46,208 to $69,370, annually.

“When you are talking about creating jobs, you are talking about the economic wellness of our community,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel. “To me, it is a very positive thing that we are providing as many, or more, jobs than the number of people moving to the area. It is not a direct correlation—not everybody who moves in gets a job here, but it is a good correlation that we have job creation that outpaces population. You would not want to see it the other way around.”

The major driver behind the increase in jobs has been the Plant City Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC). The PCEDC, established in 2015, is a public-private partnership between the City of Plant City and local private-sector investors. The reason for its existence is to create jobs, and strengthen the local tax base. The PCEDC’s primary goal is to attract new businesses, and promote expansions of existing companies in Plant City. 

Last year alone, the number of jobs in Plant City increased in the below sectors:

 • Manufacturing – 1.2%

 • Wholesale Trade – 2.1%

 • Health Care – 7.0 %

 • Professional, Scientific – 4.2%

 • Finance – 4.7%

 • Construction – 3.3% 

 •  Transportation and Warehousing – 2.1%

 • Total Employment Growth – 2.3%

“We are coming up on 10 years of a very positive relationship between the City of Plant City and the Plant City Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC),” added McDaniel. “I think the numbers give insight into the positive impact that the PCEDC has had on the community.” 

The goals of the PCEDC are: first, to attract, nurture, and retain major employers for Plant City that contribute significantly to the local average wage and/or tax base; second, to promote and enhance Plant City’s quality of life, focusing on key economic indicators; third, to promote and enhance Plant City’s workforce through strategic partnerships focused on strengthening the talent pipeline and making connections between workers and employers. Among the company’s core values are, social responsibility, dedication to ensuring a high standard of living for the community, and creation of wealth for families, businesses, and the community. 

The PCEDC works with a variety of stakeholders and clients including developers, brokers, end users and others. The PCEDC’s role in a project may vary depending on client needs. Examples are, working with a developer in establishing a facility, providing supporting data to assist a company in making the business case for Plant City, or providing access to local and state business resources. In 2023, 13 companies either began operations or expanded in Plant City. In 2024, another 13 businesses did the same. Among these are LG Electronics, Sonoco, and Aramsco. “There is a role played by the PCEDC somewhere along the line in most projects,” commented Steve Morey, President of the PCEDC. “The PCEDC will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. Plant City has changed in those 10 years. The economy locally and nationwide has evolved. There are new opportunities for us to win. We stand ready to work with our partners towards success and prosperity for Plant City well into the future.”

Related Stories