Okaloosa County, Fla. (July 7, 2020) – The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County (“EDC”) announced today that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with FloridaMakes which will add immediate value to the EDC’s long-standing Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN).
With a stated goal of maximizing the level of operational resources available to the EDC’s TeCMEN and its members, the agreement will result in TeCMEN being integrated into FloridaMakes’ statewide manufacturing workforce development activities and monthly best practice calls. In addition, FloridaMakes will assist the EDC with promotional activities and content associated with the organization’s TeCMEN Industry Day – an event that has become the Gulf Coast region’s premier one day technical expo. Held annually since 2017, the 2020 TeCMEN Industry Day is scheduled for August 27 in Fort Walton Beach.
“I could not be happier to see a cooperative partnership signed between the EDC and FloridaMakes. Not only does FloridaMakes have a well-reputation of service and dedication to the growth of manufacturing across the state, but they also bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our table,” said David Haines, FY 2020 TeCMEN Chairman and President of Precision Measurement, Inc. “Such co-aligned missions make the sharing of information and resources invaluable in establishing Okaloosa County as a hub for world-class design and manufacturing. I am very excited to see where this collaborative effort leads.”
“We are pleased to forge a new partnership with TeCMEN at the Okaloosa EDC,” said Kevin Carr, FloridaMakes CEO. “As the recognized voice for the manufacturing industry in the region, TeCMEN expands not only the reach but the capabilities of the FloridaMakes network directed at strengthening our state’s manufacturing economy.”
About the EDC
Founded in 1989, the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County (EDC) is a 501(c)6 non-profit, public-private partnership serving Okaloosa County, Florida and its nine municipalities (
Cinco Bayou,
Crestview,
Destin,
Fort Walton Beach,
Laurel Hill,
Mary Esther,
Niceville,
Shalimar and
Valparaiso). As the community’s lead economic development organization, the EDC is committed to fostering economic diversification through comprehensive strategies and initiatives. In addition to its public partners, the EDC enjoys broad support from more than 100 leading private sector businesses representing a wide range of industry sectors.
About TeCMEN
The Technology Coast Manufacturing and Engineering Network (TeCMEN) was established by the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County in 1989 to be the premier business advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) industries. TeCMEN provides opportunities for innovative collaboration and advanced technical expertise locally, regionally, and in the competitive global marketplace. TeCMEN’s membership includes more than 40 industry members and workforce development partners.
About FloridaMakes
FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principle value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth. FloridaMakes is the official representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in the state of Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information about FloridaMakes, please visit
FloridaMakes.com and follow
@FloridaMakes.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
- Nathan Sparks, CEcD, Executive Director, EDC of Okaloosa County; 850-362-6467; nathan@florida-edc.org
- Zoraida Velasco, Vice President, External Affairs, FloridaMakes, 407-430-7714; zoraida.velasco@floridamakes.com