in St. Lucie
Business attraction and retention is the core mission of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie
County. The creation of a stronger and more diversified economy benefits every business, every organization
and every resident of our county.
Working with St. Lucie County, the cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, and the State of Florida, your EDC
helps grow our economy, creating quality jobs for our community.
Here are just a few examples of local initiatives and projects the EDC has assisted with:
Cleveland Clinic Florida is in the planning stages to develop a state-of-the-art research facility that will
emphasize translational research to improve patient care. The Cleveland Clinic Florida Research and
Innovation Center is located in the research facility formerly occupied by the Vaccine and Gene Therapy
Institute. Cleveland Clinic began leasing the facility from the City of Port St. Lucie in November 2019. The
Cleveland Clinic Florida Research and Innovation Center is exploring partnership opportunities with Vaxine
Inc. and Florida International University in biomedical research, developing therapies in the areas of cancer,
neuroscience, infectious disease and allergies. Capital investment is anticipated at $50 million with the
creation of 50 new jobs.
Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute. Lawnwood Regional Medical Center employs more
than 1,600 people locally and is part of the HCA Healthcare System, which has over 185 hospitals nationwide.
In November, Lawnwood added 12 beds with a new inpatient adolescent psychiatry addition to the hospital
for the treatment of children ages 13-17. The EDC assisted the center with their expansion efforts for the
adolescent psychiatric ward and is currently working with hospital leadership on more expansion plans.
Audubon Development at King’s Landing. The EDC assisted with the economic impact analysis for this
exciting lynchpin to Fort Pierce’s waterfront district project. With 20,000 square feet of restaurant space,
40,000 square feet of retail space, 4,000 square feet of office space, a 120-room hotel, and 80 condos/
townhomes planned, this long-awaited development will create a major positive economic impact on the
City of Fort Pierce.
Brightwork Acquisitions, LLC. The EDC works closely with Tambone at Tradition in the marketing of land
within the Tradition Center for Commerce. In September, Tambone presented its first sale agreement – a
six-acre parcel of land to Brightwork Acquisitions which is now moving forward with site plans for a medical
office building on the property. Construction is anticipated to start in the first quarter of 2020. Tambone at
Tradition will also be facilitating the AHS Residential project which will bring convenient workforce housing
to the Tradition Center for Commerce.
Florida International University at Torrey Pines. FIU continues to move forward with a merger/acquisition
of Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies along with its 8.7-acre campus and intellectual property. FIU’s
focus will be on research on neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. FIU also plans to invest $4.5 million on
facility updates. This change brings the first academic research university to St. Lucie County.
Small Business Assistance Program. Working in collaboration with St. Lucie County, the City of Port St.
Lucie, the City of Fort Pierce, and St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, the EDC is coordinating an
outreach program to assist small business startups or expansions. The program is designed to help these
small businesses be successful by supplying the resources and information they need.
The EDC is proud to play a role in building business in St. Lucie. For more information about how the
EDC can help your business, or to learn more about becoming a part of the EDC, visit www.YourEDC.com
/www.YourEDC.com
/www.YourEDC.com