Plant City Economic Development Corp. welcomes new CEO

Steve Morey, senior vice president of economic development at the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, has been tapped to lead the Plant City Economic Development Corp. as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Jake Austin, who became the organization’s inaugural CEO when it was formed in 2015.

According to a news release, Morey has been with the TBEDC since 2013 and has held a variety of leadership roles. During his tenure, the organization announced more than 250 projects, 33,000 new jobs and $3 billion in new capital investment within Hillsborough County.

“We are grateful for the significant contributions that Jake Austin has made over the past seven years — from multiple economic development projects and new jobs to more than doubling the original number of EDC investors and supporting millions in capital investment,” Plant City Mayor Nate Kilton states in the release. “We are looking forward to building on that momentum with a new chapter of sustainable, long-term economic growth under Steve’s expert leadership.”

PCEDC, the release states, has helped create 4,000 jobs, attracted more than $750 million in capital investment and supported more than 70 businesses expanding or relocating to Plant City.

“Steve is a proven, trusted and respected leader in economic development throughout the country, and we are thrilled to have him join our team,” states South Florida Baptist Hospital and Bartow Regional Medical Center Karen Kerr, who serves as chairwoman of the PCEDC, in the release. “He is uniquely positioned to hit the ground running and continue to sell Plant City as one of the best places in the country to do business.”