Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation have distributed $255,000 in grants to 20 organizations focused on economic development across Florida. The funding is intended to help attract businesses, support workforce development, and strengthen the state’s economy.
The grants are aimed at supporting programs that improve Florida counties’ ability to compete for new business investment and skilled workers. Initiatives include upgrading digital resources for economic development departments, developing infrastructure grant matrices for rural areas, and aligning local investments with high-growth industries.
Citrus County received $15,000 to enhance its Economic Development department’s website with advanced mapping tools and resources for digital and print materials. The North Florida Economic Development Partnership Foundation was awarded $15,000 to develop a matrix of grant programs addressing infrastructure needs in 15 rural counties. The Central Florida Development Council also received $15,000 to update its target industry study and support job attraction efforts.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida, stated: “Florida’s economic strength instinctively makes our state a great place to establish and grow a business, so it’s our privilege to build upon these competitive advantages through innovative, strategic resource grants.”
Sean Malott, president and CEO of the Central Florida Development Council, said: “This grant from Duke Energy will play a critical role in shaping the future of Polk County’s economy. By updating our target industry study, we will gain additional insights needed to continue attracting high-quality jobs, support local businesses and align Polk’s workforce and infrastructure investments with the industries that drive long-term growth. We are grateful for Duke Energy’s continued partnership in building a stronger, more resilient economic future for our community.”
A full list of recipients includes organizations such as the Florida Economic Development Council Foundation, Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., Orlando Economic Partnership, Team Volusia Economic Development Council, and several county-level agencies.
Since 2020, nearly $2 million has been provided by Duke Energy and its foundation in similar grants across Florida. This effort is part of broader philanthropic activities by the Duke Energy Foundation nationwide. According to company information available at duke-energy.com/community/duke-energy-foundation/Florida and related pages on duke-energy.com/news-center/, the foundation provides over $30 million annually in community support funded by shareholders.
Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to about 2 million customers over a 13,000-square-mile area. Its parent company serves more than 8 million electric customers across six states and is investing heavily in grid upgrades as well as cleaner energy sources like renewables and storage.
More details about Duke Energy Foundation programs can be found at their official site: https://www.duke-energy.com/community/duke-energy-foundation/florida.
For further information on Duke Energy’s operations or news updates visit https://news.duke-energy.com/.
