Mount Dora, Florida

6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 represents the final link in the Central Florida Beltway encircling Metro Orlando – as well as the improved transportation system along State Road 46. “Healthcare is definitely one of our target industries, we’re always looking to expand that,” offers Stile. “We’re also really lucky to have Steamroller Studios, a high-end animation and game development company with ties to ‘Fortnight’, which is all the rage right now.” The city is also testing solutions to some of the potential workforce development challenges they may face given the rapid growth they have planned. One of those fixes involves a collaboration between Lake-Sumter State College (in nearby Leesburg) and Lake Technical College (in Eustis) on a future joint facility that would likely call the Wolf Branch District home. “The value of that would reside in a homegrown workforce, training right in our own backyard,” Wilson shares. “We’re also trying to create MOUNT DORA , FLOR IDA partnerships, working in tandem with some of the businesses that need a trained workforce, to devise career development programs that are in tune with the city’s broader economic strengths and objectives.” Another option they’re exploring involves joining forces with Steamroller Studios. “This isn’t anything that’s been solidified, but we’ve considered partnering with them on workforce development for animation,” explains Economic Development Coordinator Misty Sommer. “We sense an incredible opportunity there for education and workforce training as well.” Making the most of its existing infrastructure and building inventory, Mount Dora is also pursuing adaptive reuse as a resource-efficient and sustainable way of creating a variety of uses within its smallish footprint. “We always field a lot of interest for some of the older buildings downtown,” declares Stile. “It really is the gem of Mount Dora.” Wilson adds, “We’ve seen several