Larry L. Pelton
January, 2007 President, Economic Development Council of St Lucie County, Inc
Larry Pelton is President of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, Inc. located in St. Lucie County, Florida. His primary goals involve the development of a Science/Technology Cluster within a multi-county region and to work with business and public leadership in strategizing a shift to a knowledge-based economy in an area that has experienced dramatic growth in population but job growth inconsistent with value added, high wage opportunities. Within four months of accepting his current position, Pelton was involved with a team of influential leaders in recruiting an expansion of the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Science of LaJolla, California to the county. He previously assisted in recruiting the Scripps Research Institute from the LaJolla area to a northern location in Palm Beach County, 30 minutes to the south of the Torrey Pines Institute and is working on an aggressive program to attract allied businesses and to form research and educational alliances with existing institutes and scientific companies in the region.
Prior to joining the EDCSLC, he was an economic development and strategic planning consultant working with developers seeking advice on adding job components to multi-use development projects. He also consulted on site selection for a manufacturing company seeking to relocate to a Southeastern location.
As President of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. from February, 1990-December, 2005, Mr. Pelton introduced a performance based management style into the economic development organization. During his tenure, over 350 companies announced relocations or expansions to Palm Beach County – creating approximately 32,550 primary and 25,400 secondary jobs. During the same period the organization's membership revenues increased over 300% with a corresponding increase in annual income from $535,000 in 1990 to $2.0 million in 2004. The Business Development Board refocused its attention on emphasizing cluster based programs; strong business retention and expansion programs; the development of a Southeast Florida regional economic development partnership with the Broward Alliance in Broward County and The Beacon Council in Miami-Dade County; electronic marketing; training programs for local companies; and Education/Business partnering.
Previously, Mr. Pelton was Vice President of Industrial Development for ITT Land Corporation where he was responsible for the recruitment and development activities of five industrial parks.
Prior to his employment with ITT he served as a Vice President for Barnett Banks of Florida, Inc. where he established an industrial recruiting program for the statewide banking network. He also was employed as Vice President of Commercial Lending for Florida National Bank of Jacksonville.
Mr. Pelton began his career as Manager of Downtown Development and Assistant Manager of Economic Development for the Jacksonville, Florida Chamber of Commerce. He assisted in bringing the private sector into a partnership with local government to affect downtown development and acted as head researcher for the organization. He was active in recruitment of new industry to Jacksonville in coordination with the Florida State Department of Commerce.
Having grown up in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Pelton holds a B.B.A. in Economics from the University of North Florida and completed his first year of graduate work on his M.B.A. He has additional educational credentials resulting from advanced training received in the Economic Development Institutes at the Universities of Oklahoma, Georgia, and Delaware plus numerous banking schools.
Mr. Pelton served on a Legislatively appointed Commission that recommended occupational license tax changes to the State Legislature and served as a Gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida, the Board of Florida Development Finance Corporation, and is currently serving as a Trustee, Palm Beach Community College; Present and past honorary appointments include: Enterprise Florida Practitioners Committee; Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Business, Advisory Committee; Workforce Alliance Board member; Florida Economic Development Council; Florida Atlantic University Research & Development Authority; Palm Beach Community College Foundation’s Business/College Liaison Committee; the S.E./U.S. Japan Association; Board of Directors Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Directions 2020; Board of Directors, Governor’s Club; The American Institute of Corporate Asset Management; Past Officer, of Florida First Capital Finance Corporation; Chairman, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council’s Economic Development Plan Committee; and Palm Beach County’s Economic Development Plan Committee.
Mr. Pelton has received recognition in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in Real Estate, Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was listed in South Florida Magazine's "Who's Who in South Florida."