Jake Austin
“Jake is very familiar with Plant City and has partnered with us in his previous role with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation,” said Randy Larson, Plant City EDC Inaugural Chairman. “Joining us as our CEO is a natural evolution of the relationship and a very strong fit for the Plant City Economic Development Corporation.”
Jake grew up in central Florida and graduated from Lakeland High School in 2004. He joined the U.S. Air Force at 18 and served six years active duty earning the rank of staff sergeant. After his military service, Jake attended Western Kentucky University where he earned his bachelors degree in entrepreneurship and later attended Florida State University where he earned his MBA. Jake has an extensive career in business and economic development beginning with the State of Kentucky and later with The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. Desperately missing the Florida lifestyle, Jake returned home in 2012 accepting a position with The Tampa-Hillsborough EDC (Now Tampa Bay EDC) as director of business retention and expansion. His department oversaw corporate expansions throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County. Since launching the Plant City EDC in 2015, Jake has helped recruit over 70 economic development projects to Plant City which have generated 3,000 new jobs, nearly $1 billion in capital investment, and over 12 million sq. ft. of new industrial real estate.