Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Jimmy Norris spent the last six years representing Suwannee County as the economic development coordinator. Now, he's entered a new role with a familiar feel: the Economic Development Director for North Florida Professional Services (NFPS). NFPS, based in Lake City, is a full-service engineering firm that provides a wide variety of expert, innovative professional engineering, surveying, planning and grant administration services on each project from concept to completion.
"I've been involved with economic development for over a decade, and through that time, I got more and more involved in regional and state organizations," Norris said. "This position gives me an opportunity not only to help Suwannee County but also the other rural counties in the North Florida area along the Interstate 10 corridor."
Norris said that the opportunity to work for NFPS was exciting and something that he was interested in. "Just the thought of helping these other communities be successful was something that was appealing to me," he said.
While the position doesn't necessarily change his job description from what he had working as Suwannee County's Economic Development Coordinator, NFPS will be able to utilize Norris in other ways, especially when it comes to identifying companies and grant opportunities. "Really, I'm almost a liaison, to some degree, between NFPS and the rural counties," Norris said. Because of the relationships Norris built over the years with the rural counties in the Suwannee Valley region and beyond, he believes that he will be able to help them effectively.
Despite working for NFPS, he continues to reminisce about his time with the county, saying that the decision to leave his position as its Economic Development Coordinator was a tough one.
"They are my friends," Norris said. "I love those guys."
Looking back on his time as the Economic Development Coordinator, he was grateful to have assembled an "A-Team" of employees to work for him and the county. "We built one of the best teams to be assembled…we were able to establish and put together one of the best teams that the Economic Development Office has had," Norris said.
As the Suwannee County Economic Development Office (EDO) seeks a new person to fulfill the role that Norris leaves behind, Charissa Setzer, who has served as the Marketing Coordinator for the office, has filled the role in the interim. "She absolutely can run that office and keep it successful," Norris said.
When the EDO does find that special person to take the helm, Norris said it will be important to lean on the professionals currently in place. "There are great individuals with a wealth of knowledge," Norris said. "And as long as the new coordinator leans on those people, they will be successful."
Norris said that working for Suwannee County over the last six and a half years was an honor and privilege and that, despite working for NFPS, he will continue to fight and champion Suwannee County. "NFPS has a great group of people, and I am honored to work there,” he said. “I've been really blessed to be part of a great few organizations."