Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope visited with Citrus County leaders on Wednesday to learn more about how the county is trying to put people back to work.

County Commissioner Joe Meek, County Administrator Brad Thorpe, County Attorney Richard Wesch, Citrus County EDC Executive Director John Siefert and Citrus County Chamber of Commerce CEO Josh Wooten talked about several initiatives.

Those initiatives include lowered impact fees, the business development center, Port Citrus, the push to restart the Suncoast Parkway, the creation of targeted industry categories and the county's push to convince business and industry to move and expand in the community.

Meek, who is also president of the EDC, spoke about other initiatives, including the multiple economic incentive programs the county now offers.

“We have created multiple incentive programs to encourage growth, such as tax abatement programs, infrastructure assistance grants, tangible tax incentive programs, and job creation grants," Meek said. "At the same time, we have worked hard to remove obstacles and barriers to entry and expansions for businesses.

"We are working hard to create an environment within Citrus County that is conducive to a strong and diversified economy and finding ways to be unique to give us the competitive edge over other counties,” Meek said.

Thorpe also gave a presentation about Port Citrus.