Top Development Agency Lays Off Six; Cuts Budget by $497,000

ORLANDO-Once one of Central Florida’s high profile business recruiting organizations, the 25-year-old private, not-for-profit Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida, has sliced six high-paying positions from its $4.5 million budget, saving an estimated $497,000 per year.

In the past five years alone, EDC’s Web site says it has coordinated the placement of $7 billion in capital investment in metro Orlando; helped create 40,000 jobs; and had a hand in the leasing or construction of 21 million sf of commercial real estate space.

Among those receiving pink slips are Kathy Ramsberger, vice president/television and digital media for the past 11 years; Pat Werner, corporate business development director for the past 16 years; Bob Turk, director of EDC’s Osceola County operations; and Enrique Machado, a director in EDC’s international department.