LACOOCHEE, Fla. — Jobs are coming to an area that hasn't seen much development in decades.
- Lacoochee had good economy until lumber mill closed in 1959
- Company developing land on Bower Road
- Officials hope for more jobs, housing and people in area
- More Pasco County headlines
Investors are building up land in Lacoochee, a small town in east Pasco County.
The area had a booming economy in the 1900s but never recovered after its lumber mill closed in 1959.
Ebony Pickett is a life long resident of Lacoochee and remembers what it used to be.
"When I was a little girl, Lacoochee was a flourishing town. To see the jobs and the town decimated, it's really sad," she said.
She was recently involved in the fight to keep Lacoochee Elementary opened. The school is fighting declining enrollment, in part because there's not a lot of jobs in the area.
Now, investors are trying to change that.
Harold Sample, with GDR Investments, says his company is developing the land where the old mill used to be on Bower Road.
"After the mill closed, it became a ghost town as far as the businesses were concerned. We're hoping to bring some of that back," Sample said.
David Lambert with Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative says ongoing improvements to the area's roads and sewers means now is the time for new investment.
"This site has the potential to improve the lives of many people in this area. We're just excited and thrilled that it's coming here to give our members jobs," Lambert said.
Pickett hopes that means more jobs, housing and people will come back to Lacoochee.
"Just the idea that they're going to bring in some new companies, some fresh new ideas, and some great families, that's marvelous."
One company has already signed up and they'll be announced soon. Investors believe more industrial and manufacturing companies will follow suit. The hope is to have things starting up in the next six months.