Winter Haven, FL - The Florida Tourism Economy is being battered however some investors remain optimistic. Shuttered since November, Cypress Gardens located near other top Orlando attractions reopened March 28 with a former park veteran at the helm, attraction officials said. Bill Sims, introduced by owners Brian Philpot and Rob Harper as leader of the attraction’s new management team, said Florida’s first theme park will open in time for spring break. The announcement was made during a 10 a.m. news conference at the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce building downtown.
Sims is a former executive vice president of Cypress Gardens who worked with the founding Pope family from the early 1970s until 1985, when the park was sold for the first time. He also is the former chief executive officer and executive vice president of the Silver Springs attraction near Ocala, a former executive with Weekee Wachee Spring Hill and a former state tourism representative.
Ft. Myers, FL - At a time when tightening credit markets are limiting dollars for economic development, one Florida county has responded with a $25 million cash incentive fund that can provide significant capital for expansion and relocation.