Bringing jobs and prosperity to Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Your source for #tampabiz news and #econdev updates. The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC) is the lead economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON A VARIETY OF SOCIAL WELFARE ISSUES FACING THE TAMPA METROPOLITAN AREA. THE RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES IN THE TAMPA AREA, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. THROUGH ITS RESEARCH, THE ORGANIZATION WILL AIM TO IDENTIFY THE SKILL DEFICIENCIES IN THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND OTHER BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXAMINE HOW CERTAIN SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECT THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF TAMPA RESIDENTS. THE RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL BE FUNDED BY GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO THE ORGANIZATION