Creating a three- to five-year strategic plan for attracting business and industry to Indian River County is at the top of the “to-do” list for Mark Litten, the new vice president of economic development for the county’s Chamber of Commerce.

Litten, 65, started July 1 in the position, which has been vacant for five months following the retirement in January of Helene Caseltine, who served in that role for more than 21 years.

“In economic development circles, we do three- or five-year plans,” Litten said. “You really can’t predict the ups and downs of the economy in the long term. Just five years ago we were at the height of the pandemic. We’ll create a plan that is dynamic and fluid and aligns with the county’s current 10-year strategic planning process.”

Litten moved here from Palatka, Florida, where he was the vice president of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce in Putnam County, which has just 75,000 residents, 100,000 fewer than in Indian River County.

“There is a lot more opportunity here,” Litten said, “and that’s kind of why, when offered it, I accepted the job. It’s wonderful when the name of the community has the word ‘beach’ in it.”

While Indian River County doesn’t have large industrial parks, there’s lots of land west of I-95 available for commercial and industrial development, light manufacturing, and warehouse/distribution facilities, Litten said. Those types of facilities are being built at an impressive pace and scale along I-95 in adjoining St. Lucie County.

He said that Vero Beach Regional Airport, one of the top 10 busiest general aviation airports in Florida, also is a huge economic development asset, with the area’s largest employer, Piper, right on site. Litten said he has already begun marketing the county as a great location for business and industry in economic development trade publications.