Central Florida Developer Jerome Henin Invited to White House Briefing on Florida Economic Development, Job Creation

DeBary, Fla. --- Jerome Henin, who heads the Henin Group and is developing Riviera Bella on the St. Johns River in DeBary, participated in the White House Business Leader forum recently with business leaders from Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando.

Henin said the forum included nearly two dozen speakers, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Chris Vane, White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer, David Agnew, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Francisco Sanchez, U.S. State Department’s Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade.

“We were given a comprehensive outline of White House strategies and directives to create jobs and increase economic competitiveness in Florida,” Henin said. “On those fronts, I think they rate A-plus.”

Henin said he was particularly impressed with the weight given political strategies.

“As a community developer, I am certainly aware of the political side of our business. But I was particularly impressed by the formidable political obstacles the White House must overcome to generate substantial economic development and job growth in Florida,” Henin said.

“When political entities defend their own interests, that’s democracy. But on the national level, given the broad mandate the White House is advancing in generating economic development and the critical importance of our national economy, I am troubled by political entities who seem more interested in seeing the current administration fail than in seeing the country succeed,” Henin added.