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Pete Tesch is stepping down as president of the Economic Development Council (EDC) of St. Lucie County, with Wes McCurry appointed as his successor effective January 1. Tesch's seven-year tenure from 2017 to 2024 saw significant private investment in manufacturing and logistics, resulting in 85 business expansions and relocations that created 12,935 projected new jobs and retained 6,743 existing jobs.

Key contributors included companies like Amazon and Costco. The EDC facilitated over $1.87 billion in capital investment, contributing to a $4.36 billion economic output, representing about 17% of the county's economy.

Ongoing projects include attracting a commercial airline to Treasure Coast Airport and promoting developments such as a professional soccer stadium and a data center. Since 2016, over 4,000 residents have been lifted out of poverty due to the EDC's initiatives.