Fort Pierce Sees $35.8M in Annual Tax Revenue from Proposed Kings Highway Jobs Corridor

The city hopes the new jobs corridor will solve its longstanding budget shortfalls.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Fort Pierce city leaders are excited about the potential economic impact of the proposed Kings Highway jobs corridor, which a new report projects could generate $35.8 million in annual municipal tax revenue and create over 21,000 direct jobs. The city and county are now working to establish an overlay district to streamline development in the area and address infrastructure needs.

Why it matters

Fort Pierce has struggled with budget shortfalls for years, and the city sees the Kings Highway jobs corridor as a potential financial salvation. The project could provide a major boost to the local economy and tax base, while also creating thousands of new jobs in an area that has been hit hard by the 2008 recession.

The details

The proposed Kings Highway jobs corridor would include about 4.7 million square feet of industrial space, 2.3 million square feet of commercial space, 1.4 million square feet of office space, and 937,000 square feet of mixed-use space. According to projections, this buildout could create 21,291 direct jobs and generate $5.9 billion in total economic output. The city and county are now working to establish an overlay district to streamline development in the area and address infrastructure needs.

  • The St. Lucie County Economic Development Council presented Phase 1 of the jobs corridor project in February 2026.
  • City commissioners Michael Broderick and Chris Dzadovsky praised the findings of the report in February 2026.
  • The city and county plan to meet with the Economic Development Council and District Planning Group on March 6, 2026 for a workshop on possible requirements of an overlay district.

The players

Michael Broderick

Fort Pierce city commissioner who praised the potential of the Kings Highway jobs corridor.

Chris Dzadovsky

Fort Pierce city commissioner who has been thinking about the industrial development of Kings Highway since 2010.

St. Lucie County Economic Development Council

The organization that conducted the research and analysis on the potential economic impact of the Kings Highway jobs corridor.

Leslie Olson

Co-principal for District Planning Group, which worked with the Economic Development Council on the Phase 1 report.

Wes McCurry

President of the St. Lucie County Economic Development Council.

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What they’re saying

“This jobs corridor, from a tax and employment basis, is potentially the salvation of the city's financial woes and employment woes. I know that is putting a lot of stock in one aspect of this, but it is that critically important to the city.”

— Michael Broderick, Fort Pierce city commissioner (tcpalm.com)

“I've never had my own children, but I feel like this was my child. This is my baby.”

— Chris Dzadovsky, Fort Pierce city commissioner (tcpalm.com)

“This entire corridor area is within 1 to 2 miles of three interstate interchanges. That's insane. That's better than Southern Grove. I mean, it's fantastic. This is a fantastic location.”

— Leslie Olson, Co-principal, District Planning Group (tcpalm.com)

What’s next

The city and county plan to meet with the Economic Development Council and District Planning Group on March 6, 2026 for a workshop on possible requirements of an overlay district for the Kings Highway jobs corridor.

The takeaway

The proposed Kings Highway jobs corridor represents a potentially transformative opportunity for Fort Pierce to address its longstanding budget and employment challenges. If the project is successfully implemented, it could generate tens of millions in annual tax revenue and create thousands of new jobs, providing a much-needed economic boost to the city.