The LEDC created a separately funded initiative in 2003 to focus on creating High-Skill, High-Wage jobs to improve Lakeland’s Quality of Life. The High-Skill Initiative is focused on recruiting and retaining companies that focus on enabling technologies which support High-Skill, High-Wage employees and manufacture complex research-oriented products.

The High-Skill Initiative works to accomplish these goals through Higher Education and Economic Development Partnerships, facilitating development of High-Skill Infrastructure (including a research university), Marketing, Incentives, City Visits, Y Lakeland Campaign and Summer Leadership Program.