Write a concise narrative that introduces BEDC as Bartow’s engine for local growth, then illustrate how its programs support small businesses and job creation with concrete, real-world examples. Tie Bartow’s distinctive quality-of-life assets—schools, culture, lifestyle—into why companies choose to locate or expand there. Explain, in accessible terms, how non-profit economic development groups partner with public and private entities to attract investment and retain existing businesses. Use a clear before-and-after arc: describe Bartow’s economic landscape, then show the measurable or observable changes BEDC aims to achieve. End with a brief, quotable takeaway that links local prosperity to community values.