County official loaned out to work on training center

Assistant County Administrator Rick Dodge, leader of the county's economic development program, is being loaned to St. Petersburg College to help open the Epicenter, a business and technology training center.

A joint project of the college and county government, the center is supposed to open near the ICOT Center off Ulmerton Road in 2004. It will offer classes and provide worker training. It also will house the county's economic development department and other departments.

Dodge will still be a county employee, but most of his time will be spent working on the Epicenter, said County Administrator Steve Spratt.

Spratt said Dodge suggested the arrangement. Dodge's managerial experience and contacts will help make the multipurpose complex a reality, Spratt said.

"It's not just building a building," Spratt said Tuesday. "We're supposed to make sure training programs are designed to match what business needs, and that corporate partners are coming in with resources that might complement the program."

Dodge, who played a critical role in St. Petersburg winning a baseball franchise, couldn't be reached for comment.

His responsibilities will be divided among other county managers. It's too soon to say whether Dodge will return to his current job with the county, Spratt said.

"I haven't done any reorganization since I've been here," he said. "There may be some reorganization and shuffling once we get through the budget process."

For now, the county will continue to pay Dodge's salary of about $130,000. But the college will seek grants to reimburse the county, Spratt said.

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