Latest Happenings & News http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog Latest Happenings & News Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:07:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 en Region hits employment trifecta: unemployment down, labor force and employment numbers up http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=678 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=678#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:00:58 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=678 According to Workforce Connection, the regional unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in August, down 0.5 percent over the month and down 2.5 percent from one year ago. Out of an expanded labor force of 208,671 there were 21,105 jobless, a drop of 885 over the month and 5,243 fewer than the same time last year. To see the full news release, click here.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=678 Unemployment rate up slightly over the month, down significantly since July 2011 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=675 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=675#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:03:59 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=675 Workforce Connection’s regional unemployment rate was 10.6 percent in July, up 0.4 percent over the month but down 2.1 percent from one year ago. Out of an expanded labor force of 206,753, there were 21,866 jobless or 4,586 fewer unemployed than this time last year.

For more information, please review the news release from Workforce Connection.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=675 City and County Partner with Ansafone to Create Customer Service and Corporate Management Positions in Ocala http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=673 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=673#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:41:30 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=673 Ocala City Council and Marion County Board of County Commissioners have joined forces once again to assist Ansafone with the creation of 300 jobs for the community. As part of the private/public partnership, Ansafone plans to invest $2 million to renovate facilities at NE 2nd Street in downtown Ocala. The building has been vacant since Maslow Insurance closed more than two years ago. The City of Ocala will invest $550,000 to increase the parking at the facility from 30 to 70 spaces and another 140 within three blocks. Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a $300,000 grant for the company’s performance-based job creation projection of 300 jobs over three years.

Ansafone Contact Centers has been in business since 1970, and has grown from a localized answering service in Southern California to a multi-channel national contact center. Today, Ansafone provides everything from basic answering services for small businesses to large scale contact center solutions in the Fortune 500.  Ansafone started taking on higher profile clients in the 1990s with the addition of GE Financial. This client partnership was instrumental in elevating Ansafone to a higher level of skill sets and organizational maturity required to handle larger, complex clients with competency. In 2001, Ansafone moved into its current location in Santa Ana, CA with the vision of adding 200+ jobs within a five year period. Once Ansafone successfully reached capacity in this location, it opened other facilities in the Midwest and Eastern Time zones to accommodate clients nationwide while supporting an active disaster recovery plan. Nearly a decade later, Ansafone is at another milestone in its history because its operations have again grown beyond capacity of its current facilities. Ansafone has decided to choose Ocala, Florida to expand and become its primary site of operations.

Ansafone President Randy Harmat shared the company’s vision for the Ocala operation. “We plan is to add 300 jobs in the Marion County, Florida market in the next three years by adding this site in downtown Ocala. We take pride in our contributions to the local communities and value this opportunity to include Ocala, Florida in their future growth plan.   This site is also desirable for its proximity to public transportation and local merchants where employees have easy access to their daily needs. Ansafone has a reputation of a family friendly environment that allows employees empowerment, flexibility and creativity to support the success of the organization and its valued employees.”

“We are a company built on relationships and take pride in our low turn-over. We have been very pleased with the smaller operation we currently have in Ocala,” says Harmat. “The workforce has been talented, dependable, loyal and they extend our company’s values to all our customers. As the company was seeking a new location for growth, Ocala made sense. We feel we can not only expand our contact center here, but also build a strong management team as well. Ocala will be our largest facility. The EDC, local and state government agencies have worked diligently with us to make this happen. We are truly excited.”

Workforce Connection will be partnering with Ansafone personnel to recruit employees for the company. Interested candidates should register with www.employflorida.com and positions will be posted soon.

Other companies interested in expansion and/or job creation, should visit www.ocalaedc.org, or call 352-291-4415.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=673 In an Expected Spring Slump, Unemployment Inches Back Above 10 Percent http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=671 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=671#comments Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:19:16 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=671 The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released the State’s unemployment figures today showing Marion County’s unemployment rate at 10.2 percent.

Workforce Connection CEO Rusty Skinner said the increase over the month was not unexpected and reflects end-of-school year cuts in education-support personnel – something that is experienced statewide with all but one of Florida’s 67 counties showing an increase in unemployment rates.

To learn more about the latest data, please read the full news release from Workforce Connection.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=671 Skill Gap Forums Rescheduled http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=669 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=669#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:27:29 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=669

The Skills Gap Forums postponed due to the threat of Tropical storm Debby have now been rescheduled. Workforce Connection has been collaborating with economic development and education partners throughout Citrus, Levy and Marion counties to identify workforce skills critical to key industry sectors in our region.

Please make note of the new dates below:

Marion County – Monday, July 16:

  • 1:00 to 3:00 – Information Technology
  • 3:00 to 5:00 - Business & Financial Services
Citrus County – Wednesday, July 18:
  • 8:30 to 10:30 – Manufacturing
  • 10:30 to 12:30 – Business & financial Services
  • 1:30 to 3:30 – Healthcare
  • 3:30 to 5:30  – Information Technology
Workforce Connection invites business owners and/or your representatives to participate in one or more of the remaining forums to share the gaps that exist between your industry’s needs and the qualifications of job applicants and recent graduates. Your input will provide valuable assistance as Workforce develops strategies and curricula to help close skill gaps. You may attend any and all forums regardless of location.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=669 Pete Tesch Named 2012 Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional of the Year http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=664 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=664#comments Sat, 30 Jun 2012 12:03:28 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=664 The Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) named Pete Tesch, President and CEO of Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation as the 2012 Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional of the Year at the 2012 Florida Economic Development Conference.

“With Pete’s outstanding commitment, talent and skill sets in economic development, both at the local and state level, are a testament to him for being named the winner of this most prestigious award ,” said Amy Evancho, President and CEO of FEDC. “Pete’s tireless commitment to FEDC over the years has been tremendous.”

Given annually in recognition of the achievement of an outstanding economic developer within the state of Florida, Pete Tesch was chosen by his peers, members of the FEDC. The award was first given in 1985 and was renamed in 1991 to honor Eunice Sullivan for her outstanding dedication and commitment to the economic development profession and the Florida Economic Development Council.

Tesch is a past chair of the FEDC and has continued to be involved in the advancement of the organization. Tesch also serves on the CLM Workforce Development Board of Withlacoochee Workforce Development Authority and the Enterprise Florida Board as a Chair of Enterprise Florida’s Stakeholders Council.

Click here to view highlights from the FEDC conference.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=664 Unemployment Rate Holds Steady as Workforce Numbers Increase http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=659 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=659#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:44:38 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=659 After 41 months of consecutive double-digit unemployment numbers, Marion County is now showing a stronger trend toward progress. For the second consecutive month, the Marion County unemployment rate is below 10%. The May statistics, released today by Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity, also show an increase in the workforce. The number of Marion County available workers in April increased by nearly 2,000 workers to 132,926 in May. The number of employed also rose for the month from 118,281 in April, to 119,906 in May.

MARION May 2012
Workforce           132,926
Employed            119,906
Unemployed         13,020
Unemployment
Rate                       9.8  %

Marion April 2012
Workforce           131,041
Employed            118,281
Unemployed         12,760
Unemployment
Rate                        9.7 %

Marion May 2011
Workforce           133,680
Employed            117,779
Unemployed          15,901
Unemployment
Rate                       11.9 %

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=659 Closing the Skills Gap http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=653 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=653#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:24:33 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=653 The EDC is pleased to partner with Workforce Connection to present a series of Skills Gap Forums to improve the skills available in the area workforce and better match current and future talent needs of local employers.

Marion County forums are set for Tuesday, June 19 and Friday, June 29 at the College of Central Florida’s Klein Conference Center, 3001 SW College Road, in Ocala.

  • Manufacturing June 19 from 9-11 a.m.
  • Transportation/Distribution/Warehousing/Marine (Regional Forum)
  • June 19 from 1-3 p.m.
  • Information Technology June 29 from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Business and Financial Services June 29 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

To RSVP, please click here, or call 800-746-9950, ext. 2230.

For more information, click here to download the full news release, or click here for the quick overview.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=653 SECO Says Power Rates are Going Down http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=650 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=650#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 13:21:04 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=650 The Sumter Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees announced that due to the decrease in the cost of natural gas the cooperative is able to pass that savings on to SECO customers. Effective July 1, 2012, the PCA or power cost adjustment portion of each SECO member’s bill will be reduced. It will drop the total cost for the first 1,000 residential kilowatt hours of electricity from $126.95 down to $119.95 – a decrease of $7.00.

Click here to download and view the complete news release.

]]> http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=650 Unemployment drops to single digits for first time in 41 months http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=648 http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=648#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 15:38:46 +0000 Ocala/Marion County EDC http://www.ocalaedc.org/blog/?p=648 The unemployment rate for Marion County dipped to 9.7% for April 2012 according to the the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. For more details on the complete local and regional unemployment statistics, link to the Workforce Connection News Release.

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