Community leaders gathered with City of Ocala officials at a recent groundbreaking to celebrate the construction of the SW 67th Avenue extension. This road is a major step in developing the infrastructure needs for the Ocala Business Park at Ocala International Airport.

This extension of SW 67th Avenue to SR 40 will provide accessibility to about 400 acres within the Ocala Business Park. The $3.5 million project is expected to be complete within a year and will include the installation of water, sewer and stormwater services. Marion County has agreed to donate a parcel of land to make the project possible.

EDC President/ CEO Pete Tesch commended the City’s progress, “This business park will be an effective tool to attract and retain businesses in our community. Thanks to Ocala City Council, City Manager Rick Horst and staff members’ hard work, this dream is becoming a reality.”

The EDC is pleased to welcome PATHlab Services, a Cyto-Pathology, DNA/Molecular, Flow Cytometry laboratory to our community. This state-of-the-art lab will test bodily fluids and tissues collected in physician offices and/or hospitals for cancer cells as well as some other disorders.

PATHlab Services is leasing a 6,484 square foot facility, creating 34 new jobs with a projected annual payroll in excess of $1.5 million, and investing more than $500,000 in capital expenditures. These new positions will include medical pathologists and technicians as well as IT, management and couriers.

Workforce Connection has been instrumental in assisting PATHlab Services with their hiring needs and with current growth projections; it appears another expansion will be necessary to accommodate an additional 45 workers in the next 18-24 months.