Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released the State’s unemployment figures last Friday showing a drop from 12.1% in April to 11.9% in May for Marion County. This is the fourth drop in as many months since the high of 14.2% in January.

The figures also place Marion County seventh, up from fourth for the highest unemployment rates in Florida. Flagler is first with 13.8%, followed by Miami-Dade at 13.7%, Hendry at 13.3%, Hernando at 12.9%, Indian River at 12.5%, and St. Lucie at 12.5%.

Marion County’s current labor force stands at 132,611 with 116,779 employed and 15,832 unemployed.

More than a dozen business leaders from Gainesville joined our Ocala contingent in a Heart of Florida Community Tour to promote “good will” and a better understanding of all that Ocala/Marion County has to offer in a regional approach to economic development.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, the tour kicked off at their downtown facility followed by a walking tour that highlighted the downtown commerce and innovation centers with a stop at City Hall and IHMC.

On far left, Dr. John “Row” Rogacki, IHMC Associate Director chats with participants before his presentation.

After a brisk return walk to the Chamber, a tour bus whisked participants to local manufacturer, Scorpion Performance for a tour of their state-of-the-art facility where sophisticated technology utilizing “robots” produce rocker arms for high-performance engines in speed boats and racing cars.

All Scorpion Performance products are made in the USA.

The last venue on the agenda offered lunch poolside compliments of Frank Hennessey, owner of Hennessey Arabian, LLC and a tour of his breathtaking Arabian horse farm where he and wife Carol breed both halter and performance horses.

As a follow up to the recent Joint EDC and Chamber Strategic Planning Session, Dr. Dale Brill, President of the Florida Chamber Foundation addressed EDC investors at the June Quarterly luncheon to explain the “Six Pillars” community concept. His presentation is available online for your review.

EDC President/CEO Pete Tesch and EDC Chair Elect Doug Cone welcome Dr. Dale Brill and former Speaker of the House Larry Cretul to the EDC Third Quarterly Luncheon on June 9th.

The last few weeks have been a promising indicator for increased economic development activity in Ocala/Marion County with the influx of over 300 new jobs for our citizens.

On June 7,  the Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to support a $105,000 state-local matching grant to bring Colorado-based Integrated Manufacturing to Marion County. The State of Florida is projected to fund a $420,000 grant to assist the company with their relocation plans. If the company accepts the offer, Integrated Manufacturing is slated to create 175 jobs paying an average salary of more than $36,000 per year with a $10 million capital investment in our community.

Also on June 7, the Ocala City Council approved a $4.8 million investment package for  American Fresh Farms  to begin construction of two hydroponic greenhouses to produce tomatoes under glass. The project will be the first company to locate in the City’s Ocala Business Park at Ocala International Airport. American Fresh Farms projects at least 160 new jobs averaging $37,375 per year and a capital investment of $28 million.

In May 2011, data from the 2010 Census and the Nielsen Company was released and all the latest demographic information is available on the EDC Web site.  We believe this latest snapshot of our community can be used as a valuable tool in planning for your company’s future.