Thinking about expanding in or relocating to one of the most diverse markets in the Southeastern United States? Ocala/Marion County, Florida is located in the heart of Central Florida, and the EDC is ready to help you with the business expansion decisions that matter most.
Is your business ready for the next step? The Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation can help!
The EDC has helped dozens of local manufacturing, distribution and service firms make the right move! When it comes to expanding your existing facility or finding a new one, our team can help you with commercial real estate listings, permitting assistance, employee training, available incentives and more! Download Our Brochure on Local Business Investments »
Dr. Ken Ford’s recent presentation at the EDC’s Quarterly Luncheon was not only exciting with all the new technology being developed right here in Ocala, but it was also a reminder that the economic development process does take time. Nearly five years ago, Commissioner Stan McClain first approached the EDC about IHMC and introduced me to Dr. Ford. It took another three years working with the City, County and State to bring the project to fruition and watch the former library building transformed into a technology hotspot with world-renowned scientists and researchers calling Ocala/Marion County home. We have just begun to reap the benefits of having this kind of facility and talent in our community and believe it will be a springboard to help attract other technology-based firms to our downtown area.
With Cone Distributing’s groundbreaking, Senture’s announcement of 101 jobs, Pathlab Services’ announcement of 34 jobs, and other projects in the pipeline, we are definitely moving in the right direction on the road to economic recovery. As with these and other firms, the EDC plays a pivotal role in the business recruitment and expansion process. As an advocate for expanding firms and a liaison with our public sector partners, the EDC continues to ensure they are started and in operation as quickly as possible.
While business expansion and ensuing economic growth is not coming as fast as any of us would like, I do believe we are beginning to see the first stages of real job creation in our community. There is still much work to be done.
The Business Park Evaluation and Strategy, commissioned by the EDC, underwritten by the Marion County Commission and produced by John Rhodes, Moran, Stahl & Boyer is now available for you to download and review. It is an honest look at Ocala/Marion County’s assets and challenges, combined with an action plan and timelines on how our community can become more competitive in our recruitment, expansion and retention efforts. I welcome your feedback.
As we look forward to the new year, the EDC’s 2009/2010 Annual Report is also available on our website, www.ocalaedc.org, and highlights the progress that has been made toward economic recovery efforts over the last year.
Best Regards,
Pete Tesch
President/CEO
EDC investors were intrigued to hear about the latest technology in development at Florida's Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). Dr. Ken Ford was the guest speaker at the December EDC Quarterly Luncheon.
His presentation spotlighted research with robotics and cyber security that is underway at the institute's newest facility in Downtown Ocala. IHMC held their Grand Opening in early 2010 and has been active with community lectures and support through the year.
The Marion County Commission partnered with the EDC to contract National Site Location Consultant John Rhodes, Moran, Stahl & Boyer to gather economic intelligence on Marion County’s “site readiness,” to produce a Business Park Strategy to further the EDC’s business recruitment and expansion efforts.
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.
The EDC was very proud to assist with this project over the last 18 months, and thanks PATHlab Services, and President/CEO John Howard for locating this exciting new business in Ocala/Marion County.
Senture, LLC announced the expansion of their Ocala customer service center in Meadowbrook Commerce Park, creating 101 new jobs in Ocala/Marion County. The firm secured a major contract with a Fortune 500 health insurance company to provide customer support and service for their Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans. Senture chose Ocala for the needed expansion over other potential sites in the Tampa Bay, FL area and London, KY where the company also operates.
The 101 new jobs will bring an additional payroll of $3,157,440 and a capital investment of $650,000 - $750,000 into Ocala/Marion County’s local economy. The combined salaries average $31,261.79 annually.
Senture’s President Chris Deaton is pleased to see the company’s expansion in Ocala, “We have been operating in Ocala since 2006 and found the employees to be a large part of the reason we would like to stay and grow here. We are very appreciative of what the EDC, Workforce Connection and CF Corporate Training did to assist with this project. The $56,000 Quick Response Training Grant we received was one of the deciding factors that brought this project to fruition. We look forward to continued growth in Ocala.”
EDC President/CEO Pete Tesch echoed his enthusiasm for these projects. “The Cone project was an unprecedented arrangement of public and private sectors working together, and Senture’s announcement is such good news at a critical time in our community. Both are outstanding corporate citizens, and it is exciting to see them grow. The EDC is gratified to play a role in keeping excellent employers here and assisting them through the job creation process.”
Companies interested in expansion and/or job creation, should visit www.ocalaedc.org, or call 352-291-4410.
This Economic Update has been developed to meet the communication needs expressed by our investors. The EDC has been asked to provide quick, easy-to-read highlights, with further details just a click away.The Economic Update is the tool for delivering the Quarterly Report, and other relevent economic updates. Let us know what you think!
