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June 30, 2010 We are now all too familiar with the economic situation here in Marion County. Chronic double-digit unemployment has led to distinct decreases in our workforce, consumer spending and total output which will unfortunately lead to further declines in tax revenues and the ability of our local governments’ to provide vital public services. In fact, with almost 18,000 Marion County residents out of work and average earnings of $31,000 a year, roughly $558 million of the spending power is gone from our $6.6 billion economy (or gross metro product.) No wonder this single factor is considered such a threat! As a result, active partnerships with the public and private sector are putting people back to work by attracting, retaining and expanding companies. With unemployment dropping from 15.4% to 13.6%, I want to believe this is the beginning of the recovery process. Elected officials and business leaders are now working together to improve our competitiveness, reduce costs and cut red tape for all types of businesses. There is also a faint whisper of new jobs being created and new construction, however modest.
My cautious optimism is based on the trend of recent business relocation and expansion activities occurring in our community: Rasmussen College, Department of Children and Families, Santelli Tempered Glass, Signature Brands, LLC, Cone Distributing, Inc., Scorpion Performance, and FirePrograms. The anticipated job creation and projected capital investment resulting from these businesses is approximately 316 and $32.7 million respectively.
Because the City and County were willing to invest in companies that want to locate or expand in our community, these kinds of capital investments help keep our millage rates reasonable, which in turn helps our local government from having to raise taxes to meet their budgetary responsibilities. New business investment also widens the tax base and contributes significantly to the governments’ ability to provide those essential public services. It is vital that our community continues to invest in companies that demonstrate such a profitable return, and it also sends a powerful message to other companies looking to do business here!
The EDC Board of Directors also met this month to conduct the strategic planning session for the 2010-2011 FY. John Rhodes of Moran, Stahl & Boyer facilitated the session and laid out some specific recommendations for Ocala/Marion County’s economic growth in the post-recessionary era. These points are being incorporated in our overall strategy that will be reviewed by our Board in July. The new Strategic Plan will define the EDC’s scope of work for the coming year and be released in our August Economic Update.
In addition, it is gratifying to see some signs of progress toward economic recovery. Buildings are going up, grand opening ribbons are being cut, and people are going back to work! Enjoy the photo tour below!
Best Regards,
Pete Tesch
President/CEO   | Florida Trend Magazine is featuring Ocala and Marion County as a Community Portrait in their July 2010 issue.
You may view the electronic version of the portrait by clicking on the image to the left. Feel free to link the file to your Web site as well! |
Our partners at Workforce Connection produced a video featuring the City of Ocala Enterprise Zone. It is also running on Florida Trend’s Web site!
The photos below show Signature Brands, LLC’s construction progress in the ZONE! |  |  |  | Rasmussen College’s new campus construction is well underway. The great news is Rasmussen officials reported 27 new hires (all but one came from our local workforce) with plans for 20 more. | .jpg) | Congratulations are in order for CenterState Bank and President George Durhan, who celebrates with team members, customers and those involved with the renovation of their new banking facility located at 406 E. Silver Springs Blvd. It is just one of the signs of progress that represents the continuing redevelopment efforts in downtown Ocala. | 
 | That was the question broached by national Site Consultant John Rhodes at the EDC Quarterly Luncheon on June 2nd. Rhodes’ firm, Moran, Stahl & Boyer was contracted by the EDC, in partnership with Marion County Board of County Commissioners to conduct an assessment of Ocala/Marion County’s site readiness from a site location consultant’s perspective. Rhodes saw the diversity of our community’s manufacturing and business operations as an asset. The physical location in the state provides a huge advantage for logistics and distribution. He spoke of great advances underway in solar energy development in Florida and encouraged the group of business leaders to pursue avenues to harness the manufacturing of those technology components here.
“If that business is coming to the State of Florida, why not Ocala?” | Rhodes encouraged further development of the relationship with University of Florida researchers. “Let them think it up up there and you crank it out down here!” Rhodes’ full report was reviewed at the EDC Strategic Planning Session and recommendations will be incorporated into the 2010-2011 strategic plan that will be released in August. | 
 | The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce and the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation hosted Enterprise Florida’s German Office team of Michael Hass, Director and Alexander Bothmann, Deputy Director. Michael Schiffhauer, Director, Field Operations and European Trade Development for Enterprise Florida accompanied the team. The day began, at the Chamber of Commerce, with a briefing by EDC President/CEO Pete Tesch on the local economy, the diversity of industries and the opportunities in the area’s business parks. |  | The briefing continued with a welcome delivered in fluent German by City of Ocala’s Astrida Trupovnieks. Trupovnieks highlighted the City’s interest in facilitating discussions surrounding investment by German firms. Lucienne Gaufillet, County Economic Development officer discussed the County’s economic development program and spoke of the quality of life assets of the County. Both indicated a strong partnership between government and the EDC, Chamber, Workforce and others, working to improve our business climate and economy. Ann Sternal, Director of the Tourism and Convention Bureau highlighted the cultural and natural amenities found throughout Ocala/Marion County, many of which were showcased in a short video about the area. | | Tesch and Baillie conducted a mini ‘windshield’ tour including briefings at the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), conducted by VADM Tim Wright, Deputy Director and by Mike Compton, Florida Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The tour ended with lunch with Mayor Randy Ewers at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. | 
 | At its annual awards banquet held Saturday, the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) honored Dr. Yorick Alexander Wilks, Senior Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) as an ACM Fellow for his fundamental contributions to the field of computing and computer science. The ACM Fellows selection is the most prestigious recognition of the Association, assigned to the top one percent of its membership for outstanding accomplishments in computing and information technology. Known internationally for his substantial work in the area of artificial intelligence, Dr. Wilks was specifically honored by the ACM for his research on meaning-based understanding of natural language by computers. | | “This is indeed a great honor, for me and for IHMC, and I hope it will add to the visibility of our new research program in Ocala” commented Wilks after the award was presented. To learn more... | 
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