The CEP continues to engage and work to ensure our community keeps moving forward. We are very excited about the two items I am highlighting this month.
Amazon
I am sure most have heard the news by now, but the CEP was pleased to join the Ocala City Council and Marion County Board of County Commissioners in welcoming Amazon’s announcement that they will establish a distribution facility in the Ocala Metro.
The company has leased the 617,000 sq. ft. spec building being constructed by Red Rock Developments. This new facility will create approximately 300 jobs, all making at least $15.00 per hour from day one.
The CEP is pleased to welcome Amazon to our community. What an incredible addition to the Ocala Metro! We look forward to seeing their brand welcoming residents to the area.”
The new Amazon facility is located in the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park along I-75. The company joins existing park tenants Chewy.com, AutoZone, and FedEx Ground which all operate logistic facilities in the park.
A project likes this involves many partners and we would like to express our great appreciation to Red Rock Developments for investing in Ocala and the team at Colliers International in Orlando led by Deborah Mickler, SIOR, for their incredible work.
The company has already begun hiring their leadership team for the facility. They will begin hiring other positions later this summer with a target of a late summer/early fall opening. Please check amazon.jobs for more hiring information.
Equality of Opportunity
Recently, the CEP announced it is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a national initiative to address inequality of opportunity.
The CEP is participating in the U.S. Chamber’s national townhall event where business and community leaders from across the nation will discuss concrete actions that can be taken by government and the private sector to address improving equality of opportunity through education, employment, entrepreneurship, and criminal justice reform. As a partner on this important initiative, the CEP will host local and industry dialogues to further the discussion.
The mission of the CEP is to be the catalyst for a prosperous community. When any member of our great community is unable to access the opportunities here, we are failing in our mission. We must work to ensure everyone can succeed here.
The work of this national initiative will build on the work already undertaken by the CEP to grow and enhance Ocala’s entrepreneurial culture through the Power Plant Business Incubator and the IMPACT initiative. It will also build on the CEP’s NEXTworks program to expand skills training and development in both secondary and post-secondary education. You can read more about all of these programs on the CEP’s website – OcalaCEP.com.
