At the CEP’s Annual Luncheon on 2 February, the new 5-year Strategic Plan, Forward Momentum, was unveiled to a crowd of nearly 1,100 business leaders. The plan had been developed over eight months in 2021 and involved consultations with a number of experts and economists.
The plan is a continuation of its two successors (Moving Forward and Moving Forward – Phase II) but also broadens the engagement of the CEP in a few key areas. All of the plans 19 goals are aligned with the CEP’s mission “to be the catalyst for a prosperous community.” The following are highlights of a few of the goals. The complete can be found at OcalaCEP.com/the-CEP/strategic-plan/
Business Advocacy – the top goal in Business Advocacy is the Renewal of the Local Option Sales Tax. This 1% tax was first approved by voters in 2016 and then overwhelmingly renewed in 2020. The tax is the best way to fund important and needed transportation and first responder needs. The revenues can only be spent on capital needs and approximately 1/3 of the revenue is collected by tourists and commuters who are using our roads and depending on our first responders but not otherwise contributing to their support.
Business Attraction – the #1 goal in the plan is to secure a commitment for commercial passenger air service. As a community of nearly 400,000 the time is right for the return on local air service. Continue reading
By TomL
Lady Lake Florida…Received a phone call last week. He introduced himself as a long time Lady Lake Resident, actually I think he was from the Villages, he was accusing the paper of making Democrats look like Russians. (Boy is that a far stretch). I ask him if he call Fox News and accuse them of the same. I said we have a well rounded group of writer’s and I’m sorry you don’t like what we say, simply just don’t read it. He said he would never watch Fox News. After the called ended, I sat and thought about what he said. You know he is right the Republicans are the only one’s doing their job, the other are taxing the heck out of us. There is talk about the Green new deal is financed by Russia and China, I guess I need to explain. Investigators are now saying that some of the candidates running and endorsing the Green New Deal had hefty contributions from Russian and Chinese backed company’s. Some people get upset when they believe something all their lives and things change, people change. The reader said the whole paper was guilty of it. He said the paper treated Governor DeSantis like a God (Far Stretch). I think several times our writers said DeSantis was doing his job and most Floridians would agree with that. I walked outside and there it was A FULL MOON! I say if you don’t like what is in the newspaper, any paper, just simply don’t read them. I am sorry the Democrat’s are being blamed for what Biden is putting them through. Just impeach him and get it over with! Continue reading
In Marion county, for eight years, the first Saturday in March plays host to the largest festival in our area known as Habitat for Humanity of Marion County’s Strawberry festival. This last Saturday, March 5, 2022 was no different!
This year’s strawberry festival saw 35,000 +/- visitors enjoy strawberry treats of all kinds, local entertainment on two stages, a car show, a strawberry pie eating contest, a chance to shop over 250 vendors and a giant kid’s zone with fun for kids of all ages! The 8th annual strawberry festival was located at the McPherson Government complex on NE 25th Ave where plenty of parking and open spaces allow this festival to grow year after year.
The Habitat strawberry festival in Marion County represents a piece of American history when county fairs and festivals brought communities together. All proceeds made at the festival go towards building a home for a Marion County family in need. A Habitat home is built with mainly volunteers, including the future homeowner. The strawberry festival also is alive with volunteer spirit and known for uniting people from all parts of the county. When the habitat homeowner completes their required volunteer hours (averages 250 hours) and is handed the front door keys to their new home, their first mortgage payment is likely to be sweeter than the strawberries sold at this year’s festival. Only for that habitat family, the safety and security they receive from the new home lasts longer than any of the sweet treats enjoyed at the festival.
If you missed Habitat’s strawberry festival this year, be sure to save the date for next year. It’s always the 1st Saturday in March and thousands of festival goers will tell you that a good time is had by all!
Elizabeth B. Chryst
Chair-Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, FL
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