Submitted By: Edwin Carreras
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Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
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FORMAL TITLE:
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Agreement for business creation, retention, and attraction services with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership in the amount of $190,000
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Economic Hub
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PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), together with City staff, proposes to continue a Business Creation, Retention, and Attraction Services Agreement (Agreement). This Agreement requires a $190,000 allocation from the City’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. The Agreement aligns with the Ocala City Council’s strategic priority of Economic Hub.
The City’s partnership with the CEP began in 2012 with funding to support economic growth, and has been renewed annually since. In 2024, the city and CEP restructured the Agreement at the Council’s request, adding conflict-of-interest protocols, separating sponsorship and service funding, and updating the work plan to focus on key priorities.
City staff and the CEP worked together to improve the proposed service Agreement further to ensure it directly aligns with the priorities outlined in the City’s Vision 2050 Plan and the objectives of the Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA).
This revision focused on refining the scope of services, strengthening reporting standards, and adjusting performance targets so that the Agreement supports the City’s long-term growth strategy.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The CEP successfully completed the primary work plan outlined in the Agreement. Please refer to the attached documentation regarding performance during the contract period. Key highlights are presented below:
CEP received $90,000 for services and an additional $100,000 sponsorship, totaling $190,000.
Facilitated an economic incentive proposal to secure E-ONE’s $23.5 million manufacturing expansion. City Council approved a $193,000 Economic Inv...
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