Florida News Straight From the Source
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public hearing regarding proposed median changes, or access management, on West Silver Springs Boulevard (S.R. 40) from SW 27th Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. [Read more…] about Design Public Hearing for S.R. 40 from 27th Ave. to MLK Jr. Blvd. in Marion County
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will be repairing the 66th Street/Williams Road bridge beginning Sunday, March 10, through next Friday morning, March 15. [Read more…] about Marion County Traffic Advisory
Tomorrow, August 29th, Governor Scott will honor Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veteran’s Service Medal at the National Guard Armory in Ocala. Since 2013, the Governor has awarded nearly 15,000 veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott to Award Florida Veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal in Marion County
Motorists may notice increased light at the County Road (C.R.) 484, State Road (S.R.) 326 and C.R. 318 interchanges with Interstate 75 (I-75) this week. [Read more…] about Lighting Enhanced at Multiple Interchanges in Ocala Area
Senator Dennis Baxley makes the following announcement regarding the delegation public hearing and deadlines.
The Marion County Legislative Delegation Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public hearing will take place at the Klein Center at the College of Central Florida, located at 3001 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL 34474, for the purpose of hearing public testimony on general issues, legislation, local bills and appropriations.
To be placed on the agenda to address the Marion County Legislative Delegation, please contact Alex Bickley in Senator Baxley’s office prior to October 13, 2017.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is conducting a public meeting for the NE 36th Avenue design project, which begins at State Road (S.R.) 492 (NE 14th Street) and ends at NE 35th Street in Marion County.
The project has been divided into three segments: Segment 1 (FPID 431798-2-52-01) is from S.R. 492 (NE 14thStreet) to NE 20th Place; Segment 2 (FPID 431798-3-52-01) is from NE 20th Place to NE 25th Street; and Segment 3 (FPID 431798-4-52-01) is from NE 25th Street to NE 35th Street. Segment 2 includes NE 36thAvenue going over the existing CSX railroad.
The improvements to all three segments of NE 36th Avenue include: widening the existing two-lane road to a four-lane roadway; five-foot buffered bicycle lanes; six-foot sidewalks; a 20-foot median; and drainage and signalization improvements. With the bridge over the CSX railroad in Segment 2, there also will be a Texas U-turn and access road to retain access to adjacent properties.
Additional right-of-way will be needed to accommodate these improvements. For Segments 1 and 3, right-of-way acquisition and construction are not funded. For Segment 2, right-of-way acquisition is funded in Fiscal Year 2017 and construction is funded in Fiscal Year 2019.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Marion County Growth Services Training Room (next to the Public Library) located at 2710 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala. The meeting will be an open house format with a focus on the project refinements in Segment 2. Project information will be available for review along with the opportunity to provide public input. Throughout the meeting, a project presentation will run on a continuous loop. FDOT representatives will be available to discuss the project, answer questions, and receive comments.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, by phone at 386-943-5367 or by email at [email protected].
Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Laura Turner, Project Public Involvement Coordinator, by phone at 407-620-5095 or by email at [email protected] at least seven days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Project information will be available by going to www.cflroads.com.
For media-related questions, please contact the Florida Department of Transportation [email protected] / 386-943-5473.
The Florida Supreme Court has reappointed Marion County Clerk of the Court David Ellspermann to the Florida Courts Technology Commission (FCTC) which oversees, manages and directs the development and use of technology within the judicial branch.
“I’m honored to be reappointed and look forward to working with the other members of the Commission to identify new opportunities in which technology may enhance the accessibility and functions of our court systems statewide,” Clerk Ellspermann commented.
Other FCTC members representing Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) include Karen E. Rushing (Sarasota County) and Sharon R. Bock, Esq. (Palm Beach County), who are currently serving staggered terms on the 25-member commission.
Clerk Ellspermann was one of eight members appointed or reappointed and will serve on the FCTC until June 30, 2020.
Established in 1969, the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) is a statewide, nonprofit member association composed of the Florida Clerks of the Circuit Court and Comptrollers. FCCC provides local government support services, technical assistance and accreditation opportunities for all members of the association. For more information, visit www.flclerks.com.
During May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is partnering with the Marion County Senior Services Center for an event on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
PSC representatives will distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance discounted telephone service program, and educate against falling for utility-related scams.
The Marion County event is scheduled for the following time and location:
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Marion County Senior Services Center
Marion Café
1101 SW 20th Court
Ocala, Florida
About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and nation have joined in the annual Older Americans Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, https://oam.acl.gov/.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public information meeting regarding plans to widen and reconstruct SR 45 (US 41) in Marion County.
The project involves widening the existing roadway from two to four lanes and includes grassed medians, paved shoulders, sidewalks, driveway reconstruction, and full and directional median openings. The project is funded for construction in 2018.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 4 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church located at 7525 S. US Highway 41 in Dunnellon. It begins with an open house at 5:00 p.m. and includes a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m. The meeting ends at 7:00 p.m. Project information can be found at the project specific website, www.us41marion.com, or at www.cflroads.com.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Renato Gonzalez, Project Manager, by phone at 407-893-5851, or via email at [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at [email protected].
Questions? Please contact the FDOT Public Information Office at [email protected] / 386-943-5473.
SR 45 Flyer
Governor Rick Scott announced today that Chewy, an online retailer of pet food and products in the United States, will locate a new fulfillment center in Marion County. The new facility will create 600 jobs and a $49 million capital investment in the region.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Chewy will be building a new facility in Ocala and creating 600 new jobs for Florida families. While Chewy is a Florida-based company, they could have chosen to invest in any of their locations across the country. Instead, they decided to create hundreds of new jobs in Florida because of the hard work of Enterprise Florida and local economic development organizations, and our unrelenting focus on making Florida the best place for business. I am proud to celebrate Chewy’s expansion today and look forward to continuing to bring more jobs wins to our state.”
Chewy was founded in 2011 by CEO Ryan Cohen and CTO Michael Day. The company offers around 20,000 items for dog, cats, and other pets. Chewy is headquartered in Dania Beach and donates a portion of each purchase to select animal shelters. The new facility will be located on at the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park.
Ryan Cohen, CEO of Chewy said, “We are pleased to expand our workforce and bring fulfillment operations to our home state. As a Florida-based company, we recognize the importance of driving economic opportunities in the region and we appreciate the partnership of Enterprise Florida and the CEP as we work to invest in the Ocala community through the creation of 600 new jobs. In addition to job creation, we look forward to the opening of this fulfillment center helping to better serve Chewy customers with even more efficient and faster delivery times.”
Chris Hart IV, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. said “Not only is a great Florida company continuing to grow, but Chewy has chosen to grow in their home state. Florida continues to shine as a national leader for job creation, and companies like Chewy are a big part of our success as a state. I commend them on their success and look forward to seeing their continued growth.
Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Chewy’s expansion in Marion County is great news for Central Florida’s economy and I am proud that the company is continuing to invest in Florida. The 600 new jobs Chewy’s is bringing to the area will provide new opportunities to local job seekers and a chance for more Florida families to live their American Dream.”
Carl Zalak, Chair of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, said, “We are excited about bringing another great company to our community. Bringing Chewy to Marion County is great news for our county. This project means more jobs, investment and momentum to our community and we couldn’t be more excited about the future.”
Brent Malever, Ocala City Council President, said, “On behalf of the Ocala City Council, we are incredibly excited to welcome Chewy to Ocala/Marion County. In addition to creating nearly 600 jobs, this is another great investment to keep Ocala moving in the right direction.”
Ken Ausley, Chairman of the CEP Board of Trustees, said, “This announcement represents a partnership between Chewy, the City of Ocala, Marion County, Duke Energy, CareerSource CLM, Ocala 489 LLC, Enterprise Florida, and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership.”
About Chewy
Headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, Chewy’s dedicated staff – furry and non-furry alike – are committed to providing the kind of service that makes you go “wow.” Our warehouses all over the country can ship the freshest, highest quality products–and fast. And our amazing gals and guys in customer service are here day and night to help. Bottom line is, we’re here to make pet happiness happen.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.
About The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership
The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) was formed to create a one-stop approach to business retention, attraction and creation efforts. Moving Forward is our charge and it reflects our desire to be a unified voice and catalyst for the business community. By working together with our partners and community investors, we will continue to improve our quality of life and build a strong base for economic development in Marion County.
