ROAD GRANT TO OPEN
NEW INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES
OCALA, Fla. (Aug.18, 2009) – The City of Ocala has been awarded $3.169 million in stimulus package funds to construct a road that will open 150 acres in new industrial sites, lead to the addition of 77 new jobs and $24.9 million in construction projects and provide the potential for significant additional jobs in the future.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns has notified the city that the funds have been approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
The new four-lane section of NW 44th Avenue will extend 1.1 miles from U.S. 27 to approximately NW 8th Street completing another section of the beltway, which will open additional land for development and increase transportation capacity. The beltway is a major transportation corridor that ultimately will extend from SE 36th Avenue at Maricamp Road to Highway 326.
When this phase of the project is completed next April, it will provide access to land that has been targeted for industrial development. Three companies already have proposed projects in this area, including Cone Distributing Inc., which will construct a $17 million facility that will create 25-30 new jobs in the community; SCI Inc. which plans a $7.75 million facility and 35 new jobs, and DelZotto Products of Florida, which has proposed a $750,000 facility and 12-15 new jobs.
The road project already has been designed and permitted. It will be advertised for bids in September.
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For more information contact: Sonny Allen, Communications Coordinator
City of Ocala, 352-629-8401, e-mail: sallen@ocalafl.org
City Manager's Letter