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Economic Yearbook 2006 - North Central Florida
Greener Pastures
Accelerate population growth is driving up land prices and spurring economic development.
Gainesville/Alachua County
The University of Florida's student body is no longer Gainesville's main source of population growth. Now highly credentialed newcomers zero in on the city's amenities and UF's assets. "They're not running from something but coming to something," such as university-spawned biotech startups, says local building contractor Barry Rutenberg.
Retirees are coming too. "Many are parents of UF faculty and Gators coming home," says Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan.
The university has generated controversy with its decision to extend health benefits to its unmarried employees' partners. Meanwhile, debate continues over the homeless, roads and a proposed coal-burning electric power plant. There's a big demand for distribution center workers, and builders complain that building regulations are contradictory.
Key Newcomers
? Gary Ascani, a recent arrival from Birmingham, Ala., is the new CEO of local startup Banyan BioMarkers, which has developed a product that identifies biomarkers in blood samples that indicate the severity of brain injuries. The Department of Defense provided research funds and has high hopes that Banyan can help war-injured soldiers.
? After Hurricane Katrina washed away St. Charles Pharmaceuticals in New Orleans, CEO Leslie Molony evacuated to Gainesville, where she is setting up company operations in the Sid Martin Biotech incubator in Alachua to develop medicine to treat pain and neurological damage. Gainesville, she says, "has a greater number of venture capitalists than Louisiana."
Ocala/Marion County
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With more than 290,000 residents, Marion County is North Central's largest and most populated county -- having grown 50% in 15 years. Among the newcomers is an increasing number of Hispanics. Says Lola Gonzalez, a Miami transplant and founder of Accurate Background Check in Ocala: "A year and a half ago, my staff only used English. Now I have five workers who are bilingual." Hispanics now make up almost 12% of the local public school students. ... Residential growth -- also fueled by out-of-state retirees and South Floridians -- is prompting debates over impact fees, proposed transportation taxes and water issues. County commissioners recently implored the Florida DEP and Gov. Jeb Bush to negotiate the purchase of 4,600 acres from Miami-based Avatar to protect Florida's famous Silver Springs from encroaching development.
Business Beat - Week of May 3rd
