What we have going on here is geography at work, said Mark Davis, president of the Mid-Florida Regional Manufacturing Association board. If you look at it closely, Ocala is halfway between Atlanta and Miami.
Davis said the continued growth of distribution and manufacturing will enhance the trend of diversifying the area workforce.
During the recession 13 years ago, Marion had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation because local jobs leaned heavily on hospitality and retail. During COVID-19, that job diversity prevented a similar employment dip.
Building on spec
It s called building on spec, which is short for speculation. Construction companies – some with ties to national distribution and manufacturing businesses – build warehouses that can meet the needs of companies planning to branch out to Florida.