Governor Ron DeSantis recently awarded more than $6 million to three local government entities to support key infrastructure improvements, including $4.7 million to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
On Thursday, December 14, DeSantis announced that over $6.5 million has been awarded to Marion County, Ormond Beach, and Haines City through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. These grants will help fund key improvements to bridge supply chain gaps and increase access to industrial sites to expand business opportunities while creating jobs throughout Florida.
Marion County commissioners received a total of $4,746,307 in grant funding toward infrastructure improvements to the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park.
With more than 900 acres zoned for industrial use, along with an additional 300 acres zoned for commercial use, the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park is the county’s second industrial park and is already equipped with utilities.
According to Marion County, development of the commerce park will target multiple industries, including food manufacturing and distribution, consumer product distribution, E-commerce, and aviation and aerospace manufacturing.
Grant funds were also awarded on December 14 to the cities of Ormond Beach ($1,623,426) and Haines City ($200,000).
According to a press release from DeSantis, Ormond Beach will utilize these funds to increase access and promote business development at Ormond Beach Airport Business Park by installing a secondary access road to connect the city’s Airport Business Park to Pineland Trail.
In Haines City, the funds will be used to repair a rail spur, which will help commercial manufacturers in the area distribute products such as food, lumber, trusses, and housing components.
“These infrastructure investments will support local economies and create nearly 3,000 new jobs,” stated Governor DeSantis. “In Florida, we are focused on making investments in competitive industries like manufacturing, which will continue to pave the way for a strong, resilient economy that generates business growth.”
The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Since 2019, more than $191 million has been awarded through this program.
For more information about the Job Growth Grant Fund, visit the Florida Commerce’s Job Growth webpage.