VOLUME 7 ISSUE 30
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4-H Banquet Page B2
July 24 - 30 2026
Spending tax dollars to help businesses
Hot topic nationally and locally
Commissioners weigh budgeted economic development involving two groups. By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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s Marion County commissioners review the proposed 2026-2027 budget, outside agencies that receive grants to provide services to the county recently came before the commission to press their cases. Many of the agency representatives who addressed the commission on July 16 requested continued financial support for their work serving vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Other groups, however, sought financial support for economic development. For an 11th budget year, the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) is requesting $300,000 from the county to support large-scale business attraction, retention and job creation efforts. This is in place of having the county staff its own economic development department. The Small Business Development Council (SBDC) is asking for $185,000; however, their request is considered a local match to federal dollars they receive to fulfill the mission targeted to “help small businesses launch, grow and thrive.”
THE ‘VENDOR’ VS. ‘OUTSIDE AGENCY’ DEBATE
During recent budget workshops, the funding requests sparked a policy discussion regarding how the CEP is classified within the county’s financial documents. Commissioner Michelle Stone pointed out that the CEP is lumped in with “outside agencies,” which she argued gives the public a misconception about how and why the organization receives taxpayer dollars. See Tax dollars, page A3
This is one example of a data center. [Shutterstock image]
Marion County commissioners schedule data center workshop amid public concerns.
By Jennifer Hunt jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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he Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted today (July 21) to schedule a workshop for Sept. 1 to proactively establish guidelines for potential data center developments. The procedural move, however, drew intense scrutiny from residents worried about the region’s natural resources and quality of life. The meeting featured extensive public comment, heavily tilting against the prospect of data centers entering the county. “I want to officially go on record and state that I am against the support or building of data centers, hyperscale data centers, or any iteration or variation of a
Xander Edwards, 19, his mother, Robin Edwards, Ruby Hutchinson, 14, and her mother, Brenda Pullara, left to right, show off some of the custom T-shirts they print at Beyond Able Apparel at The Arc of Marion in Ocala, Fla. on July 17, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2026.
data center in Marion County,” declared resident and social media influencer Elizar Jose Nieves to the board. Another resident, Marita Weston, urged the commission to outright reject the workshop, stating, “The community does not want a data center. Not now. Not later. Not in small size... it does not fit Marion County.”
ZONING RULES AND THE IMPACT OF SB 484
Commission Chair Carl Zalak III attempted to assure the public that the county is not currently reviewing any active applications, emphasizing that the workshop aims to create a regulatory framework before a developer applies. He clarified the strict zoning requirements
currently in place: “As of today, you could only build those in an industrial area with a special use permit. You can’t build it on a piece of ag land in Marion County.” Zalak also pointed to the recently enacted Senate Bill 484 (the Florida Data Center Protection Act) to justify the need for local preparation. According to a press release from the Executive Office of the Governor, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 484 to protect communities from hyperscale data centers. The new law explicitly “preserves local authority over zoning, permitting and land use,” ensuring that local governments can set stricter standards or reject projects entirely without state preemption. See Hot topic, page A4
Giving it their all
Beyond Able Apparel offers a unique population a chance to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
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n a small building on the campus of The Arc of Marion on Baseline Road in Ocala, there are days when the “magic” just happens. And you can be pretty sure that Xander Edwards will be
grinning from ear to ear when it does. Edwards, 19, is the “pressman” for the Beyond Able Apparel 501©(3) nonprofit startup company that is rolling out custom printed T-shirts bearing a wide range of designs. Local moms Brenda Pullara
and Robin Edwards are the organizers of the business enterprise, which involves their special needs children, Ruby Pullara, 14, and Xander Edwards, 19. Pullara has been a special needs educator and has a podcast about parenting. See Giving it their all, page A5
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Youth reining champ.................... A3 Ready for Success......................... A6 Capitol Hill testimony................. A7 “Waterscapes” exhibit.................. B1 Calendar......................................... B6
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