July 4, 2026 — North Central Florida (Gainesville & Ocala) new business activity

North Central Florida recorded 300 new business filings the week of June 13 to 19, about even with the week before and level with the same week last year.

Marion and Alachua counties carried the week. Marion, home to Ocala, logged 125 of the region's 300 new businesses, and Alachua, home to Gainesville, added 90. Together they made up about 7 in 10. The city of Ocala alone had 107 new businesses and Gainesville had 52. Farther out, Columbia County reached 24 around Lake City, and Suwannee County rose to 20 around Live Oak, up 6 from the week before.

The region recorded 300 new businesses, almost exactly even with the 299 a week earlier and level with the same week last year, when it also had 300. The recent pace has cooled a little. The past 13 weeks ran just under the 13 weeks before them, and this week sat below the recent weekly average of about 309. This was a steady week, not a jump.

Administrative and support businesses led the mix at 35, up 7 from the week before. Construction and trades rose 5 to 30, and transportation and logistics added 4 to reach 25. Professional services came in second overall at 31, though that was down 7. Real estate and leasing held at 28, and holding and management companies eased to 23.

Very little decline over the past 13 weeks.

The bold line is the 13-week average. Read it for the longer trend. The thin line is each week's count, which swings week to week.

Administrative & Support Services grew the most this week, 7 more (up 25.0%). Professional Services dropped the most, 7 fewer (down 18.4%). Several smaller sectors also grew.

Marion led the region this week with 125 new filings. Gains were broad, with 5 other counties also up from the week before.

• E-ONE, a fire-truck maker in Ocala, kicked off a $23.5 million, 80,000 square foot expansion of its aerial-manufacturing operation on May 15, 2026, a project expected to add about 100 new jobs. A plant expansion this size means work now for the construction and trades that build it, and about 100 new paychecks that flow out to the businesses those workers use. Suppliers, staffing firms, and the accounting and IT shops that serve a growing manufacturer all gain from a move like this. E-ONE, Inc., 2026-05-15
• The Ocala City Council took up Ordinance 2026-14 on May 5, 2026 to rezone about 283.55 acres west of Interstate 75 and north of SW 66th Street to a Planned Development, one of two large planned developments the council weighed that night. A planned development this large along the I-75 corridor is a long runway of work for site and road crews, utility contractors, and the building trades, then for the sign shops, landscapers, and property managers who serve whatever gets built. Getting on the developer's list early is the play. City of Ocala City Council, May 5, 2026 agenda, 2026-05-05
• Marion County commissioners took up a zoning amendment on June 16, 2026 for a 79.21 acre residential development at 5823 NE Jacksonville Road in northeast Ocala, a project known locally as Woodridge Place. A new subdivision feeds framing, roofing, and concrete crews first, then the realtors, title and insurance offices, and lawn and pest services that follow new rooftops. The trades that reach the builder before the first slab is poured are the ones that stay busy for years. Marion County Board of County Commissioners, June 16, 2026 agenda, 2026-06-16
• Alachua County commissioners approved a land-use change on April 28, 2026 for 580 acres east of Parker Road, owned by the UF Foundation. The change moves the land from Rural and Agriculture to a new UF Golf Institutional category, clearing the way for a University of Florida golf course project. A 580 acre course project means earthwork, irrigation, and landscape contractors up front, and course maintenance, clubhouse services, and management jobs once it opens. Anyone selling to turf, irrigation, or hospitality operators should be watching this one. Alachua County Commission, April 28, 2026 meeting highlights, 2026-04-28
• The Ocala City Council took up Resolution 2026-32 on May 19, 2026 to amend the plan for the 60th Avenue Parcels Planned Development, an about 61.4 acre project at 3661 SW 60th Avenue and 5800 SW 31st Street in southwest Ocala. Amending a planned development keeps a project moving toward construction, which means work for site crews, utility and paving contractors, and the building trades, then for the vendors who serve whatever opens there. Reaching the developer during planning is how local firms get on the short list. City of Ocala City Council, May 19, 2026 agenda, 2026-05-19
• Suwannee County broke ground on May 1, 2026 on a five story, 123 room Hampton Inn & Suites at the US Highway 129 and Interstate 10 interchange, a $20 million project and the county's first new hotel since 2001. A new hotel puts construction and trades to work now, then hires front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff, and buys from local linen, food, landscaping, and repair vendors once it opens. In a county this size, one $20 million project moves the needle. Suwannee County Economic Development Office, 2026-05-01

This week points buyers toward the building economy. Ocala and Alachua approved large planned developments and land-use changes, E-ONE started a $23.5 million plant expansion in Ocala, and Suwannee County broke ground on a new hotel. New construction and trades filings rose 5 this week to 30. The strongest prospects right now are the trades, the site and road crews, and the accounting, insurance, and legal firms that serve a wave of new builders. Anyone selling to hospitality operators should watch Suwannee, where a $20 million hotel is now under way.

We count new business filings from the state's official records for the thirteen counties of North Central Florida: Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union. We wait about two weeks after a week ends for the state to finish recording all of its filings, so the counts here are complete and final. Figures compare the reported week to the week before and to the same week a year ago.

Frequently asked questions

Which county led new business activity this week?

Marion County, home to Ocala, with 125 of the region's 300 new businesses. Alachua County, home to Gainesville, was next with 90. Together they made up about 7 in 10.

Is business formation speeding up or slowing down here?

It held about steady. The week was almost even with the week before and level with the same week last year, and it ran a little below the recent 13 week average of about 309.