City approves $150,000 Optimum RV incentive deal

Line of Brand New Camper Vans Motorhomes Awaiting Clients on Dealership Sales Lot. Recreational Vehicles Selling. Caravaning Industry.

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Posted August 2, 2021 | By Joel Bronson, joel@ocalagazette.com 

The Ocala City Council voted unanimously on July 20 to approve an incentive program that promised to bring 50 new jobs to Ocala.

The plan would help Optimum RV establish its headquarters in Ocala.

The recreational vehicle seller boasts a 65-acre megastore at 7400 S. US Highway 441. It has other Florida locations in Bushnell, Zephyrhills and Titusville, as well as Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The incentive agreement will help Optimum renovate the planned headquarters at 2303 SE 17th St.

Aubrey Hale, Urban Design Coordinator with the City of Ocala’s Growth Management Department, outlined the details of the amended agreement to the council.

“On May 6, we received an application from Optimum Dealership Group, LLC, which is looking to relocate their headquarters,” Hale told the council.

Optimum RV initially asked for $400,000 to renovate the building at 17th street, and estimates renovations would cost roughly $800,000 total.

The 50 jobs will be added over the three years and have an estimated average salary of $50,000.

The city would make five payments of $30,000 to Optimum RV, depending on how the project comes along and if job goals are met.

“This incentive agreement is very similar to other agreements we have made with businesses in the past,” Hale said.

The first payment would be paid in year two of the project, with Optimum expected to show significant progress.

Incentive payments would also be prorated upon failure to meet employment criteria outlined in the agreement.

The proposed Optimum site was formerly occupied by RealTruck. The online retailer of pickup truck parts and accessories recently opened a 30,000-square-foot sales and service center at the Berkshire Oaks Shopping Plaza in the old HHGregg building at 4205 SW 38th Court.