COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS
E-ONE expansion, city department name/location change, GFOA Triple Crown, Equine Industry Vision award and “Thank a Teacher”
Mike Virnig, president, Specialty Vehicles segment at Terex Corporation, fourth from left, was joined other officials and dignitaries for the May 12 E-ONE groundbreaking event. [Photo courtesy E-ONE]
E-ONE expansion
E-ONE, Inc. kicked off a $23.5 million expansion of its aerial manufacturing campus on May 12 with a program and groundbreaking by company executives, area firefighters, local dignitaries and members of its dealer network.
The 80,000 square foot expansion will increase the company’s aerial production capacity by approximately 35 percent and help reduce lead times for E-ONE’s products, the news release noted. The project is expected to add 100 new jobs in Ocala, adding to E-ONE’s current workforce of 1,134 employees.
Benefits of the expansion, according to the release, will include expansion of expansion of the existing assembly, fabrication and paint facilities, as well as new construction to support ladder manufacturing and assembly operations.
Construction is expected to be completed by Spring 2027 and will be done in four phases; starting with expansion of the current building, construction of a new paint facility and construction of a new four-bay test pit.
City department name, location change
The city of Ocala’s Community Development Services Department has changed its name to Community Housing Services.
“This change better reflects our focus on housing-related programs and our continued commitment to strengthening neighborhoods, expanding access to resources and supporting residents throughout our community. In addition, we have moved to a new location to improve accessibility and better serve the public. Our team remains dedicated to providing the same services, guidance and support you have come to rely on, now in a more centralized community space,” the news release stated.
The new office is at the Lillian Bryant Community Center, 2200 NW 17 Place, Ocala.
To learn more, call (352) 629-8390 or email [email protected]
GFOA Triple Crown
The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Triple Crown for the second consecutive year, recognizing excellence in financial reporting and budgeting.
The honor includes awards for Marion County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, as well as its budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, according to the press release.
The ACFR received GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the highest recognition in governmental accounting, for the 40th consecutive year.
To view reports, visit marioncountyclerk.org/departments
Equine Industry Vision award
Horse Radio Network founder Glenn Hebert of Ocala was honored as the 2026 Equine Industry Vision Award Winner at the AHP Equine Media Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 15.
“Wow, podcasting has come a long way. From 18 years ago when all we did was explain what a podcast was to winning the AHP Equine Industry Vision Award. This honor truly belongs to the entire Horse Radio Network community: our devoted listeners, talented hosts and generous sponsors. Podcasting’s strength lies in its personal and impactful connection with the audience, and we are grateful to have played a role in fostering its growth since podcasting began. The community we’ve built is extraordinary. We also extend our gratitude to AHP for championing the many diverse voices within equine media,” Hebert was quoted as saying in the news release.
Hebert founded the Horse Radio Network in 2008. His flagship show, Horses in the Morning, which he co-hosts, has produced thousands of episodes and is recognized as one of the longest-running daily podcasts of any genre. His work has introduced countless new audiences to the horse world while providing education and entertainment to seasoned equestrians alike, the release noted.
Teacher honored
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, have announced that Cori Feo of Osceola Middle School in Ocala is the latest recipient of the “Thank a Teacher” award.
Feo teaches digital information technology and computer applications. She was nominated by one of her students.
[Photo courtesy HCA Florida/PEFMC]
“Mrs. Feo helped me learn about computers and how to touch-type properly. She is very nice and helpful when things get difficult,” the nomination said. “Even though she isn’t my elective teacher anymore, she is still my favorite teacher that I have had this year and I think she is awesome.”
“Cori’s nomination was extra special because it came from a student, and that is a testament of the positive impact she makes in the classroom,” said Meghan Magamoll, executive director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, in the news release.
Learn more at pefmc.org/thank-a-teacher
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