Congratulations are in order for the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership! The CEP was named Chamber of the Year during the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ annual convention. The event was held virtually this September due to COVID-19. This is CEP’s third time in four years being considered for Chamber of the Year, having also been a finalist in its category in 2017 and 2019.
Category 3, in which the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership resides, includes chambers that cover an area ranging from 250,000 to 499,999 residents. Our local organization was up against many great chambers, including organizations from:
- Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead, Minnesota
- Arlington, Texas
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
CEP President and CEO, Kevin Sheilley believes the win symbolizes the progress Marion County has made over the years. He says Ocala/Marion County “is a place that gets stuff done and does it really well.” Given CEP’s response and hard work during COVID-19, we’d have to agree!
The organization helped many local businesses get funding through the Small Business Association’s PPP loans. Their role in helping businesses navigate federal assistance funding contributed to 1 in 8 small businesses in the county receiving funding. This number is especially significant when compared to the state average of 1 in 25 businesses.
But, their contribution to the county isn’t just related to the pandemic. The Ocala/Marion County CEP is responsible for and participates in a wide range of programs that benefit the Ocala area. CEP’s IMPACT initiative provides one-on-one counseling for entrepreneurs in West Ocala, Marion Oaks, and Silver Springs Shores. The organization also partners with Marion County public schools to develop the current and future workforce through skills training. In addition, CEP helps healthcare companies identify services the community needs and how to attract them to the area.
Find out more about Ocala/Marion County CEP’s big win here.