A productive 2019 on the Nature Coast featured an increase in activity, including word a hospital was coming to Chiefland.

An Ocala cardiologist purchased  the former hospice on US Highway 19 with plans to open a walk-in clinic that eventually will become a 10-bed community hospital.

The project follows the arrival earlier in the year of A&M Manufacturing to another vacant building in Chiefland, relocating its boat manufacturing operations with plans to hire about 100 workers in three years.

The Department of Economic Opportunity touted a year with 201,700 jobs added statewide. CareerSource, our biggest area partner, highlighted the creation of the first-ever statewide apprenticeship policy, which preceded grants to go toward creating more apprenticeships.

 Enterprise Florida rounded out 2019 with several trade missions, including to Israel and Columbia.

The new year looks to travel a similar path, as consumer confidence continues to remain strong, along with projected jobs gains. Regionally, projects like the proposed Suncoast Parkway and Florida Turnpike expansions will continue to take shape, along with multiple projects close to breaking ground.