Business and development

In exchange for a reduced sentence, some Marion County inmates participate in a prison work program. The program has produced much of the jail's infrastructure, saving taxpayers more than $9 million in 2013.

The economic recession in 2007 led to the unemployment of millions of Americans. However, one University of Florida graduate turned the downturn into opportunity.

Publix is moving to the small city of Alachua and will compete with the only other grocery store there called Hitchcock’s Markets. Residents are excited to see more diversity in their grocery shopping.

Because of years of deterioration, the Thomas Center has applied for a $75,000-grant from the Division of Historical Resources Bureau of Historic Preservation to restore a fountain some say dates back to 1928. The Thomas Center had to match 25 percent of the requested funds in its own budget to be considered eligible by the Florida Department of State.

After learning about the Bo Diddley Community Plaza redevelopment efforts come early 2015, local Gainesville market vendors are raising concern about the possibility of being relocated to a different area.

What started out as a cleaning job to pay for a pair of jeans turned into a booming Gainesville business. Since then, business owner Kristen Hadeed’s cleaning company, Student Maid, has been successful and is growing daily.

Florida brewers are thriving despite a controversial law that prohibits the sale of 64-ounce beer growlers. A lawsuit calling the limit unconstitutional could change all that.

A project to renovate the historic Blanche Hotel in downtown Lake City will soon be underway. Lake City Mayor Stephen Witt said he is hoping the renovations bring new allure to downtown Lake City.

Island Grove LLC., a Hawthorne berry farm, made a partnership to found a winery that makes use of the berries left in the fields at the end of the season that would have been frozen or thrown away.

Gainesville Regional Utilities will be audited by a third party to investigate a 30-year contract between the company and the owners of a biomass plant.