Advocacy
The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) is an organization of business, promoting business, and representing the needs of business. No organization is better suited to represent the needs and concerns of the business community better than CEP.
In fact, advocating to local, state and federal officials on behalf of local businesses is a natural and necessary role for the CEP. While we advocate for or against certain proposals or plans, it will NOT include the endorsement of candidates. However, it does include hosting candidate forums and publishing their views on key issues as identified by partners and investors.
The driving focus of our Advocacy efforts is to partner with government to create a more dynamic business climate in which to work, live and play.
Quest - Ocala's Inter-City Visit
QUEST 2025 Will take us to Huntsville, Alabama
Information will be available in Spring 2025!
Discovery and collaboration are the focus of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership's Quest Trips to peer communities. These intercity visits are an opportunity to bring CEP partners and staff, elected officials, business leaders, educational administrators, and young professionals together with their counterparts to share ideas, benchmark a comparable community against ours, and enjoy high-level networking with other attendees. Expected attendance is 50+.
Join business and community leaders on our Quest trip—Intercity Visit to gather best practices and generate ideas to make the Ocala Metro an even better place to live, work and play. This is an incredible opportunity to make key connections with the area's most influential civic and business leaders. CEP’s Quest trips also provide multiple opportunities for interaction among attendees to build relationships with each other, fostering opportunities and addressing local challenges.
Video report from the 2021 Quest Trip to Asheville:
Roundtables presented by 
The CEP regularly hosts roundtables, lunches, and industry tours for our state and federal delegation. These forums provide our partners and the business community an opportunity to discuss important issues and concerns directly with our elected officials.
Marion County Delegation Hearings & Luncheon presented by 
Annually, the Marion County state delegation hosts a public hearing for local governments, organizations, and businesses to share their legislative agendas for the new session. The CEP participates in this each year, sharing the legislative agenda for the business community. Additionally, the CEP hosts a luncheon for all of the delegation members, their staff, local officials, and Executive Tier partners before the hearings as a way to network and discuss issues.
2024 Legislative Priorities
The CEP annually creates a set of legislative priorities based on the needs of our partners, local governments, and education partners - the 2024 Legislative Priorities.
Local Candidate Forums
The CEP regularly provides forums for candidates for local office to address the business community and to share their platforms.
Citzens Encouraging Progress, Inc.
The CEP has a separate political committee which exclusively supports issues. Past examples of issues for which CEPI was involved include the Local Option Sales Tax passage in 2016 and 2020 and the 1 Mil for Schools in 2018 and 2022. You can learn more about CEPI at its website - www.MovingOcalaForward.com
In the 2024 legislative session, the Florida legislature passed HB 7073, “Taxation,” including a new provision for a Child Care Tax Credit. Florida’s child care tax credit provides businesses with the potential for significant tax savings while supporting employees' child care needs. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden of childcare through employer-supported care, enabling more parents to participate fully in the workforce. This tax credit offers a huge opportunity to support the workforce of today and tomorrow.
According to the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Untapped Potential in FL research, childcare issues are the #1 reason why parents leave their jobs.
The Florida Department of Revenue began accepting applications on October 1, 2024.
Applications will apply retroactively for childcare expenses incurred by the employer based on their taxable year.
Information on how to apply for the tax credits can be found on the Florida Department of Revenue Child Care Tax Credits Program page and a summary of the program is available on their Tax Informaton Publication (TIP) Sheet
House Bill 7073 – Ways & Means Committee Summary Analysis
To find analysis of the Child Care Tax Credit, see page 23.
The Full Bill can be found at this link: HB 7073: Taxation
Refer to pages 60-61, 86-87, 98-100, 111-120, and 126-130 for statutory revisions allowing for the creation and implementation of the tax credit, as well as its parameters.
Additional Resouces related to family-friendly workplaces and preparing our children for the future:
The Children’s Movement of Florida
Guide to Family-Friendly Workplaces in Florida (including the Bosses for Babies program)
Florida Chamber Foundation
The CEP shares information on important local issues through A Closer Look, a video series which outlines the business community position.
Half Penny Sales Tax for Schools
Infrastructure Sales Tax
CEP's Equine Initiative Presented by Pyranha
Talent Developent
Housing
Renewal of the 1 Mil
Turnpike Extension
Growth and Preservation