Tradition Meets Innovation: Newberry’s business environment evolves and diversifies
The City of Newberry enjoys a small-town feel combined with an aggressive, yet calculated approach to encourage commercial and industrial growth. The quaint town on the western side of Alachua County is what Mayor Jordan Marlowe describes as “progressively conservative.” Newberry has a deep history in agriculture and phosphate mining, and the community shares a strong sentiment that its history should be preserved. However, the people of Newberry also embrace innovation and welcome positive growth to an extent that is unusual for such a tight-knit rural community.
“It’s a surprisingly dynamic little town. It has a conservative political mindset, but within that framework, a very progressive attitude toward innovation and doing things right,” said Bryan Thomas, the director of planning and economic development for the City of Newberry.
Traditional industry turns to innovation
The idea for Newberry’s latest development, the Agri-Tech Research Park, is the product of this progressively conservative mindset. The Agri-Tech Research Park will serve as a hub for innovation in the agricultural sciences, where private sector businesses will develop new technologies that improve productivity and efficiency in agriculture. The Park will become the primary economic driver for Newberry and establish the town as an epicenter for invention and advancement in agriculture.
The impacts of the Agri-Tech Research Park will reach far beyond Newberry. The technologies developed there will increase farms’ production while using less land, automate farm labor so fewer workers are needed, improve water quality, reduce water waste and create numerous other technologies and benefits that will spread around the world. Most portions of the park are currently still in the concept phase. So far, there is only one confirmed tenant, who is slated to move in by September 2021 –– the Alachua County Extension Office for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. IFAS is an extension of UF, which is the No. 2 agricultural university in the nation.
IFAS serves every county in Florida and is renowned in the agricultural community for its research and community outreach. Agricultural agents, who are also UF faculty members, build supportive relationships with farmers and help them improve productivity. IFAS educates and serves the public through Master Gardener programs, educational programs, community partnerships and numerous events and initiatives. The Agri-Tech Research Park brings numerous benefits for IFAS, the people it serves and other potential tenants. IFAS’ new 13,000-square-foot auditorium will seat between 300 and 400 people, and it can be divided into smaller sections for group sessions, expanding educational opportunities.
The facility will include a new teaching kitchen for nutrition and educational programs and a larger teaching garden for Master Gardeners. Now, IFAS will be able to expand its programming and add a new extension agent within the next couple of years –– which Alachua County IFAS Extension Director and Livestock Agent Dr. Cynthia “Cindy” Sanders said will be much needed, considering the rising trend to eat locally sourced foods. Sanders believes that businesses will be drawn to the park following IFAS’ move because of the support, innovation and connections IFAS provides.
“I think that us being there will be a good marketing tool for the City of Newberry with those companies that are interested in other ag innovations,” Sanders said. The City of Newberry has played a crucial role in making the Agri-Tech Research Park possible, extending wastewater infrastructure and water supply to support the site, purchasing five acres of the site for the IFAS Extension facility, and seeking grant funding to help develop the park itself. “I want to thank the City of Newberry as well as the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners. The City of Newberry was instrumental,” Sanders said. “It’s a good partnership, and we appreciate that, and we’re excited.”
Equestrian center makes upgrades The Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, formerly known as Canterbury Equestrian Center, is right next door to the Agri-Tech Research Park. It has long been a major destination in Florida’s equestrian community and one of the top attractions Newberry is known for. Through a partnership with Alachua County and the City of Newberry, the equestrian center is undergoing major renovations and additions. The facility includes a large covered arena seating up to 800 people, an air-conditioned clubhouse and horse stalls.
“The county did a fabulous job on the renovations of what was already there and the additions that they’re making, and their landscaping is looking really great,” Thomas said. “They’re just doing a first-rate job on bringing back what was the Canterbury Equestrian Center.”
IFAS hosted its first Youth Fair and Livestock Show at the new facility in March 2021, which was “wonderful,” Sanders said, as the event had outgrown its former home at the old Alachua County Fairgrounds. The Canterbury facility will also host rodeo events, small concerts and various equestrian competitions.
Potential in tourism
An exciting new concert venue is coming to Newberry, which will make the most of Newberry’s old phosphate mining pits. It is expected to open in September 2021 and host a major debut concert event. The venue will occupy roughly 200 acres, which includes a 7-acre old mining pit toward the center, where the stage and seating will be. The pit has natural walls on either side, on which beautiful oaks have grown over the years, and descends about 35 to 40 feet at the base.
The pit has been backfilled and graded to make a natural amphitheater. The stage will be located beside a pond with fountains, and there will be vendor booths built into the sides of the walls and multi-level seating that will likely accommodate up to 30,000 people. Gainesville native band, Sister Hazel, performed for a small drive-in concert in September 2020, which “was a huge success,” Thomas said. The venue lends itself to hosting major country music acts.
“It is absolutely gorgeous,” said Marlowe, the mayor. “You’ll be able to go to this venue 20 different times and get a different experience every single time.”
While the Agri-Tech Research Park will likely be Newberry’s primary economic driver, the concert venue’s visitation will be a significant contributor to Newberry’s economy. A separate project in the works will convert another old phosphate mining area into a zip line facility that will take guests soaring over the lakes and dugout areas of the old mine.
Working to promote new business
Newberry’s great schools are contributing to residential growth in Newberry, which in turn spurs commercial growth. A new tiny home development is expected in Newberry, as well as a 900-unit 55-and-older community. To further promote growth, the City of Newberry offers two substantial incentives that make it easier for businesses to start there. For businesses in certain targeted industries, including agriculture technology, the City can offer a rebate on a businesses’ ad valorem taxes. The City evaluates the business for certain criteria, including the number of full-time jobs that will be created, how much capital investment will be made to build a facility and if the business will place an emphasis on hiring local workers.
In meeting this criterion, the City can grant the new business up to a 100% rebate on ad valorem taxes for up to 10 years. Another incentive benefits non-targeted commercial industries. If a retail or general commercial business wants to build a new location in Newberry or expand an existing location, and that business increases the number of employees or makes an investment because of that construction, the city can issue refunds for fees associated with construction.
“The amount of fees that we can give back based on this program is not really a huge amount, but we think it sends a message to businesses that Newberry really does want you here, and we’re willing to give you something back to prove it, to demonstrate that commitment to commercial development,” Thomas said.
No matter how niche, unusual, big or small a business is, Newberry is more than willing to accommodate virtually anyone who wants to plant roots. The City of Newberry strives to uphold its small-town values while creating a regulatory environment that promotes business growth and placing an emphasis on customer service.
“Regardless of whether you’re one of our bigger developers or you’re just a homeowner that wants to do an addition to the back of your house or put in a pool or something, we try to maintain that small-town, hometown interaction with everybody,” Thomas said.