ALACHUA F L O R I D A SMALL-TOWN ROOTS WITH BIG-TECH VISION WWW.CITYOFALACHUA.COM
SMALL-TOWN R BIG-TECH VISIO ALACHUA, FL AT A GLANCE CITY OF ALACHUA, FL WHAT: A progressive small city balancing tech innovation with historic Main Street revitalization and sustainable infrastructure investments WHERE: Alachua County, Florida WEBSITE: www.cityofalachua.com 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
ROOTS WITH ONA THRIVING COMMUNITY BLENDING HISTORIC CHARM AND CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION TO CREATE A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. Alachua, Florida embodies a rare duality. “Our history is a small town, but we match that with technological innovation and forward thinking,” says Interim City Manager Rodolfo Valladares. This forward-thinking spirit fuels Alachua’s economic vitality, where cutting-edge projects like the solar-powered San Felasco Tech City, home to 65+ tech companies, coexist with a bustling Main Street. With “several subdivisions under development” and infrastructure like debt-free electric substations, Alachua meets growth demands while preserving community. For families and businesses alike, Alachua proves tradition and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive. 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
COMMUNITY LIFE & MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION Alachua’s quality of life shines through its recreational gems and vibrant Main Street. The crown jewel is Legacy Park, a 105-acre facility opened in 2017. “It’s a top-notch facility and one of the largest in the County,” says Valladares. Its 40,000-square-foot gymnasium, amphitheater, and multipurpose fields serve as a hub for residents. This complements the longstanding Hal Brady Recreation Complex, forming what Valladares describes as “the original home of Alachua’s recreation program.” The city’s beating heart remains its historic Main Street. “The primary focus of our Community Redevelopment Agency is creating a vibrant downtown district,” explains Valladares. “Their projects range from beautification to helping prevent and remediate blighted areas within the corridor.” The Main Street’s unique winding layout, free from highway traffic, allows for easy closures for events. “It’s unique because it’s no longer a major thoroughfare,” Valladares explains, “It is conducive to hosting special events because it doesn’t cause a large burden on traffic.” The city frequently uses this unique ability to close streets for beloved community events. “We have an annual harvest festival, a tree lighting, and a Christmas parade that the community looks forward to,” Valladares notes, highlighting how these gatherings strengthen Alachua’s small-town character. Initiatives like facade renovation grants help local businesses thrive, preserving what Valladares calls “an historic and diverse main street” of mom-andpop shops, consignment stores, and tech-forward spaces like Michele Lee’s Good Life Station, a smart city café.“It is evolving,”Valladares adds.“Businesses are starting to find a good balance in what they offer to the community.” ECONOMIC BOOM: OPEN FOR BUSINESS Alachua’s economic landscape thrives on diversity and entrepreneurial energy. “The City is absolutely open for business,” says Economic Development 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 ALACHUA, FL
Manager David Wisener, “we’re blessed to be in a pretty good overall situation community-wide.” “I would say the most booming aspect of our local economy at the moment, we have a distribution center network where we have several local distribution centers ranging from Walmart to Sysco to Dollar General,” Wisener explains. He highlights Tower Hill Insurance’s upcoming headquarters as another key driver, noting it will bring “another three to four hundred jobs for our community.” The bio-life science sector, supported by UF Innovate, stands out as “one of the largest per capita in the state,” with Wisener noting its 30-year history of spinning off successful businesses. Entrepreneurs fuel this momentum.“We’re thankful for a lot of entrepreneurs that have already invested and continue to invest in our community,” says Wisener. “Mitch and Michele are two of those that have been incredible help to our community just with their entrepreneurial spirit and the developments that they’re a part of.” This synergy between established industries and innovators positions Alachua as a powerful hub.“It’s a very diverse economy that on the whole is thriving,” concludes Wisener. SAN FELASCO TECH CITY: A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH San Felasco Tech City represents Alachua’s bold vision for sustainable development. “It’s an 82-acre campus that is fully sustainable on solar. It’s the only campus like that in the world which is providing for commercial space, housing, and other ancillary services,” says Mitch Glaeser, CEO of Emory Group Companies. The mixed-use development combines commercial space with residential units and unique amenities including a brewery, preschool, and soon-to-open CrossFit gym. With 65 companies already calling it home and plans for an additional 270,000 square feet of tech space, the project demonstrates remarkable momentum. The development prioritizes eco-friendly living with 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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STANDING THE TEST OF TIME: TOWER HILL INSURANCE CELEBRATING 50+ YEARS & BEGINNING THE NEXT CHAPTER For more than half a century, Tower Hill Insurance has served as a trusted name in property insurance, safeguarding homes and businesses across Florida and beyond. Founded in 1972 in South Florida, today the company is one of the most respected regional residential and commercial property insurers.Tower Hill is known not just for longevity in the Florida marketplace, but for leadership, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to its customers and agencies. By its very nature, insurance is a business of risk. Of course, there are many strategies for managing risk and growing a company. For more than 50 years, Tower Hill has taken the view that marketplace challenges are — in reality — marketplace opportunities. From weathering Hurricane Andrew in 1992 to expanding its footprint across 10 states within the last decade,Tower Hill’s story is consistently one of evolution and purpose.With headquarters in Gainesville and over 550 employees, the company has steadily grown while staying grounded in its core values: service excellence, integrity, and trust. “Our purpose is simple but powerful, to deliver peace of mind,” says CEO Kirk La.“We’re here to protect what matters most to our customers, and to be there when they need us most.” That promise is lived out every day through Tower Hill’s wide range of personal and commercial products, from homeowners and flood coverage to policies for retail centers, assisted living facilities, and homeowners associations. Products are offered exclusively through a broad network of insurance agents, viewed as valued partners in delivering excellent service to Tower Hill customers. In 2026, Tower Hill will mark another milestone and begin a new chapter: the relocation of its corporate headquarters to a new facility in Alachua, Florida. The location of Tower Hill’s new home reflects the company’s deep Florida roots and long-term commitment to the state. What sets Tower Hill apart isn’t just its history or even its financial strength — it’s the trust built over decades with customers and partners alike. Through cutting-edge technology, a robust reinsurance program, and a focus on fair and timely claims handling, Tower Hill continues to evolve while always staying true to its mission: To Protect Your Castle, Look to the Tower.
walkable design and bicycles included with every rental home. “It really looks at taking a community and immersing itself in nature. It’s a fascinating proof-of-concept community,” Glaeser says. Its adjacency to 7,000 acres of nature trails with 30 miles of bike paths enhances its appeal. “We take advantage of a lot of the natural elements, including wetlands and also parks,” he adds. Strategically located just nine miles from the University of Florida, the tech hub taps into what Glaeser calls “some of the brightest people in the world.”This talent pipeline, combined with the city’s infrastructure and quality of life, creates what he describes as “a very warm and inviting community” for global companies. The project’s success validates Alachua’s progressive approach. “It was a bit of a risk but has certainly proven to be an asset to the community,” Glaeser notes, highlighting how the city’s support for innovative development has paid dividends in economic growth and community building. ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS Alachua is proactively responding to Florida’s housing shortage with strategic developments. “At the various stages of application and development review, there are a total of more than 2,000 units in process,” reveals Valladares. This surge follows a decade of commercial growth that outpaced residential construction, creating what Valladares calls “one of the larger challenges for our community.” 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 ALACHUA, FL
demonstrate the city’s approach of sustainable, integrated communities that complement existing infrastructure. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THE BACKBONE OF GROWTH Alachua’s infrastructure investments provide the foundation for its growth. “We wouldn’t have the positive growth we’ve undergone if decades of local leadership hadn’t prioritized infrastructure,” notes Valladares. “The city has invested millions of dollars in The challenge lies in balancing expansion with community character. “Some people want it to remain the same small town they remember from childhood,” Valladares acknowledges. “Our challenge,” he adds, “is maintaining our community’s character and historic appeal while balancing the reality that Florida’s population has been growing at a fast rate for several years, and we want to provide our residents with a high quality of life that includes affordable housing.” Developments like those in San Felasco Tech City 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
infrastructure,” he says, highlighting projects like the new wellfield that addressed water resiliency after Hurricane Irma. The city’s dual electric substations, including a $5.5 million facility energized debt-free in 2020, now deliver “the lowest residential power rates in the state.” With wastewater treatment operating at just 55% capacity and proactive expansion plans underway, Alachua ensures it can support development without strain.“ For a city our size, we’re likely more equipped for smart growth than any city in the state Valladares states. By prioritizing infrastructure before demand peaks, Alachua avoids the growth pitfalls of overpromising, instead delivering reliable services that attract businesses and residents alike. VOICES OF ALACHUA: MICHELLE LEE’S STORY Michele Lee’s journey epitomizes Alachua’s appeal to modern entrepreneurs.“I came from Miami looking for some serenity and a lifestyle that was a little more gentle,” she explains. “At the same time, I couldn’t give up the tech contacts and vendors that I needed because we are an international company.” Drawn by San Felasco Tech City’s innovation ecosystem, she established her automation company, Optimal Station, while launching Good Life Station on Main Street, a hub showcasing local history while hosting tech workshops. Her Entrepreneur Thrive Success Series, offered with the Chamber, provides practical training for local businesses on keeping up with technology from social media to AI. “Those small businesses and boutiques that don’t necessarily have marketing departments, also have access to the resources and information,” Lee explains. For Lee, this hands-on support fulfills a deeper mission. “I fell in love very quickly with the 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 ALACHUA, FL
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Tower Hill Insurance www.thig.com Founded in 1972, Tower Hill Insurance is a regional leader among residential and commercial property insurers. Financial strength, product expertise, a comprehensive reinsurance program, and exceptional claims service are core business strategies. Headquartered in Florida with more than 550 employees, products are distributed through a network of insurance agencies. n Alachua Chamber of Commerce www.alachuachamber.com community and got heavily involved into some of the organizations to make some initiatives come to life that were important as a business owner and to just support other business owners,” she explains. The community connection became personal when her children relocated to Tech City. Now meeting them weekly at the farmers market, Lee embodies Alachua’s winning formula, where career opportunities and family life strengthen each other. “I wear a couple of different hats in the community, but all focused on really just the initiatives to work together, and to build a community that we can thrive in,” she reflects, distilling the city’s collaborative spirit. PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE As Alachua looks ahead, Valladares outlines two clear priorities.“”Managing our residential inventory” he says, and revitalizing Main Street. “We always monitor infrastructure, but we’re at a place where we can focus more on molding our community character,” he says, noting plans to rejuvenate Main Street “into a unique destination for residents and visitors.” These goals reflect the city’s balanced approach, meeting growth demands while preserving character, proving strategic vision and community focus can thrive together. As Valladares notes, the challenge lies in doing it “with the big picture in mind and in a sustainable way,” a philosophy that has already made Alachua a blueprint for small-city success. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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