“CEO — the economic development arm of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce — held a kickoff to its new five-year plan called Transforming Greater Gainesville — a Game-Changing Plan at the Gainesville Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.
The goals include recruiting, retaining or expanding 50 companies that create 3,500 new jobs paying a total $218 million — or about $53,000 each — and invest $250 million in capital in their companies.
CEO investors, made up of local businesses, have already committed three-quarters of the $6 million goal, or just over $4.4 million, according to campaign chairman Todd Powell of the Plum Creek Timber Company.”