“Strong today, strong tomorrow, strong together”: Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe gives State of the City address

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

NEWBERRY, Fla. – Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe delivered his annual State of the City Address on February 13 at the Mentholee Norfleet Municipal Building. He was introduced by Frances Bradley of Newberry Main Street Organization.

Bradley said, “As many of you know, Mayor Marlowe aspired for Newberry to be the Christmas Capital of Alachua County. He didn’t just dream it up and hope that it would happen. He put action into his vision. He put hours into installing the decorations, climbing ladders, operating drills, and even a sledgehammer, all while smiling as he watched his vision come to life. His work for our community doesn’t end there. Any time there is a community event, he gathers student volunteers to help with setting up tables and chairs, picking up trash, and doing whatever else he can do.” She said Mayor Marlowe is a not only a teacher but a coach and someone who volunteers for various school groups. 

Marlowe began speaking after a round of applause and some cheering: “Good evening, everybody. I would like to begin by just saying how blown away I am by the turnout, and the turnout of dignitaries. You guys are really humbling me.” Those he recognized included Sheriff Emery Gainey, Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton, County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler, School Board Superintendent Shane Andrew, Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie, and School Board Members Diyonne McGraw, Loretta McNealy, and Tina Certain.

Marlowe highlights new restaurants

Referring to an event that took place earlier in the evening, Marlowe asked the audience, “Did everyone enjoy the Taste of Newberry? How was the Taste of Newberry? I absolutely love the number of the new restaurants that we were able to showcase and sample here tonight.” He mentioned Main Street Sweets, Mitchell’s Meats, Ellianos, and a new international restaurant called Capricious. 

Marlowe said, “We’ve come a long way from when I was a kid. We had three choices. You had Country Kitchen, you had the Ranch Burger, and Hardees… It is truly something to watch our community in this moment where we are thriving. You know, I almost want to say here that I can’t believe that another year has gone by. It feels like we were just here. It’s right on the tip of my tongue, but when I stop and think about all that we have accomplished, all that has happened, all that we have done, what I really should say is that I can’t believe it has only been just one year.”

Marlowe said he had just given an interview to a national magazine publishing a feature article on Newberry as an example of successful, responsible growth. And, he said, he just saw Newberry’s own Champions Park in a Super Bowl commercial. “Talk about thriving,” Marlowe said. “Newberry made it to the Super Bowl!”

One new business for every six new houses

“For every six houses that were built in Newberry in 2023,” Marlowe said, “we welcomed one new business to town. Bev’s is going to open up any day, as soon as I can get my students to apply and staff it, we’re all gonna be eating cheeseburgers!”

Largest Publix in Alachua County to be built in Newberry

Marlowe thanked the Planning and Building Departments for keeping the responsible, balanced growth going: “After years of careful stewardship, it is visibly beginning to pay off in little ways all over town. Little ways, you know. Like the largest Publix in Alachua County breaking ground here in our community.” Marlowe stressed the importance of everyone working together, including the Commission, the management team, City employees, and local organizations like Main Street. He thanked the Planning & Zoning Department for all the work going into the largest development happening in the County (NC Ranch).

“We’re not just leading our peers when it comes to economic development,” Marlowe said, “we’re also leading the pack when it comes to environmental stewardship… We have diversified our energy offerings. We’ve brought enough solar into Newberry to run every public building, from street lights to City Hall, off of renewable solar energy, all while providing the second-lowest electric rate in Alachua County in 2023. Thank you, utility department.”

Natural gas is coming to Newberry

“And now, today, after eight years of work, we are bringing natural gas to Newberry. Folks, this is a game changer. Natural gas is going to drive down our energy costs even further. It’s going to allow us to continue to offer some of the lowest rates in our area. On top of that, natural gas is also a driver for economic growth. Businesses are looking for communities that offer natural gas, and we will be able to fit that need, check that box, and bring some of those businesses and jobs here to our community…

Wastewater treatment partnership announced between Newberry and Archer

“Newberry set out to build an advanced treatment wastewater facility to do our part to protect our environment. Now, to do this, we knew that we were going to have to forge partnerships. And tonight, I am proud to stand here and officially announce that the City of Newberry and the City of Archer have successfully partnered in a regional wastewater facility.” Marlowe said it will reduce costs for the residents of both towns and protect the environment, “all at the same time.”

“‘How are you managing responsible growth?’… We trust each other.”

He added, “It doesn’t surprise me that people from around the state are taking notice of Newberry. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re asking the same questions over and over again. ‘How are you managing responsible growth? How are you protecting your natural resources, building for your future, holding on to your small town character, and keeping your community unified in the effort?’ But my answer to all of those questions keeps coming back to just one word. It’s ‘trust,’ right? We trust each other.” 

Marlowe cited the fire department as an example of how trust allowed everyone to work together over six years to completely rebuild and refurbish it.

He showed a video with Commissioner Tim Marden that featured the new fire truck, jaws of life, and other new rescue equipment.

Marlowe mentioned roads as another area where people trusting each other and working together has produced a good result. He said Newberry is one of only a few small towns in the state to charge impact fees on new construction, and he thanked the Finance Department for helping with that complex process. He also congratulated the department for winning an award for Financial Transparency for the fifth year in a row.

Road improvements paid for by impact fees

Marlowe showed a video with Commissioner Monty Farnsworth discussing roads. Farnsworth said SW 15th Street is being improved with greenscaping, sidewalks, on-street parking, and improved turn lanes into Newberry Elementary School. SW 30th Avenue will be paved, alleviating some Newberry Road traffic and congestion. Farnsworth said, “Both of these projects are made possible in part due to the impact fees on new developments that the Commission enacted last year. We welcome new friends and neighbors but need them to pay their fair share of impacts they are creating.” 

Marlowe said, “Your Commission had to work hard to earn your trust, and we will continue to work hard to make sure that we never take it for granted because your trust in this Commission is the foundation of the success that we are experiencing in this community. And we care deeply about staying a community, holding on to our small town values… and character… My answer is going to begin and probably most likely end with our children. We have to teach our children our values.”

Veterans Memorial Park

Marlowe showed a video with Commissioner Mark Clark, a retired U.S. Marine, discussing the in-progress Veterans Memorial Park at NW 1st Ave and 260th Street, which he conceived in 2023. He encouraged people to become sponsors or to donate what they can.

New multi-purpose fields

Marlowe said everything they do in Newberry is for the future of their children, especially the Parks and Recreation Department. He showed a video with Commissioner Ricky Coleman discussing the addition of some new multi-purpose, lit fields that will allow for sports practice in the fall without the need for parents to shine their headlights onto the fields, as they have been doing. 

Christmas Capital of Alachua County

Marlowe said, “We are on our way (to making Newberry the Christmas Capital of Alachua County).” He showed a video featuring Commissioner Tony Mazon discussing Newberry’s Christmas festivities. Mazon mentioned the tree lighting, downtown decorations, parade, music, and more.

Mazon said, “December in Newberry is a time to create lasting memories, and with each passing year, we only aim to make it better. Join us as we continue to celebrate and spread the joy of the season in our wonderful city.”

Marlowe said, “If that doesn’t make you feel small-town America straight down to your bones, then I’m not sure that anything can… Our community, guys, you shine all year long, but during Christmas, you take my breath away. You are a sight to behold. All of these initiatives are, at their heart, efforts to create moments for us to come together, to celebrate together, to remind us that we are not going through our lives alone but as a community together.”

Newberry Historic Association

Marlowe mentioned the Newberry Historic Association, established during the prior night’s meeting on February 12, and told the audience, “As Hamilton said, ‘Let’s write our story. Let’s plant seeds in a garden that we’ll never get to see, and let that be our legacy.’ We all know that we want part of that legacy to include our history of agriculture. It’s in our blood. Holding onto our agricultural roots is central to holding onto a core part of ourselves.”

AgriFoodTech Research and Innovation Park

Marlowe said with 9 billion people projected to be on the planet by 2050, people are going to be looking to farmers like those in Newberry.

In a video, City Manager Mike New discussed the AgriFoodTech Research and Innovation Park, Newberry’s number one economic development initiative. He said it is still in its infancy, but they have a location with 170 acres, east of downtown. The City is working on extending utilities to the site, he said, and they already have a number of business partners and grants, including UF/IFAS. 

New said, “First, it will create good jobs using advanced technology to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of growing, packaging, and selling food. Second, it will grow and attract companies, resulting in a larger tax base to enhance our services and infrastructure, including police, fire, utilities, development, and recreation. And finally, it will reflect the agricultural roots and heritage of our community.”

“Strong today, strong tomorrow, strong together”

Pointing into the audience, Marlowe said, “With President Dr. Broadie in the house, we hope to very soon add Santa Fe College to that list of partners, to make that vision a reality, sir. This initiative is not just about keeping our community grounded in our heritage and our history, as important as those things are. It is also about Newberry doing what Newberry does best: working together to solve the problems of tomorrow so that our children do not have to. As long as we keep our focus on what is best for our children, as long as we keep working and fighting for what’s best for our children’s future, then the state of our City will be strong today, strong tomorrow, strong together. Thank you all for coming… God bless America, and goodnight.”