As the region increasingly grows, particularly in the finance industry, employment hubs become more of a focus as a way to integrate functions for efficiencies, better customer service and cost management.

Berkadia officials note the greater population of Gainesville is forecast to grow 4.6% by 2022, reaching almost 300,000 residents, and point out that approximately 35% of metro Gainesville's residents are in the prime renter age group of 18-35 years old.

Our team just returned from ICSC in Las Vegas and by initial numbers, we are being told it was the busiest Las Vegas convention since 2001, which means we are back to pre-recession activity levels.

Xebec's approach in Lakeland is a regional distribution strategy, which complements its focus on intermodal logistics, along with its national plan to grow its Texas asset base for long-distance transport.