Citizens Academy

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The 2024 session has begun!

Participants will learn the answers to all the questions below & more by becoming an engaged Marion County citizen during our annual Citizens Academy!

Why Citizens Academy?

Citizens Academy class photo

Do wastewater treatment plants help water conservation & waste management?
How does the trash in Marion County landfills help produce energy?
What does HazMat equipment look like up close, & how does it protect county workers?
Want to understand the ins & outs of the county budget?

Citizens Academy at a glance...

Our Citizens Academy is a comprehensive course that:

Covers the challenges & issues facing our community
Encourages participation in the government process
Familiarizes participants with the operations & services of Marion County government (not including constitutional officers).

Presenters serve as experts in their fields on behalf of the county commission.

Learn more about the program below!

When does Citizens Academy take place?

Who can participate?

What happens in a session?

Department subject matter experts present, guide tours, & give hands-on experiences of key topics & daily tasks necessary to keep our county running effectively & efficiently.

Here's the 2024 schedule:

Session	Date/Time	Department(s)	Location(s)
1	March 7 8 a.m. -noon	Administration \| Public Relations Procurement Services \| Human Resources	Green Clover Hall 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala
2	March 14 8 a.m. -noon	Animal Services Solid Waste	Animal Center 5701 SE 66th St., Ocala
3	March 21 8 a.m. -noon	Building Safety Growth Services	Growth Services training room 2710 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
4	March 28 8 a.m. -noon	Veterans Services Extension Service	Veterans Resource Center 2730 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Extension Service auditorium 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala
5	April 4 8 a.m. -noon	Parks & Recreation \| Airport X35 Southeastern Livestock Pavilion	Extension Service auditorium 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala
6	April 11 8 a.m. -noon	Office of the County Engineer MSTU/Assessment	Office of the County Engineer 412 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
7	April 18 8 a.m. -noon	Community Services Public Library System	Headquarters-Ocala Public Library 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
8	April 25 8 a.m. -noon	Facilities Management Visitors & Convention Bureau	Green Clover Hall 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala
9	May 2 8 a.m. -noon	911 Management Information Technology Public Safety Communications	Emergency Communications Center 692 NW 30th Ave., Ocala
10	May 9 8 a.m. -noon	Utilities	Green Clover Hall 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala
11	May 16 8 a.m. -noon	Fleet Management Fire Rescue	Fleet Management 3330 Maricamp Road, Ocala
12	June 4 8 a.m. -noon	Recognition & graduation during a county commission meeting	McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala

What's the cost to participate?

How do I find out more?

What's next for grads?

Alumni Academy is an educational program that provides previous Citizens Academy graduates the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Marion County & the services offered to citizens.

This program expands throughout all of Marion County & helps graduates understand what our elected officials do & offer our county.

Alumni Academy participants visit our five constitutional offices & the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership.

Alumni Academy consists of eight sessions that begin March 5, 2024. The program occurs once a week for eight weeks, & graduation occurs a month later at a county commission meeting.

We encourage everyone who has graduated our Citizens Academy to attend Alumni Academy!

Here's the 2024 schedule:

Session	Date/Time	Office	Location
1	March 5 9 a.m. - noon	Florida Department of Health in Marion County	1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala
2	March 12 9 a.m. - noon	Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller	110 NW First Ave., Building 1, Ocala
3	March 19 9 a.m. - noon	Supervisor of Elections	981 NE 16th St., Ocala
4	March 26 9 a.m. - noon	Tax Collector's Office	503 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
5	April 2 9 a.m. - noon	School District Office (to be confirmed)	1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala
6	April 9 9 a.m. - noon	Sheriff's Office	692 NW 30th Ave., Ocala
7	April 16 9 a.m. - noon	Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership	310 SE Third St., Ocala
8	April 23 9 a.m. - noon	Property Appraiser's Office	503 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
9	April 30 9 a.m. - noon	Marion County Supervisor of Elections	981 NE 16th Street, Ocala
10	May 14 (TBD)	Recognition & graduation at a county commission meeting	TBD

Hurricane debris pickups continue throughout our community. Learn more at MarionFL.org/Emergency.

Marion County, FL

Citizens Academy

The 2024 session has begun!

Why Citizens Academy?