The Florida Credit Union (FCU) broke ground on what is to be a 90,000-square-foot corporate headquarters on Thursday. Employees gathered on waterlogged sand to celebrate the new development coming in the organization’s 70^th year. 

“This is a momentous occasion for us as we embark on a journey that will shape the future of our organization for years to come,” Mark Starr, FCU president and CEO, said in a speech at the groundbreaking. 

The building will go on a 28-acre lot FCU bought. Only 12 of those acres are fit for development, with the rest being wetlands. Starr said those 12 acres are enough that the credit union may add a second building to the lot someday. 

For now, the one building, located at the northwest corner of Williston Road and Fred Bear Road, will be completed in 18 months to become a headquarters for employees who Starr said the company currently has no physical place for. Starr said the building will give FCU the room it needs to grow. 

“We’re not just building a headquarters, we’re creating a space that will inspire our team and elevate the member experience,” Starr said. 

Ian Fletcher, the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce’s chief operating officer, said he is grateful for FCU’s involvement with the community and chamber. He said he has seen FCU support education “like no other,” through the Education Foundation, O2B a Kid Again and covering the cost for fifth graders to attend football games. 

“I’m grateful for this organization, for what they mean to this community and what they’ve meant to the chamber,” Fletcher said in a speech. 

On a more personal level, Fletcher said he is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., which banks at FCU, and FCU is where Fletcher’s daughter opened her first checking account. 

FCU was founded in 1954 as the Alachua County Teachers’ Credit Union, owned and operated by teachers working in the Alachua County school system. In 1955, FCU began adding more area school systems and educational groups, eventually extending membership beyond just teachers. 

Now celebrating 70 years, FCU is one of the largest credit unions in the United States, serving 48 counties and is still expanding. 

In the last 27 years, FCU has grown from $70 million to $2.1 billion in assets, according to Starr. 

“It seems like as the banks consolidate, people still want personal service,” Starr said in an interview. “And we’re here to provide that, and it’s really been a good thing, for the credit union and then people who are members.” 

Editor’s note: This story was updated with the location of the new building.