EATONVILLE, Fla. — Cloud-based storage company Host Dime broke ground on its $20 million headquarters in Eatonville’s Hungerford property Wednesday.
The company chose the 5-acre plot of land over a site in Altamonte Springs because it appreciates Eatonville, where it's operated for eight years, CEO Manny Vivar said.
“We want to have a big impact on the community, and we think Eatonville lined up more with the vision of our company has, and we hope to foster the future of this town and its development here,” he said.
Host Dime is the first company to break ground on the 100-acre development.
"To me this is the greatest town in the history of the United States," said resident Ella Dinkins.
Dinkins is 98 years old. She remembers Eatonville before I-4 was built through it. Her father built the first elementary school in what became the country's first black-incorporated town.
Dinkins received a standing ovation at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The multimillion-dollar company plans to build a $20 million, seven-story headquarters on Wymore Road.
Proposals have come and gone, but Vivar's company is the first to get this far.
"Hopefully that we become the anchor to the rest of the development so other people can join us in this exciting project and this whole development," said Vivar.
The town council is considering two other proposals to develop the remaining land. The Hungerford property has historically been used for schools, and thousands of people visit it each year for the Zora Neal Hurston Festival.
Mayor Eddie Cole said he wants to preserve the legacy of the town while building on it.
"We are finally coming to a point where people understand, this city is here and we're here to stay. Not that somebody is trying to push us out," Cole said.
Cox Media Group
