March 19, 2024

« RETURN TO THE 2013 ECONOMIC YEARBOOK

Northeast Florida

Lilly Rockwell | 4/8/2013

Putnam County

» County officials were relieved when call center Alorica, which had threatened to leave, landed enough new business to keep 170 jobs. The company still laid off more than 100, says Alex McCoy, chief economic developer for the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. A core road leading to the county's business park is expanding, opening up another 100 acres for development, McCoy says.

» The Jacksonville Foreign Trade Zone now includes Putnam, a development that allows businesses to reduce, defer or eliminate duties on parts they import for manufacturing or distribution.

» Plum Creek is developing an industrial park, and the airport has completed a runway-strengthening project, enabling aircraft up to 80,000 pounds to land and take off from its 6,000-foot runway.

Putnam Population: 74,348
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): -0.07%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
18.68% 6.01% 21.43% 33.94% 19.94%
Per Capita Income: $30,154

 

Baker County

» Two sand mining companies are interested in Baker County. Tampa-based Oldcastle Southern Group and Lake Wales-based E.R. Jahna Industries want to mine up to 370 acres at two sites southeast and northeast of Maclenny, says Baker County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darryl Register. Efforts to seek approval from the county commission were put on hold last year after strong opposition emerged. “Both companies seem to be still interested and working to get their permits and approvals,” Register says. Baker also continues to promote its two privately owned industrial parks.

Baker Population: 27,453
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 0.30%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
21.43% 6.21% 27.02% 33.29% 12.04%
Per Capita Income: $29,032

 

Columbia County

» Plum Creek will break ground this year on a 2,600-acre inland port designed to take advantage of its proximity to JaxPort, two rail lines and Interstate 10 and 75, says Jesse Quillen, executive director of the Columbia County Economic Development Department.

» The county sustained $13 million in damage from Tropical Storm Debby, which dumped a foot of water into an already saturated county.

» Commercial occupancy rates have improved to about 80%, says Scott Stewart, a commercial broker with Rockford Realty Group. “After several years of rent reductions, we are actually getting some rent increases in our renewals as well as more inquiries from new businesses,” Stewart says.

» Three new restaurants are also under construction: Chick-Fil-A, Olive Garden and a Longhorn Steakhouse.

Columbia Population: 69,491
Population Growth Rate (2009-13): 0.76%
Population by Age:
0-14 15-19 20-39 40-64 65+
18.76% 5.87% 24.84% 33.53% 17.00%
Per Capita Income: $29,295

Tags: Northeast, Economic Yearbook

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