Northeast - Connecting to the World

Christine Jordan Sexton | 9/21/2010

Jacksonville ranks No. 1 on Parenting magazine's "Best Cities for Recreation" list based on its parks, sports facilities, hiking trails and variety of outdoor activities. Events like the annual Gate River Run — the nation's largest 15K race — add to Jacksonville's appeal. [Photo: Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau]

Eye on the globe

Northeast Florida has become an international business hub, says Jerry Mallot, president of Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership, which serves as the region-wide economic development arm for the seven Northeast counties. Thanks to Florida's location at the center of the Western Hemisphere, trade with countries in the Caribbean and in Central and South America has become practically seamless. In recent months, Cornerstone inked a deal to promote business opportunities with Ireland and is currently working with the group Atlantic Way Region. The goal, says Mallot, is to promote international business between Ireland and Northeast Florida.

In addition to Saft America, other companies with foreign investment interests that are thriving in Northeast Florida include:

• Mercedes Benz USA, which has opened a 400,000-square-foot parts distribution center at Jacksonville International Tradeport. The venture represents a $26-million capital investment for Mercedes Benz.
• Hanjin Shipping Company of Seoul, Korea, which is building a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal at the Port of Jacksonville. Hanjin joins?Tokyo-based Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), which?opened its TraPac Container facility at JAXPORT in 2009.

Affordability

Florida's Northeast region remains one of the state's most affordable places to live. According to research data compiled by the National Association of Realtors for the first quarter of 2010, the median sale price for existing single-family homes in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area was $144,900. The median sale price during the same period for condominiums and cooperatives was $79,700.

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA), one of the nation's largest municipal utilities and the largest community-owned utility in Florida, is this region's primary provider of electricity, water and wastewater service. Serving most of Duval County as well as portions of Nassau, St. Johns and Clay counties, JEA boasts some of the lowest rates in Florida.

Growing Healthcare Sector

International dollars funnel into the growing healthcare sector in Northeast Florida.

Mayo Clinic Hospital offers care in 35 specialties. [Photo: Kelly LaDuke]

World-renowned Mayo Clinic Jacksonville has so many international patients that it has established an office dedicated to meeting their special needs. Nine full-time staff members assist patients and families by scheduling appointments; translating medical documents; and providing concierge services for travel arrangements to and from Jacksonville and around the metropolitan area once they arrive.

Mayo Clinic International Administrator Nancy Skaran says patients from around the world actively seek out the 214-bed facility because of Mayo's global reputation as a state-of-the-art healthcare clinic and treatment center. For the families and friends who accompany the patients, the city of Jacksonville and its surrounding area offer a respite.

"I think Jacksonville has a lot to offer and it has improved over the years," Skaran says.

Tags: Northeast, Business Florida