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North Central: Timing is Key
Growing companies see new opportunities in just right North Central locations.
DIXIE, Taylor & LAFAYETTE Counties
Future Looking Bright: Officials in Dixie are pleased with progression of a Department of Corrections Work Camp project. The facility is expected to bring an additional 100 jobs to the area.
Positive Activity: Independent power producer Cogentrix Energy LLC has responded to an RFP issued by Progress Energy Florida that could result in construction of a $200-million, 300-megawatt natural gas power plant in Taylor County. Cogentrix officials expect to learn in mid-October 2008 if they are on the short list for the project.
Perry-based ammunition manufacturer Martin Electronics Inc. (MEI) has been purchased by Chemring Group TLC, a British supplier of military products. CEO Rick Gardner sees the purchase as a positive step. “We currently employ about 250 people, and we expect those numbers to maintain or grow over the next several years.”
Job Growth: A+ Trailers, builder of custom utility trailers for corporate and personal use, has moved into the Industrial Park of Mayo, bringing 15 new manufacturing jobs to Lafayette County.
Columbia County
“We feel like we got here at the right time. People are beginning to see the logistical benefits of this area for getting products throughout the Southeast.”
Mark Doughty, Operations Manager |
New Arrivals Mean Jobs: It’s always exciting when a community can announce projects that will bring future jobs. It’s even more gratifying when the community sees its own residents immediately fill those positions as arriving companies build and open their new facilities.
That’s exactly what has happened in Columbia County, where two new distribution centers are now open, with workforces trained and ready to chill and distribute products throughout the Southeast. United States Cold Storage (USCS) began shipping in March 2008 from its new 450,000-square-foot distribution center at Lake City. Retail giant Target also began shipping from Lake City in August 2008; its new 465,000-square-foot cold food storage distribution center supports Target SuperCenters in Florida and Georgia.
 U.S. Cold Storage found the right site in Florida for a new distribution center, says Operations Manager Mark Doughty. [Photo: Jeffrey Camp] |
“We were fortunate to have these projects in the pipeline as the construction industry had a downturn,” says Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jim Poole. Community leaders were delighted to see both companies utilize local subcontractors during a slow economic time.
“We moved to Columbia County four years ago and find it to be a very business-friendly, pro-active community,” says Greg Ridilla, president of Hunter Panels, a manufacturer of energy-efficient roof insulation panels. He was glad to see Target locate its first cold storage distribution center nearby. “We ship our product all over the country,” he adds. “It really was nice to be in a location bringing a major customer like the Target Distribution Center ... we shipped product just down the road.”
