Some would say the best of Hamilton County is yet to come. Others say the best has been in place for hundreds of years. The truth is that this combination of natural wonder and forward-looking economic opportunity has this north Florida county ready to make a major impact on the region.
The Right Sites for Development
Hamilton County, in the middle of Florida’s northern border, is strategically located near Interstate 10 and is home to the first three Florida exits on Interstate 75, providing unique access to nationwide shipping options in all directions. The county is also served by Norfolk Southern Railways and is within an hour and a half of major airports in Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Hamilton County is the perfect location for manufacturing, logistics, distribution centers and any business interested in easy access, an eager regional workforce and a community ready for smart growth.
“Hamilton County is ready to do business, and our local government, the county and our economic development agencies are eager to make things happen,” says Hamilton County Development Authority Executive Director Susan Ramsey. “The HCDA is available to help any size company relocate to this area.”
In 2015, the HCDA assisted the launch of a Pilot Travel Center, which now complements the Love’s Travel Stop in offering trucks coming into Florida a great place to stop, rest and refuel. By taking full advantage of available incentives and expedited permitting, jobs were created, and the return on investment to the community is already being realized. This year, the two businesses contributed more than $2 million in economic impact to the county.
Hamilton County is ready for its next success story with available locations in two promising industrial sites. The Genoa Industrial Park is a 45-acre, shovel-ready site with quick access to I-75 and available water and sewer connections. Logistical Park, located right on I-75, is a 75-acre site that is also shovel ready. It offers high water and sewer capacities.
Celebrity Chef Art Smith Comes Home to Jasper
Celebrity chef and sixth-generation Floridian Art Smith is opening a commercial bakery in Jasper that will service his new Disney Springs restaurant, Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine Bar. Smith was born and raised in Jasper, where his family still lives and farms cattle, pecans and heirloom vegetables. Smith has made numerous television appearances and, in addition to being Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef for 10 years, has cooked for various celebrities and heads of state, including the Obama family.
The bakery is just the beginning of Smith’s plan to help renew the Jasper community “one cake at a time.” He anticipates the bakery will supply Homecoming with 10,000 to 15,000 baked goods a week, including the restaurant’s signature Mockingbird Cake and a new Moonshine Cake. Eventually, Smith hopes the bakery will serve some of the 24 other restaurants in the U.S. associated with his name, and plans to add a farmer’s market and restaurant to the commercial bakery location.
Plans for the bakery and restaurant are underway as renovations on the former 55,000-square-foot jai alai building are set to begin soon. The building, located just off I-75 at U.S. 129, was purchased by the HCDA specifically for this project. The building represents a large investment for the board and HCDA’s belief in the impact this project will have.
Jasper is a fitting place for Smith’s endeavors, not only because it is his hometown, but because he’s based his career on serving gourmet versions of the Florida farm-to-fork favorites he made growing up. That, and he believes his hometown is still home to the finest Southern bakers and cooks in the country.
Jasper and the surrounding areas of Hamilton County have an exceptional opportunity to present themselves as a beacon of North Florida, Smith says. “I got a lot of culinary education from growing up here, that’s why I’m passionate about it. I think it’s very important that we preserve the incubators of greatness such as Jasper. It’s my family’s birthplace and home. My success is because of it.”
PotashCorp Supports Agriculture Locally and Globally
PotashCorp-White Springs is a major Hamilton County employer, with a project area of approximately 100,000 acres, an annual payroll of $36.4 million and approximately 500 full-time employees. PotashCorp-White Springs helps fuel Hamilton County’s economy — and the fertilizer and feed supplements they produce help fuel agriculture globally. PotashCorp is the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity, producing potash, nitrogen and phosphate – primary crop nutrients vital to maintaining healthy and productive soils.
Natural Resources
Hamilton County is home to Florida’s original tourist destination, has the state’s only whitewater rapids and is host to the oldest state-sponsored folk festival in the nation at The Stephen Foster State Park. But there is much more for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Premiere Fishing, Hunting and Dining at Bienville Plantation
In southeast Hamilton County, near White Springs, you’ll find Bienville Plantation, one of America’s most renowned hunting and fishing operations. In its early days as a plantation, Bienville offered visitors from northern states an opportunity to retreat and enjoy traditional southern sport. Today, the plantation still operates in a similar fashion, offering a relaxing departure for corporate and private clientele.
Locals and visitors alike can enjoy Bienville’s nearly 11,000 acres, with over a dozen trophy lakes and thousands of acres of water home to Florida largemouth bass, crappie and blue-gill. Guests of all experience levels can enjoy guided or unguided catch-and-release fishing, alligator and quail hunting, skeet shooting, falconry classes, archery and more. Plans for bike trails, horseback riding opportunities, a pool, and a spa are also in the plantation’s future.
Visitors to the plantation enjoy lodging in luxury cabins and fine dining courtesy of Chef Rose Morgan featuring fresh, seasonal seafood, wild game and classic French cuisine.
Whether it’s for a lunch, a day of fishing or a week-long stay, Bienville Plantation offers guests a deluxe experience of North Florida.
A Slice of Pioneer Life at McCulley Farms
Settled in the 1860s by the Wells family, McCulley Farms is a tangible link to Florida's frontier days and is the gateway to some of Hamilton County’s most scenic trails. Canopy lanes and miles of well-maintained, secluded trails wind through the Withlacoochee flood plain down to the pristine Withlacoochee River, passing ancient sinkholes and crystal blue springs along the way. The farm spans more than 5,000 acres of private and state land, including 2,000 acres of yellow pine forest.
McCulley Farms, near Jennings, is famous for its biannual Withlacoochee Trail ride, hosted every spring and fall. Riders from near and far travel to McCulley Farms for a weekend of history, horseback riding and fun. Several other special trail rides are also held throughout the year.
The farm offers traditional camping, cabin lodging and camper or RV parking. Guests can enjoy riding or hiking the trails, canoeing or fishing in the Withlacoochee River and swimming and cave diving at the springs. Guests can visit the pioneer cemetery and Wells family’s original log cabin, which was built on a Native American burial mound. Arrowheads dating back to 10,000 B.C. have been found on the grounds.
With its lush flora, native fauna and living history, McCulley Farms offers a glimpse into the beauty and history of old Florida.
Hamilton County Development Authority: Leading the Way
The Hamilton County Development Authority is the designated economic development office for Hamilton County and was created under a special statue by the Florida Legislature to promote economic growth for the county. It offers unique incentives not available in other areas in the region. Under the leadership of Susan Ramsey and an eight-member board, the HCDA has established an impressive track record of providing valuable assistance to businesses and organizations that contribute to the economic vitality of the region. In addition to the recent investment in the Art Smith bakery project, the HCDA has been involved in several recent successful projects.
- HCDA awarded a grant of $250,000 to Suwannee Valley Nursing Center to assist with costs associated with upgrading the facility to meet current codes and the addition of private suites and rehabilitation facilities. The center currently employs more than 100 staff, and the additions will create new jobs as well as retain current staff.
- HCDA awarded a grant to an assisted living facility in White Springs. The site, a former motel located just outside of Stephen Foster State Park, is currently undergoing renovations and adding updated private suites. When completed later this year, the project will create about 20 jobs, numerous indirect jobs and increase tourism in White Springs and Hamilton County.
- HCDA recently awarded two infrastructure grants to the town of White Springs that matched grants from the Community Development Block Grant Program. One project will upgrade utility infrastructure and one will assist in building a new fire station.
HCDA Executive Director Blazing Trails
Hamilton County Development Authority Executive Director Susan Ramsey is an economic development powerhouse. In addition to her role with the HCDA, Ramsey is chair of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee for North Central Florida Regional Planning Council and serves on the board of North Florida Economic Development Partnership. She is also president of the Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce, marketing director for Hamilton County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation and was recently appointed film liaison for Hamilton County by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
“I love making a difference in our community,” Ramsey says. “Opportunities are more limited in rural counties, so we have to be creative in our approach. Each job that we create is a difference in someone’s life.”
Board Chair R.B. Davis says he is grateful Ramsey has joined the team.
“Our executive director is a rising star in the Florida economic development scene,” Davis says. “Her efforts have brought millions of dollars to Hamilton County, and she is working on projects to increase that number. She is passionate about promoting Hamilton County and works diligently for our board.”
Hamilton County at a Glance
- Attractive labor rates
- Available and affordable land
- Trained, available labor
- Access to a population base of 17 million within 250 miles
- Located near two major research universities (University of Florida and Florida State University)
For more information on what’s happening next in Hamilton County, contact Susan Ramsey at 386.792-6828 or sramsey@hamiltoncda.org. www.hamiltoncda.org