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Ease of movement across land, on sea and in the air is a major reason why the Northeast Florida region has attracted more than 181 business relocations and expansions and 21,000 jobs in the last five years.
Precious few cities can boast the kind of easy accessibility that Jacksonville in Duval County offers. Multimodal transportation options here include 16 major highways, three interstates, two ports and five airports. I-95, I-295 and I-10 alone are the primary conduits for cargo moving into the hands of 50 million consumers in the southeastern United States, all of whom live within less than 600 miles of Jacksonville.
The Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) and Port Fernandina in Nassau County offer ready access to Europe, the Caribbean and Central and South America. A 158-acre container terminal now under construction at Dames Point in JAXPORT will soon open up the lucrative Asian market, too. Solid transportation options in this region also include access to rail owned by CSX, Norfolk Southern and the Florida East Coast Railway.
Proximity to CSX, the largest railroad east of the Mississippi, helped Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville earn its designation as a manufacturing “megasite” by site consultants McCallum Sweeney. This designation is both the seal of approval many large manufacturers look for when making decisions about expanding or relocating their plants and confirmation of Cecil Commerce Center’s standing as a major league industrial park player.
Aviation Hub
Cecil Field is integral to Cecil Commerce Center’s success. One hub of a five-airport system administered by the Jacksonville Airport Authority, Cecil Field has four runways, one of which, at 12,500 feet, is the third longest runway in the state. In addition to serving as focal point for the commerce center, Cecil Field is rapidly emerging as an important base of operations for corporate aircraft, general aviation, air cargo and the fast-growing commercial aviation industry, where the demand for aviation technicians, managers, administrators and pilots has jumped by 14% in 10 years (1998—2008). In response, Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) has opened the Aviation Center of Excellence at Cecil Field offering programs in aviation maintenance and management, avionics installation and pilot training. FCCJ is one of only 65 colleges in the nation offering Federal Aviation Administration certification in airframe and powerplant mechanics.
 The 17th hole of Sawgrass TPC Stadium Course is one of the most challenging of THE PLAYERS Championship held in Ponte Vedra Beach in May. [Photo: St. Augustine, Ponte Bedra & The Beaches VCB] |
In addition to a frenzy of relocation/expansion activity, northeast Florida has a more relaxed side, too. This seven-county area offers endless miles of Atlantic shoreline, salt air breezes, sand dunes, meandering rivers and pristine forests. Nassau County, the most northern tip of the state, boasts a 50-block Victorian-era National Historic District in Fernandina Beach and with its 150-year-old lighthouse rivals the charm of Nantucket.
St. Johns County, just south of Jacksonville, is home to St. Augustine, America’s oldest European settlement.
Jacksonville/ Dubal County
Many Sectors Thrive
With a metropolitan area encompassing more than 840 square miles, Jacksonville in Duval County is both the largest city in the contiguous United States and the heartbeat of northeast Florida. The area continues to attract interest in all sectors — from finance to manufacturing to distribution. And with the third lowest tax burden of any major city in the nation, it’s not surprising that Expansion Management magazine continues to annually rate Jacksonville as one of “America’s Top 10 Hottest Cities.”
Soaring to new heightsThe Boeing Company will need to add upwards of 150,000 square feet at its Cecil Field Aerospace Support Center now that it’s partnering with two other companies on the final assembly of a new cargo aircraft that will be used by both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. Joining forces with Boeing on the C-27J project are Italian-owned aeronautics company Alenia North America and L-3 Integrated Systems “Cecil Field has everything required in terms of infrastructure — excellent road, rail, port and airport networks and facilities,” says Rick Sanford, Boeing’s director of communications. “We could not have chosen a better place.”
Clay County
Expansion Means Jobs
Enhanced Recovery Corporation (ERC) maintains its corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, but when the time came for expansion, the collections agency looked to nearby Clay County as the site for its new financial service center. The $6.3-million facility will be built in Orange Park, and the 272 new jobs it represents to the local economy have helped make ERC eligible to receive a Qualified Target Industry (QTI) incentive.
Baker County
Taxes Reduced
Located 35 miles west of Jacksonville, Baker County is experiencing a boom in commercial growth thanks to the availability of land and a tax-friendly atmosphere. In early summer 2007, county commissioners took the first step toward approving use changes on three large parcels of land that will become privately owned industrial parks. Manufacturers that set up shop in the industrial parks can tap into the county’s generous tax incentives, which include a 75% reduction on the county portion of ad valorem taxes in the first five years of business and a 50% reduction on taxes in years six through 10.
Building on successDallas-based development company Jackson-Shaw had been in northeast Florida for just one year with its business park, Jacksonville International Tradeport, before making the decision to open an even larger commercial park in neighboring Baker County. Together with regional development partner Thomas F. Jones, Jackson-Shaw identified 1,225 acres located on I-10 between I-75 and I-95 for its new 6-million-square-foot commercial investment. Baker County offers easy access to Jacksonville, says Jones, and it has the added benefit of expeditious permitting requirements, which, he estimates, will shave as much as two years off the development of the property. “The process is working very smoothly to this point,” says Jones, adding that his development team is “very bullish” about building in Baker County. “We think this is a situation of right time, right product, right place.”
Northeast — New to the Area
Expanding companies find the right sites for new headquarters facilities.
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Nassau County
Growth Continues
Residential and retail markets continue to be the driving force behind growth in Nassau County. A 1,641-acre, mixed-use community called Three Rivers is being planned just west of I-95 off of A1A; construction is expected to begin in early 2008. When complete, the community will include 3,200 units ranging from town homes to marsh-front estates. Also planned for the A1A corridor between Amelia Island and I-95 are several new shopping centers and upscale housing alternatives.
Putnam County
Gaining Jobs
Putnam County continues to steadily increase the number of jobs in the area by attracting new businesses such as 1st Coast Recycling, PRC (call center) and MTX Boats. A new Wal-Mart distribution center currently under construction near Crescent City will open in 2008. Historic Palatka is developing the Main Street area of this charming brick city beside the St. Johns River.
Cost-effective and convenientWhen George Hill began looking to expand his granite and marble fabrication company, he found what he needed in rural Putnam County, where operating costs are some of the most affordable in Florida’s Northeast region. Marble Today broke ground on a new $6-million factory in 2007. Company owner Hill expects to have a staff of 20 at the new facility that will help him transition his sales from the residential market only to include commercial clients. “Even if it hadn’t been so cost-effective, I would have still moved,” says Hill, noting that Putnam County is convenient to not only northeast Florida but to the North Central region as well. “You’re only a half hour away from wherever you want to be.”
| Northeast Florida: Income by County | |||
| COUNTY | PER CAPITA INCOME | MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME | AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME |
| Baker | $16,087 | $44,914 | $50,640 |
| Clay | $21,988 | $56,238 | $64,753 |
| Duval | $23,258 | $46,021 | $58,123 |
| Flagler | $22,674 | $45,175 | $56,338 |
| Nassau | $24,224 | $52,785 | $66,651 |
| Putnam | $16,659 | $31,700 | $43,586 |
| St. Johns | $30,239 | $58,164 | $78,898 |
Source: Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership |
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St. Augustine/ St. John's County
Boosting Access
St. Augustine/St. Johns County Municipal Airport is now served by Skybus, the airline company that keeps its overhead costs low by automating most services, including reservations and check-in. All flights originate or land in Columbus, Ohio. With its arrival in St. Augustine, local officials say Skybus not only broadens the airline options available to Northeast Florida residents, it promises to increase the number of tourists coming from Ohio to Florida.
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Northeast Florida is: 55th largest metropolitan area in the United States 1.4 million: Northeast region’s total population |
Palm Coast/ Flagler County
Growing Fast
Latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau once again put Flagler County at the top of the chart in population growth nationwide. From 2000 to 2006, Flagler’s population jumped by more than 66.7%. Much of the growth — both in terms of population and business development — centers on the seaside city of Palm Coast.
Relocation coupIn spring 2007, Systems Engineering and Integration Defense Contracting (SEIDCON) announced plans to relocate its headquarters from southern California to Palm Coast. The company, which provides information assurance and security engineering for IT systems, has set the goal of hiring at least 100 people for its new corporate offices. A defense contractor, SEIDCON met the criteria for Florida’s Qualified Target Industry incentive, in part by agreeing to pay its employees an average wage that is 200% higher than the county average. Patti Immel, majority owner of SEIDCON, estimates that the QTI tax incentives, along with a reduction in county ad valorem taxes for its new corporate building, total $100,000. “The savings allows us to give Flagler County employees more benefits,” she says. “It’s a win-win situation for us.” Palm Coast edged out cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Tucson and Las Vegas as the SEIDCON headquarters site.
Tapping into workforce talentThe phrase “let me pick your brain” has a whole new meaning for companies operating in Palm Coast. More than a scenic seaside location, Palm Coast offers a ready pool of workforce talent, too. Employers here have access to a local “brain bank” from which they can select college-trained job candidates to fill their job ranks. The Enterprise Flagler Alumni Labor Bank contains the names of five years’ worth of graduates from five area colleges — Daytona Beach Community College, the University of Central Florida, Stetson University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Bethune-Cookman University — all of whom have expressed their willingness to return to Palm Coast for the right job.
Commited to GrowthThe hot topic in Northeast Florida these days is land — what’s available and how might it best be used to broaden the tax base.
- Jacksonville’s commitment to promoting a diverse economy was evidenced in the November 2006 elections when 60% of area voters voted down a proposal to return Cecil Commerce Center, a thriving business park and former naval base, to the U.S. Navy. In the wake of that election, the city of Jacksonville in summer 2007 adopted new building codes aimed at ensuring continued industrial growth by making it more difficult to change the zoning from industrial to
residential. - St. Johns County has hired Garnet Consulting Services to conduct a “Workforce Opportunity Sites Study” to identify best available lands for development in the county and determine the types of industry that could be expected to locate at each. The goal is creation of a guide for mapping future land use.
Universities/Colleges
• Edward Waters College
• Flagler College
• Jacksonville University
• Jones College
• University of North Florida
Community Colleges
• Florida Community College at Jacksonville
• St. Johns River Community College
Airports
• Jacksonville International
• St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport
Seaports
• Port of Fernandina
• Port of Jacksonville