- Florida State College at Jacksonville’s (FSCJ) new Aircraft Services Educational Facility at Cecil Field celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on February 1, 2011. The 104,000 sq. ft. facility consists of one hangar bay capable of housing an aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767 and two hangar bays capable of housing a Boeing 757 size aircraft. The $20 million complex is being funded by JAA and FSCJ and will provide approximately 200 new jobs. Flightstar Aircraft Services, a current tenant at Cecil, will operate the facility.
- PLS Logistics Services (PLS), a provider of third-party logistics management services, proposes to create 100 new, full-time jobs in Jacksonville through the creation of their first Super Regional Headquarters. The average wage of the new jobs would be approximately $45,564, plus an employee benefits package valued at $7,425 that would generate an annual payroll of approximately $4.5 million. PLS estimates that this project would have a new private capital investment of approximately $1.1 million through purchases of equipment, furniture and fixtures, information technology infrastructure and leasehold improvements. The project was approved by the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) and is pending approval from the Jacksonville City Council and the State of Florida.
- Embraer, a jet and turboprop aircraft manufacturer has proposed to add 50 new, full-time jobs in Jacksonville through the creation of a new aircraft assembly facility at Jacksonville International Airport. The average wage of the new jobs would be approximately $49,526 plus an employee benefits package valued at $12,000, generating an annual payroll of approximately $2.5 million. The project investment would be approximately $3.8 million for leasehold improvements, manufacturing equipment, furniture and fixtures, and information technology infrastructure. In addition to Jacksonville, other locations being considered for this project are Hartford, CT and Nashville, TN where Embraer presently owns facilities. The deal was approved by the JEDC and Jacksonville City Council and is pending approval from the State of Florida.
- The JEDC welcomes new JEDC Commissioner George Gabel. Mr. Gabel is a National Litigation Partner for Practice Development at the Holland & Knight law firm. He has served in numerous leadership positions on various boards and committees throughout Jacksonville and led the efforts of the Jacksonville International Business Coalition (JIBC) to rebrand Jacksonville as “America’s Logistics Center.”
- SAFT America, Inc. has enlisted Remedy Intelligent Staffing to begin hiring workers at its 277,560 sq. ft. facility at Cecil Commerce Center. The new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility is expected to be completed by late spring of this year and production of the batteries should start by July. SAFT expects to employ 279 people at their facility. Positions currently being filled are professional positions, production workers and facilities and maintenance technicians. To apply for a position, contact Remedy atwww.remedystaff.com or (904) 771-4101.
- Area Development Magazine ranked Jacksonville among the top 15 most attractive metropolitan regions for business.
- JEDC Film & Television Office News:
- 2010 Year in Review: The JEDC’s Film and Television Office has permitted and assisted 63 productions which created 716 jobs and had an economic impact of more than $1.2 million. Some productions included: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Restaurant: Impossible; HGTV’s Battle On The Block and Bang for Your Buck; independent films: VEER and Truly Everlasting; MTV Network’sMADE with Kylee Spence; music videos: Secret Identity and Style; national commercials: McDonald’s, Shoney’s, Lending Tree, Zip Cars; and music and national still photography productions for Perry Ellis, J. Jill Catalog, San Mar Catalog and American Heart Association. The Film and Television Office also hosted the 10th Annual Jacksonville Film Industry Award Reception, Film Florida Legends Awards and assisted with the 8th Annual Jacksonville Film Festival, which attracted thousands of visitors to Downtown.
- For more of the latest news in Jacksonville’s film and television industry, visit theJEDC Film & Television Office’s official blog site.
- The JEDC Sports & Entertainment Office is hosting upcoming events that include:
- Feb 20, 2011: Moe’s Southwest Grill Sunshine Classic Lacrosse Tournamentat EverBank Field. Come watch as Jacksonville University will play in a match against Georgetown University at noon then Duke University will play in a championship rematch against Notre Dame University at 3 p.m. Click here to buy your tickets or visit www.sunshineclassic.com for more information.
- March 4-5, 2011: USA Gymnastics AT&T American Cup at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Come see Olympic gymnastics hopefuls compete here in Jacksonville. Click here for more information or visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy tickets now.
- March 29, 2011: UF vs. FSU Baseball Game at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Click here to get your tickets.
- The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, part of the newly enacted Affordable Care Act, is designed to encourage small businesses and organizations to offer health insurance coverage to their employees. It is specifically targeted to help businesses that primarily employ lower-income workers. The credit is available to employers that pay at least half of the premiums for single health insurance coverage for their employees. Small businesses can claim the credit for 2010 through 2013 and for any two years after that. Forms, instructions and detailed eligibility information are available at www.IRS.gov.
- The JEDC and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UNF hosted a small business seminar for small business entities at Cecil Commerce Center’s Conference Center. More than 100 people attended the seminar which included presentations on bonding and bonding assistance, how to do business with large businesses, subcontract development and featured a panel program. The forum provided information on how businesses can navigate through the government contracting process. Participating Jacksonville Small Emerging Businesses (JSEBs) received continuing education credit hours for the city’s JSEB program. To see a list of upcoming seminars for small businesses, visit www.sbdc.unf.edu and for information on becoming a JSEB, click here.
- Downtown Vision, Inc. has launched a Coworking Initiative for Downtown Jacksonville. Coworking is the concept of several self-employed workers or workers from different companies working in a shared office environment. The workers come together based on the mutual need for physical work space and desire for an office environment. Currently, DVI is evaluating the need and interest for coworking space in Downtown. If you are interested in working in a coworking environment or if you own property Downtown and are interested in becoming a host, please complete the following survey by February 25. Click here to take the survey.
- A delegation from Ireland’s Atlantic Way Region visited Jacksonville in December and in an official ceremony, was given office space at the JEDC as part of an agreement between the two regions to assist in business development. A memorandum of understanding was also signed by Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, City Council President Jack Webb, Cornerstone President Jerry Mallot and Atlantic Way Chairman Brian O’Connell pledging to foster a mutual working relationship.
- Congratulations to the JEDC’s Business Development Chief Lindsey (Ballas) Kimball, CEcD, for receiving the Northeast Florida Regional Council’s Regional Award for Excellence in Economic Development/Tourism. Lindsey was recognized for her efforts to improve the economic development in the region. The Council recognizes achievements in eight categories in addition to the Harry Waldron Regional Leadership Award – the award in which the program is anchored.
- In a recent Enterprise Florida newsletter, Jacksonville-based Biomet Microfixation, was highlighted for manufacturing cutting edge products in the medical device manufacturing field. Biomet Microfixation manufactures craniomaxillofacial products, including the LactoSorb resorbable fixation system, the first completely resorbable fixation system available in the U.S. Click here to visit their Web site.
- According to Forbes Magazine, Jacksonville is the ninth best U.S. Shopping City.
- Save the date! The First Coast Real Estate Economic Outlook Conference and Expowill be March 23, 2011, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center from 6:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. George Ratiu, an economist with the National Association of REALTORS, will give an overview of the economy, followed by two breakout sessions. Visit www.reoutlook.comfor more information.
- Site Selection Magazine featured an article on Jacksonville’s Keystone Coal in the Energy Report section of their December issue. Click here to read the full article.
- More daily departures for the Jacksonville International Airport! Beginning April 5,American Eagle Airlines will add two nonstop flights from Miami to Jacksonville. This will bring JIA’s daily service between the two cities to 11.
- Florida’s GrowFL program had 208 participants in its first year and helped those participating companies create an estimated 418 jobs. GrowFL was created in 2009, by the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (FEGI), a program funded by the Florida Legislature to cultivate “growth companies” – privately-held, resident firms that employ 10-50 workers, generate $1 million to $25 million, and had revenue and employment growth in three of their last five years. GrowFL was designed to help growth companies create jobs and grow by providing access to an elite team of business analysts specially trained in a variety of disciplines. GrowFL will deploy its team of analysts at no charge to provide qualified companies with technical assistance and access to a suite of information and decision-making tools. The program is a unique statewide partnership that includes the Florida Economic Development Council, Enterprise Florida, Workforce Florida, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and others. To participate in the program, visitwww.GrowFL.com or call (407) 423-8006.
- Convergys Corp. is hiring 600 people at its Jacksonville center. Convergys provides customer relationship management services, consulting and professional services, billing services, and self-care technology to its clients. The company is hiring frontline customer service and sales representatives, supervisors, operations managers and trainers. To learn more or to apply for a position, visit www.convergys.com.
- The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs is building a $35 million, 135,000 sq. ft. medical facility on 10 acres adjacent to Shands in Jacksonville. Three branch offices will relocate their services to the new facility, leaving one satellite office open on Southpoint Drive North. The new facility will provide an array of expanded services and is scheduled to open in 2012.
- BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, formerly known as Atlantic Marine Florida LLC, landed five one-year Navy contracts totaling $340 million, to repair ships at Mayport Naval Station. To keep up with the work, BAE has nearly doubled its workforce to 1,100 employees in the past six months.
- Confirmation that Jacksonville would be getting a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently stationed in Norfolk, VA, came from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. Funding for improvements at Naval Station Mayport has already been approved by the U.S. House and Senate. The navy sights strategic positioning for the move, so the entire East Coast’s carrier fleet is not in one place. Anticipated arrival time of the carrier is 2014.
- Two recent developments for the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southeast: their new facility at Cecil Airport received its first F/A-18 aircraft, known as the Super Hornet, to begin testing for a six-year repair and maintenance contract; and, General Electric Aviation was awarded a $576 million, three-year Navy contract for repairing aircraft engine components and it is speculated that 60 percent of the work will be handled in Jacksonville by the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southeast. The Center is the largest industrial employer in Jacksonville, employing approximately 4,000 civilian and military workers and has facilities at both N.A.S. Jacksonville and Cecil Airport.
- Careerbliss.com ranked Jacksonville No. 3 on the list of “Best Cities to Work.” Click here to see the complete list.
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