INVESTOR NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2010
Aviation Company Adds Jobs in Jacksonville
Flightstar Aircraft Services is adding 200 high-wage jobs to Jacksonville's economy over the next six months. The jobs are intended to meet demand for increased business to repair aircraft and convert passenger jets into cargo planes. The company's 130,000 sq. ft. hanger will also be used next year by Florida State College at Jacksonville aviation and aerospace students as they gain on-site training needed to move into high-tech jobs in the aviation industry.
Cornerstone's Site Consultant Showcase a Huge Success
This month Cornerstone hosted 12 site consultants from across the U.S. for a three-day visit to experience Northeast Florida’s business environment and quality of life. The showcase, presented by CSX Corporation, gave 12 location consultants a first-hand look at the diverse company base, competitive business environment and excellent quality of life in Northeast Florida. Visit www.jaxusa.org to read the full story and view pictures from the events.
Cornerstone Continues Funding for Campaign V
Cornerstone is continuing its campaign drive to fund Cornerstone V. We have been very successful. With the help of RDG, we have confirmed investments of $6.6 million, with another $3.8 million pending. We hope to wrap up the campaign in the next few months and put Cornerstone on an aggressive and solid foundation to do what it does best - create jobs and capital investment. If you have not met with our campaign managers, Clint Nesmith or Mike Trubiano, I encourage you to set your meeting today and continue your investment in Cornerstone. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call Anna Lee at (904) 366-6680 to set up a 20 minute meeting to discuss how you can be involved.
Regional Business News
North Florida Shipyards has completed improvements to its facility with funds allocated from the Recovery Zone (RZ) Program, created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The company utilized $4 million of the RZ funds and the completed project is expected to create 246 new high-wage jobs. RZ bonds must be issued by January 1, 2011, so companies sill have time to apply. Contact Lindsey Ballas, JEDC Business Development Chief at (904) 630-2940 to learn more about the program.
Flagler County officials are pursuing a brownfields assessment coalition grant that will allow the county to inventory potential brownfield sites, characterize the sites and begin redevelopment efforts. The County remains aggressive in its economic development efforts and would use the grant to increase the economic viability of unused properties.
Clay County has scheduled its next international trip to India March 29-April 6, 2011. Business and civic leaders will be traveling to India to explore international growth potential, as well as different aspects of India's vast and growing economy. To learn more, contact Leah Zdenek at (904) 394-0646.
Meet the Cornerstone Team...
Melanie Moore, Senior Director, Business Intelligence
Melanie Moore handles the research side of Cornerstone, which gives our team a leg up on companies looking to locate in our region. By being proactive on gathering business information, we target companies more successfully and provide better data to meet our clients needs. Not only is she in charge of keep all statistical reports and publications updated and responding to prospect inquiries, she also serves as the database administrator of Cornerstone's prospect management database.
On a typical day Melanie can be found developing prospect proposals, running demographic and economic reports and maintaining the database of business relocation contacts. She also handles our annual benchmarking study and the quarterly ACCRA cost of living study.
Another large part of her position requires her and her team to produce sales presentations, business cases and website content for expandinjax.com. She also handles quality assurance and tech support for our local commercial real estate GIS tool.
Melanie's previous economic and trade development experience includes an internship with the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in London and a position in marketing and member relations with the Florida Ports Council in Tallahassee.
Sincerely,
Lee Thomas
Cornerstone Chair
Chairman of Rayonier
Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns Counties
3 Independent Drive • Jacksonville Fl 32202 • 904.366.6639
bizrelo@jacksonvillechamber.org • www.expandinjax.com
Where the Future Leads®