INVESTOR NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2011
JAXUSA Partnership Helps Create Nearly 3,000 Jobs for the Region
This is turning out to be an excellent year in job creation and growth. So far we have helped create almost
3,000 new jobs. This number includes several projects that are pending approval of state and local incentives. In total there are 16 projects that have created an average of almost 200 jobs per project.
Several of these projects are major companies creating high-wage jobs including Medtronic, Kaman, First Coast Service Options, JPMorgan Chase and PLS Logistics.
Many of the projects this year involve medium sized companies. Even though the companies are smaller in size, they are still very high quality projects. Another difference we are seeing is that the large majority of jobs are coming from expansions of existing companies. This is a national trend since the recession that most companies are not creating new projects in other locations, but instead expanding at existing locations.
Even though the economy as a whole is still in the early stages of recovery, Jacksonville and Northeast Florida’s economy is showing significant movement and we are seeing a positive impact from the jobs created.
Regional Economic Snapshot As the job numbers above reflect, the economic outlook for the region is starting to show signs of positive growth. Our monthly economic snapshot shows employment, housing and spending up; and unemployment and foreclosures down. We have a long way to go, but we are seeing positive growth. Click here for the full economic snapshot.
Innovate Northeast Florida Update 
We have just completed our second visit from Avalanche Consulting, McCallum Sweeney and the Center for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) as part of our Innovate Northeast Florida project. The group had a full visit where they met with focus groups in the aviation, financial services, IT, advanced manufacturing, logistics and life sciences industries. We also held a regional partner forum, sponsored by AT&T and Stellar, where Amy Holloway, president of Avalanche Consulting, presented the findings from the Innovate Northeast Florida survey, which had more than 2,500 responses across the seven-county region.
The survey contained two sections – one for all residents and one for residents who manage or own a business. Things are looking up for business here. Of the 2,500 survey respondents, 777 filled out the business owner/manager questions. Fifty-two percent said that their company expects to increase jobs in Northeast Florida and 27 percent said that they will increase capital investment here. Only 5 percent said that they would decrease jobs and 2.8 percent said that they would sell off assets here. Lifestyle amenities, cost of business, and logistics infrastructure ranked among the top reasons to do business here, according to business managers and owners. Residents are most satisfied with our cost of living, highway access, climate, family friendliness, healthcare and our colleges and universities.
We do have some areas to work on. Residents did express concern about career opportunities, wage levels, job and growth, and pre-k through 12th grade education. The areas will be addressed in the findings Avalanche presents next April.
Follow the project on www.innovatenortheastflorida.com.
New Business Rankings Bloomberg Business Week ranked Jacksonville 4th in its ranking of Cities With the Biggest Growth in Tech Jobs.
The Princeton Review named University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business on its list of the best business schools in the nation, for the fifth consecutive year in a row.
New UNF Training Program Will Help Workforce Compete in the Global Economy The University of North Florida, in partnership with RS&H, received a nearly $1 million grant from Workforce Florida to offer workforce training to port, trade and logistics related companies in order to retain jobs and expand international trade and exports in the region. This is a major coup for UNF and will provide a great benefit to our region. All local companies are encouraged to apply for these training dollars. To find out more information, visit UNF’s Employ Florida Banner Center.
Regional News 
Nassau County Commissioners have unanimously approved Omni’s $80 million plans to revitalize the Amelia Island Plantation. Omni, one of the county’s largest employers, will add about 100 new jobs once the project is complete. Omni plans to make major improvements on Amelia Island Plantation’s 1,350-acre site, including renovation and expansion to the resort's hotel, a new parking structure, new Beach Club and others. Visit expandinnassau.com to read the full story.
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Thank you for your continued commitment to JAXUSA Partnership, formerly Cornerstone.
Sincerely,
Scott P. Keith
JAXUSA Partnership Chair
Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns Counties
3 Independent Drive • Jacksonville Fl 32202 • 904.366.6639
bizrelo@jacksonvillechamber.org • www.jaxusa.org
Where the Future Leads®