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Site Selector Newsletter - Fall 2010
Hillwood Invests in Northeast Florida
The City of Jacksonville has selected Hillwood, an international development and investment company owned by Ross Perot Jr., as the master developer of 4,475 acres at Cecil Commerce Center, the largest industrial park in Florida. Hillwood will invest its capital, development expertise, and marketing relationships in order to transform the property into a jobs and tax base generator for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. An estimated $233 million is required just to develop public infrastructure and create development-ready sites. Full vertical build-out of Cecil Commerce Center is estimated to require more than $1.3 billion. In addition to its capital investment, Hillwood will also give Cecil its flagship brand, AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, which will bring national recognition and instant credibility to Cecil and Northeast Florida.
 AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center is an integral part of Northeast Florida's economy. As a job generator and economic driver for our region, success at Cecil can be achieved once buildings are developed and businesses are attracted to the property. Today, Cecil is home to more than 2,200 employees and 27 tenants including Saft, Bridgestone Firestone, Northrop Grumman and Boeing. Achieving these results requires a strong private developer with the resources necessary to convert Cecil's remaining property to development-ready sites.
 AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center is directly adjacent to Cecil Field, an aviation business park and airport with a 12,500 foot runway. Cecil Field has both existing buildings and very substantial development acreage intended for direct aviation uses. It is operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and is likely to be complimentary with AllianceFlorida's property.
Hillwood, which is not a newcomer to Jacksonville, has partnered with local construction companies, engineering firms and other Jacksonville businesses in the past five years to build more than one million square feet of industrial and distribution space including recent construction of a 600,000 square foot speculative warehouse, that was leased to Dr. Pepper Snapple. The initial term of the Cecil Master Development Agreement is 10 years as long as Hillwood meets certain performance benchmarks and can be extended in five year increments up to 25 years as long as Hillwood meets certain other performance benchmarks.
While Hillwood is funding 100 percent of the site development costs necessary to develop its sites, the City retains the ability to close major public investment dependent economic development projects, like Saft, and Megasite projects for large-scale industrial users. Working with Hillwood, Jacksonville receives development ready sites which can be offered to companies wanting to expand in our region.
Jacksonville is taking an active approach to promote the attributes of Cecil Commerce Center by working with Hillwood to engage prospects, respond to market demand and execute a long-term development plan. Hillwood and the City have already completed the AllianceFlorida Master Plan, which shows available Industrial Use, Megasite and Mixed Use space. For more information visit www.hillwood.com or contact Preston Herold at preston.herold@hillwood.com.
Who's Who at Alliance Florida at Cecil Commerce Center
A look at the companies utilizing Cecil
 SAFT, a french-based company, selected Cecil Commerce Center as the site of its new high-tech battery plant last year. Since its final decision, the company has officially broke ground and is now in the vertical phase. With SAFT's reputation as a global leader in the development and manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and Hillwood's structured, planned development, we hope to attract other clean technology projects to Cecil Commerce Center.
 Another well-known tenant of Cecil Commerce Center is Bridgestone Firestone, which expanded its operations in 2006. The one million square foot distribution center is one of the largest Bridgestone tire distribution centers in the country. The company selected Cecil Commerce Center because of its strategic location near JAXPORT, allowing for overnight delivery to more than 96 percent of Bridgestone Firestone's customers.
Northeast Florida Has the Talent to Sustain Industrial Projects
Cornerstone and its partners engaged Global Location Partners to gauge the capability of the labor market around Cecil Commerce Center. The study addressed the needs of advanced manufacturers such as technology driven employees with math, science and technical skills that support innovation.
The study concluded that Cecil Commerce Center is a good location for projects like advanced manufacturing plants. Our region offers a 500,000 strong workforce within a 30-minute commute and 1.3 million workers within a 60-minute commute zone. Our labor force outpaced state and national growth averages, accounting for a larger share of industrial skills than the state as a whole. Every year approximately 3,000 personnel exit the military and many posses the electrical, fabrication, welding and maintenance skills that are in high demand.
Northeast Florida is a leading destination for manufacturing activity in the state and is highly valued for its Postsecondary Adult Vocational certificate programs. All of these assets including an excellent quality of life make Jacksonville and Northeast Florida an attractive area for corporate growth and relocation.
Northeast Florida is Home to Top-Quality Developers
Northeast Florida is home to a number of commercial and industrial real estate developers qualified to assist companies in their relocation or expansion. These developers include: Click here to explore all of Northeast Florida's available properties.
The Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership is Jacksonville and Northeast Florida's regional economic development initiative. Cornerstone works in partnership with the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, JEA, the regional county partners — Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns, WorkSource, JAXPORT, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and more than 200 top private sector investor corporate entities in the Jacksonville area.
 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®
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