Site Selector Newsletter - September 2011
Saft Holds Grand Opening of "Factory of the Future"
Saft, a French-based high-tech battery manufacturer, held the grand opening of its new U.S. headquarters and $200 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility last week. Following the grand opening ceremony, Saft allowed attendees to tour the "factory of the future." Highlights of the tour included seeing Saft's battery making process from start to finish and experiencing the companies highly automated facility, including its state-of-the-art robotics. The company's significant capital investment and 300 jobs continue to be a big win for our region.
The company's story begins in 2009 when former Mayor John Peyton's personal relationship with an executive at Saft put Jacksonville on a list of potential locations for the new manufacturing plant. After an intense recruiting process Jacksonville won the deal over competing cities such as Charleston. Saft chose Jacksonville because of its overall attractiveness as a business location and the available, high-level workforce.
The high-tech plant will produce batteries for the U.S. defense and energy storage markets and will usher in a new era of clean technology for Northeast Florida. Construction of the plant was completed earlier this year and in March company executives made the decision to move the U.S. headquarters to Jacksonville. Saft continues to be an important project for our region and we look forward to its future success in job growth and expansion.
"Guess Which City..."
"Guess Which City" Is ranked higher as an attractive metro for business. You guessed it...it's Jacksonville! Area Development magazine asked a group of site consultants to rank the most attractive metros for business. Jacksonville came in at number 15, ahead of cities such as Nashville and Kansas City. The consultants considered eight site selection criteria when ranking the metros including business costs, corporate tax, business friendliness, overall labor climate, workforce development programs, rail and highway accessibility, and shovel-ready sites.
JAXUSA Partnership continues to work with our economic development partners to ensure Jacksonville and Northeast Florida remain a competitive business location for companies looking to expand or relocate. To learn more about our region, visit www.jaxusa.org.
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The JAXUSA Partnership is Jacksonville and Northeast Florida's regional economic development initiative. The Partnership works 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 almost 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.jaxusa.org
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