Site Selector Newsletter - July 2011

Cornerstone Launches 'Guess Which City' Campaign

Cornerstone launched a new 'Guess Which City' campaign targeting CEOs, site consultants and other key decision makers. The goal of the 'Guess Which City' campaign is to prompt economic development prospects to think about Jacksonville when deciding on the next location for a company expansion or relocation. The ads are running in print and online with The Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive, Industry Week, CNBC, Bloomberg.com and LinkedIn.

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'Guess Which City' Has More Fortune 500 Companies

Jacksonville continues to strengthen its competitive business climate. This year the region added an additional Fortune 500 company that brings our total to four, more than any other Florida metro. The Fortune 500 companies proud to call Jacksonville home are CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Fidelity National Information Services and Winn-Dixie. In addition to these four companies, Jacksonville is also home to more than 80 other corporate, regional and divisional headquarters. As Jacksonville’s base of headquarters continues to grow it is easy to see why BizCosts.com named Jacksonville the nation’s third least expensive city to launch a corporate headquarters. Visit www.expandinjax.com to learn more about Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.

 

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Announcements and News Around Northeast Florida 

 

There has been quite a bit of economic development activity in our region over the past six months that we are excited to share with you. Below is an overview of what is going on in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida:

• Life Sciences - Medtronic Corporation has selected Jacksonville to build a new $14 million research and development and manufacturing facility, which will add 175 new high-wage jobs.
• Financial Services - Everbank will add 200 more jobs in addition to the more than 400 it has added over the past year, pending final approval of state incentives.
• Aviation and Aerospace - Kaman Aerospace is planning to add 250 jobs and acquire an additional 80,000 square feet of space, pending final incentive approvals from the city and state. This will expand its helicopter parts manufacturing operations.
• Logistics and Distribution - PLS Logistics is bringing a new operation to Jacksonville that is heavily IT oriented in the logistics industry and is adding 100 new jobs.
• Advanced Manufacturing - Saft America committed to bring its U.S. corporate headquarters to Jacksonville this year and will open its new $200 million facility at Cecil Commerce Center in September.
• Port - Keystone and Vulcan Materials Company opened a new private port terminal that is bringing 200 new jobs and $150 million in capital investment.
• Airport - The State of Florida has officially designated Cecil Airport as a 'Space Territoty.' With this designation the Jacksonville Aviation Authority is now able to pursue funds to design and construct new roadways, taxiways, and assembly and payload facilities.

 

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Cornerstone Selects Firm for Industry Sub-Cluster Analysis

 

We have selected Avalanche Consulting to update our regional target industry cluster strategy. Along with partner companies McCallum Sweeney, the Council for Adult and Environmental Learning and Infinity Global Solutions, Avalanche will spearhead the ‘Innovate Northeast Florida’ study that will identify the region’s top target industry sub-cluster opportunities and develop marketing and workforce development implementation plans to grow these sectors. 

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®