News

Each year, Area Development magazine recognizes states for their achievements in attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs regarding the state’s population and capital investment in their communities.

In recognition, Florida received a Silver Shovel Award in the 12+ million in population category based on several projects that announced in 2018, including two in our seven-county region.

The PGA TOUR headquarters expansion in Ponte Vedra Beach (St. Johns County) was the top ranked project in Florida in 2018. The project included a new 187,000 square-foot-building to be completed in 2020, with more than 300 new jobs, job retention and an $86 million capital investment.

The announcement that JinkoSolar, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer, would build it first U.S. manufacturing facility in Jacksonville came in as the sixth ranked Florida project in 2018. This facility, which officially opened in February, will create 200 jobs and invest more than $50 million in capital investment.