One of Jacksonville’s leading manufacturers will seek to expand its local operations in the coming weeks by asking City Council to approve an $876,400 package of taxpayer incentives.
Safariland, which has its headquarters in Jacksonville, in return would add 152 jobs and invest up to $2.5 million in improvements to its North Jacksonville facility by the end of 2018.
The company manufactures law enforcement, military and public-safety equipment like body armor, gun holsters, forensic equipment and body cameras.
Safariland employs 350 people, who would be retained as part of the deal.
The company is within the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Area in North Jacksonville, which earmarked $432,000 of its current year budget for next year to help facilitate the upcoming deal.
Legislation is expected to be filed in the coming weeks.
The city’s share of the deal would max out at $432,000.
That comprises $52,000 for its share of a Qualified Targeted Industry grant for higher-wage jobs being created, $200,000 in a local training grant and $180,000 for a transportation infrastructure grant.
The 52 higher-wage jobs come in at an average of $45,420, with the remaining 100 averaging $33,000.
The state would pick up the remaining $444,400, consisting of the remaining $208,000 in the QTI grant along with $36,400 in a state training grant and $200,000 in a veterans-hiring grant.
Safariland would make the expansion through consolidation, closing its Spencer, W.V., operations and relocating by the end of October.
The step, according to a company internal memo, would be done to create value for customers and support growth while remaining competitive in the market.
The move is contingent upon the incentives deal being passed.
It’s not the first time Safariland has expanded with the help of city and state dollars.
Last spring, City Council approved an incentives deal worth $331,000 that helped the company add 30 jobs and invest $1.1 million. That deal was part of Safariland consolidating its Massachusetts location and incorporating more of its operation in Jacksonville.
Kirk Wendland, city Office of Economic Development executive director, said the upcoming deal would be a win for manufacturing jobs, which “are a little more challenging” to acquire these days.
Additionally, he said, it secures the 350 existing jobs the Jacksonville company already has in place.
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