Amazon.com should want to bring its second North American headquarters to Florida without any taxpayer-backed financial incentives, Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, said Wednesday.
Speaking to the Southside Business Men’s Club, Renner said Amazon instead should consider Florida’s “permanent incentives,” such as no state income tax, a growing employee base and the state’s strong financial position.
“Amazon should want to be in Florida,” Renner said. “It’s a great place to do business and, among other reasons, it’s the gateway to Latin America.”
In September, Seattle-based Amazon announced it was soliciting bids from cities for a second North American headquarters, promising a $5 billion capital investment and 50,000 jobs with six-figure salaries over the next decade.
In its request for proposals, Amazon called local and state incentive programs a “significant factor in the decision-making process” and asked prospective cities to list specific incentives.
Several Florida cities, including Jacksonville, bid for the project but have not released details, such as the sites and incentives offered.
“If the politicians in the state are willing to give away the taxpayers’ money to bring them here, they (Amazon) will and should ask for it,” Renner said.
“We, for our part as legislators, should not offer it because it’s not their money, it’s not my money, it’s your money, the taxpayer’s money,” he said.
Renner said the state needs to figure out more important long-term issues, like crime and education, before making any new financial commitments to large companies like Amazon.
Enterprise Florida Inc., the public-private partnership for business recruitment in the state, is spearheading the Amazon bids.
It has declined to elaborate about the bid offers, citing Amazon’s rights to protect its proprietary information under Florida Law.
However, Amazon said cities can release the details of their offers if they choose.
In October, an Amazon spokesman said community officials signed nondisclosure agreements because the company shared some internal information, although cities can disclose what they want about details regarding their own activities and proposals.
Enterprise Florida Inc. is hosting its monthly board of directors meeting in Jacksonville this week.
Renner said the state does not give financial incentives directly to businesses because of changes made by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott during a special legislative session in June, changes Renner backed.
The new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund instead provides incentives to municipalities for infrastructure improvements and workforce training – two items also important to Amazon.
Renner said the changes ensure lawmakers are good guardians of taxpayer money, and that he doesn't believe the state is in jeopardy of losing other prospective employers.
“You will continue to see Florida grow despite an absence of new economic incentives,” Renner said.
Amazon expects to select the headquarters site next year.
Palm Coast - Central or North Florida?
Renner acknowledged the challenge for Palm Coast and Flagler County when it comes to an economic identity and whether the area should identify more with Orlando, Daytona or Jacksonville.
“That is a story that remains to be written,” he said. “I don’t have the answer.”
Renner said he believes that as more companies begin to move into Flagler County, their connections to other parts of the state will become more evident, and possibly more influential.
He said while he thinks Flagler County aligns more with Northeast Florida, he said Volusia County identifies with Orlando, “given their proximity.”
Flagler is one of the seven counties included in JAX Chamber’s JAXUSA Partnership marketing program.
Renner is set to become the speaker of the Florida House in 2022 after winning the support of his Republican peers this fall.
The designation is seen by some as a win for North Florida, given Renner’s ties to the Jacksonville area.
His law firm is based in Jacksonville and his campaign fundraising efforts have relied heavily on Jacksonville-based donations, including those backed by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.
Renner is a shareholder with the Milam Howard Nicandri Gillam & Renner law firm.
Before winning a special election in 2015 for his House seat, Renner unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Jay Fant, a Jacksonville Republican, in a tight race for the area’s 15th District.
He said while Palm Coast doesn’t offer some of the amenities of a larger city, his family is happy to be part of the community.
“We’re residents of Palm Coast, we’re homesteaded there and we love it,” said Renner, who dismissed claims that he is more of an outsider.
“I live there, I pay taxes there, so I’m not sure what else to say.”