The city issued a permit Sept. 24 for Snowbird Technologies Inc. to build-out space to relocate its Southside business to the Charleston Building in Deerwood Center.
G.F. Florida Operating Alpha is the contractor for the $500,000 project to make tenant improvements to almost 37,200 square feet of space at a cost of $365,000.
Snowbird Technologies owner and CEO Scott Morse said July 21 the company expects to move from Victor Street and operate at 7749 Bayberry Road in Deerwood Center. He estimated the investment at $500,000.
Snowbird Technologies operates in four buildings at 4874 Victor St. off Powers Avenue near Philips Highway, University Boulevard West and St. Augustine Road.
“Basically, we are consolidating the four locations into one so everything can be in one place,” Morse said in July.
Deerwood Center is off Philips Highway and Baymeadows Way West.
Snowbird Technologies makes air-conditioning units for the military that can withstand extreme weather conditions, long term and in all environments, such as heat, sand, dust, saltwater and fog.
Morse expects $10 million in sales this year, up “significantly” from last year.
The company also sells parts, which generates profits if U.S. Department of Defense contracts are slow.
Morse said Snowbird has “a very healthy spare parts business.”
“Even if we are not building units, the company is profitable based on spare parts sales,” he said.
Morse bought Snowbird, founded in 1992 in Jacksonville, in 2013.
He said the Deerwood move provides slightly more space and also a 22-foot dock-high ceiling that allows Snowbird to expand its product line.
Snowbird buys the components and assembles and tests them in the Jacksonville facility. It employs about 20 people.
“Our units are deployed by every military service and they are deployed all around the world,” Morse said. He said thousands are used globally.
Some products can withstand temperatures up to 135 degrees, according to the Snowbird website.
The move to Deerwood Center is 4 miles south of the Victor Street location.
“We’ve done very well, so it’s been very positive,” Morse said.
