International construction products manufacturer CertainTeed Corp. is considering an EPA Superfund site in Talleyrand for a $69.3 million cross-dock facility, according to the city Office of Economic Development.
Documents filed July 21 with the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee say the Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-based company is requesting an up to $3.4 million tax incentive for the project.
In a July 21 memo to committee chair and city Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes, economic development Executive Director Kirk requested the committee approve filing legislation with City Council to award the project a 10-year, 50% Recapture Enhanced Value Grant.
The committee is scheduled to vote on the request at its July 26 meeting.
The 32.46-acre Level 2 Distressed Area at 1611 Talleyrand Ave. has been vacant for decades. The site will have to be remediated to EPA standards and approved by the federal agency before construction can begin, according to the documents in the committee’s meeting materials.
Duval County Clerk of Courts records show the property was purchased by the Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC in February 2011 from Tronox Worldwide LLC for a $10 simple fee.
Colliers International represents Greenfield Environmental Multistate Trust LLC.
Guy Preston, executive director of Colliers International's Logistics & Transportation Solutions Group, said the property sale to CertainTeed has been under contract for about 2.5 years.The project summary says CertainTeed’s $69.3 million investment includes a cross-dock terminal; bulkhead and marine structure to accommodate Panamax-size vessels; overland conveyors; concrete pads for the temporary storage of bulk materials; a dock office; a scale house/office; and a truck staging area and scale.
To qualify for the full REV grant, which is a property tax refund, the company will have to invest no less the $55 million and create a minimum of 20 jobs by the end of 2024, the documents state.
The company told city officials it will create 32 jobs in Jacksonville with an average annual wage of $45,000 plus benefits. The full-time positions comprise 12 dockworkers and 20 truck drivers.
The cross-dock terminal will handle raw material importation and is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2023. According to the documents, CertainTeed told city officials it would consider expanding the site in the future to add a manufacturing facility
According to the project summary, CertainTeed is evaluating other southern U.S. port cities for the project but Jacksonville is the only one in Florida being considered.
Economic development officials estimate a $2.05 return to the city for every public $1 invested in the project, the summary states.
If approved July 26, legislation with the proposed economic development agreement could be filed with Council by Aug. 4.
CertainTeed is a subsidiary of Paris-based multinational Saint-Gobain.
CertainTeed says on its website it manufactures exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings.
