In May 2023, Cosentino Group announced Jacksonville’s Cecil Commerce Center as the site of the Spain-based international company’s first manufacturing facility in the U.S.
Cosentino, a maker of sustainable countertops, flooring, facade materials and other surfaces for architecture and building design, plans to break ground on a $270 million first phase of its Jacksonville production plant in January 2025. That phase includes a 408,000-square-foot production facility and 734,000 square feet of adjacent support areas.
Cosentino said it would hire 180 employees for the site, which could grow to $440 million if future phases are added as planned.
Forbes reported that after considering sites in Georgia, Texas and Florida, the company chose Jacksonville because of the talent and depth of the city’s labor pool, its port and its access to railways.
Cosentino plans to begin production at the facility in 2028.
The Jacksonville City Council approved a land sale and incentives package for Cosentino that included a sale price of $20.5 million for 330 acres, a $12 million property tax incentive and $5.5 million in debt spending to pay for a $3 million Logistics Land Road extension at Cecil and pay $2.5 million for JEA to make sewer and water infrastructure improvements at the site.
A separate ordinance appropriated $5.5 million awarded by the state in November from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to put toward a CSX Corp. rail line extension at the business park.
Here is a look at some of the biggest deals and people who made headlines in 2023.
Top Deals:
Phoenix Arts & Innovation District launches in New Springfield. Story here
Blackwater Development says it has Regency Square Mall deal. Story here
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club wins approval to start expansion, renovations. Story here
ICE finalizes its $11.9 billion acquisition of Black Knight Inc. Story here
‘Stadium of the Future’ plans are unveiled by the Jaguars. Story here
Gateway Jax plans $500 million Downtown project in NorthCore. Story here
Aldi buying Winn-Dixie, Harveys parent Southeastern Grocers. Story here
Regency Centers buys Urstadt Biddle in $1.4 billion deal. Story here
Top Newsmakers:
Donna Deegan makes history as Jacksonville’s first female mayor. Story here
Bryan Moll poised to help revitalize Downtown with Gateway Jax. Story here
Nick Allard guides JU College of Law toward new Downtown campus. Story here
Aundra Wallace an assured but low-key leader in region’s growth. Story here
Suzanne Pickett: Advocate for city’s Historic Eastside. Story here
Obituaries of 2023:
Activist and community advocate Ben Frazier. Story here
Beaver Street Fisheries Chairman Hans ‘Harry’ Frisch. Story here
Civic leader and insurance executive Marvin Cecil 'Ceree' Harden III. Story here