One of the city’s larger economic development deals in years is a step closer to being approved.
However, even if City Council approves Project Rex next week, there are no promises the unnamed company — with specs that align with those of Amazon.com — will pick Jacksonville.
Kirk Wendland, city Office of Economic Development executive director, told the council Finance Committee on Monday he thought a final answer from the company wouldn’t happen for a month or two. Eight cities, he said, were being considered for a proposed fulfillment center.
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The city has been pulling out all the stops to secure the company that has more than 20 years of retail and e-commerce experience, employing 200,000-plus people worldwide.
The city partnered with the state to provide $18.4 million for the company and has streamlined planning and development efforts — a priority that had to be met.
“The company made it very clear if they couldn’t move very fast, we would not be considered eligible,” Wendland told the Finance Committee.
In return, the company is expected to provide more than 1,500 jobs and $207 million in private investment, he said.
There has been a concerted effort to work with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority on ways to help meet the company’s workforce needs through dedicated public transportation.
Nat Ford, the authority’s CEO, told the committee JTA was exploring ways to extend its First Coast Flyer service north of its yet-to-be-completed Armsdale Road park-and-ride lot.
That service is within a couple of miles of the company’s planned facility at Pecan Park and Duval roads along Interstate 295. The authority could extend the line to the company site and provide special shift change services to accommodate employees at certain times of day.
Ford said the typical use of an automobile runs people about $9,000 a year. Many of the jobs the company would provide would be lower-paying, which would make public transportation options more appealing.
A transit pass, for example, could cost $50 a month — $600 a year — and result in “significant” savings, Ford said.
Businesses also can partner with JTA and purchase passes for their employees at pretax rates, which helps employers and employees.
The level of need would be determined once the company works closer with JTA, Ford said. Typical buses can accommodate 50-55 people.
The legislation’s language also has been modified in other ways to benefit the company.
Incentive deals of this nature usually prefer 19 percent of the work going toward Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business companies that provide construction and materials. The figure has been removed and it’s simply a good-faith effort now.
And a requirement for the 500 jobs benefitting from a Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund grant to go toward Duval County employees also has been waived. Those are higher-paying jobs expected to pay $50,000 annually.
Project Rex is expected to be fully staffed Day One and the company wants to be able to fill those jobs as easily as possible.
The Finance Committee signed off on the changes and the deal by a 7-0 vote, setting up a full council vote April 26.
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