Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is moving 1,038 jobs Downtown and saving $13.4 million in the process.
The state insurance giant is consolidating its offices after its board Friday unanimously approved moving to the EverBank Center. That process began last year.
Of the jobs, 130 will come from Tallahassee and another 18 will relocate from Tampa. Close to 900 Jacksonville employees at four existing facilities also will make the move. Most of the jobs will be in the IT field, a priority for the city, Mayor Alvin Brown said Friday.
The move is expected to be completed by the end of the year, “but I want them to get here tomorrow,” Brown said.
Coming Downtown, Brown said, will result in a “major” impact on the area’s small businesses.
Terms have Citizens occupying space among nine floors. The 10-year lease is worth $41.7 million and saves the company $13.4 million. It also puts it at a single site.
“This move will allow us to bring our key people closer together while reducing operational costs incurred by being spread out across the state,” said Citizens President, CEO and Executive Director Barry Gilway in a statement. “Our already dedicated employees will be in an even better position to serve the people of the state.”
Once completed, Citizens will continue to maintain one location each in Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Tampa.
Colliers International assisted the owner, Amkin West Bay, in the deal. According to a news release from Colliers, the deal is the largest office lease signing in the Central Business District since 2011 when EverBank moved to the former AT&T Tower. The release said Citizens’ relocation means EverBank Center will now be more than 90 percent leased.
Cushman & Wakefield represented Citizens.
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