Ecoco Inc., the Chicago-based natural hair-products manufacturer, acquired property in EastPark and paid for a county business license.
The company is code-named Project Blaze and is in City Council review for incentives to set up an EastPark manufacturing plant and hire 150 employees by year-end 2022.
Liongate Investment LLC, based at Ecoco’s Chicago address and led by Ecoco President Aaron Tiram, paid $8.5 million for the almost 170,000-square-foot building at 11650 Central Parkway.
It bought the property from Global Tissue Group of Medford, New York. The deed was recorded June 22.
The building was developed on almost 12.5 acres in 1988.
The Duval County Tax Collector’s Office issued a business license to Ecoco Jax LLC and Tiram, as manager, for manufacturing at the Central Parkway address.
The city describes Project Blaze as an eco-friendly Midwest-based hair-care product maker.
Ecoco Jax LLC registered its name with the state in May with a principal address of 11650 Central Parkway. The company also filed an application with the city to do business at the site.
Tiram also is the manager of that LLC.
Ecoco describes itself on ecocoinc.com as a cosmetics pioneer active with green technology. It was “founded in 1983 with the idea of uniting beauty trends with environmental consciousness,” according to ecocoinc.com.
The site shows its products and natural ingredients, including the Cannabis Sativa Oil wash, conditioner and body lotion.
A city legislative fact sheet said Blaze has been in business since the mid-1980s and it wants to invest $11 million to buy and equip a 170,000-square-foot building off Beach Boulevard in Southside to make and distribute its products.
City Office of Economic Development Executive Director Kirk Wendland told the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee in May the location is in the EastPark business center.
Ecoco Inc. says its “globally sourced ingredients are nearly all naturally derived, delivering great personal style without the carbon footprint.”
It says its products are available at most beauty supply stores and many major retailers.
Blaze currently makes its products in the Midwest and is looking for an expansion location in the Southeast, the city said.
Legislation calls for Blaze to create 150 jobs over five years at an average annual wage of $50,000.
It seeks a $450,000 Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund from the city and state based on $3,000 per job.
The city would pay 20 percent, or $600, per job for a total up to $90,000. The state would pay 80 percent, or $2,400 per job, for a total of up to $360,000.
The economic development agreement states that 75 jobs would be created by the end of 2018, followed by 25 jobs each by year-end 2019 and 2020 and 15 in 2021. The final 10 jobs would be created by the end of 2022.
The QTI refund would be paid after the jobs are created and the average wage is verified by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
The proposed four-year payout would start in 2019.
Resolution 2018-338 approves the execution of the economic development agreement between the city and Blaze.
A city summary says the $11 million capital investment covers manufacturing equipment, furniture and real estate purchases and improvements.
Blaze requested fast-track approval for council to vote on the legislation after two readings rather than three.
However, minutes from the June 19 Finance Committee meeting show the legislation is deferred at the request of Mayor Curry’s administration.
The city considers the company a high-impact target industry because it is a manufacturer and said Blaze stated the combination of city and state incentives is a material factor in its decision to expand in Jacksonville.