Florida First Capital Finance Corporation has announced that James H. Taylor, former president and CEO of the Jacksonville Economic Development Company (JEDCO), has joined the company as senior vice president based in the Jacksonville office. Florida First Capital is North Florida’s largest provider of U.S. government 504 loans for commercial real estate and heavy equipment, and the third largest such lender in the country.
“Nearly every SBA 504 loan arranged in Jacksonville over the past year has crossed Jim Taylor’s desk,” said Todd Kocourek, president and CEO of Florida First Capital. “He is one of community’s preeminent SBA lenders and we are fortunate to have him on our team.”
At JEDCO, the non-profit certified development company, Taylor worked directly with the board of directors in implementing company policies regarding SBA loans. he has more than 40 years experience in banking which includes administrative/management, finance (lending and loan workouts) and marketing.
In addition to his small business lending experience, he has held leadership positions in many Jacksonville-area civic and charitable organizations which include Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Easter Seal Society, The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Urban League and the Jacksonville Zoological Society among others.
Florida First Capital provides Florida small businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing to acquire commercial real estate, machinery or equipment. The program offers additional benefits for women-, veteran- and minority-owned companies as well as businesses in rural communities.
Florida First Capital promotes job creation throughout Florida by working with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing to small businesses. It lends under the SBA 504 loan program and the State of Florida Recycling Loan Program as well as other small business assistance programs.