by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Following a time-out period after the debate over bringing the Navy back to Cecil Field, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission approved two new projects for Cecil Commerce Center at its monthly meeting Thursday.
The commission approved a five-year renewable lease for Owens Research. The lease will allow the local company to expand its warehouse and production operation to 24,000 square feet in the former commissary building, which used to be the on-base grocery store for Navy personnel.
Owens Research sells equipment to dealerships under the trademark “Tunes N’ Hoses.” The company has patented technology that makes it possible to manufacture fluid lines on an as-needed basis at vehicle repair facilities, eliminating the need to stock an inventory of replacement parts.
JEDC Executive Ron Barton said, “It’s not prime space, but it fits the tenant’s needs.”
JEAces, a subcontractor on the Florida Department of Transportation’s $6.1 million Brannen Field/Chaffee Road expressway interchange, will lease 2,000 square feet in the former on-base chapel for planning and office functions. The space will be furnished with desks, tables and chairs left behind when the Navy closed the base. The term of the lease is three years with an option to renew.
The commission also approved the application for a $25 million Industrial Development Revenue Bond for Gerdau Ameristeel US, Inc., a steel mill located in Baldwin. The money will be used to increase the solid waste and sewage treatment facilities at the mill, which will increase the annual capacity of the mill from 650,000 pounds to 1 million pounds.
The commission also approved an application from Anheuser-Busch Companies for $31 million in Industrial Development Revenue Refunding Bonds.
Barton presented the Executive Director’s Report covering sustainable job growth, positive wage growth, growth of the tax base and creation of a healthy and vibrant Downtown.
The JEDC’s target for job growth is 1.9 percent per year and 426,000 jobs in Duval County by 2010. Barton reported a current actual rate of 1.4 percent and 396,000 jobs.
The target for wage growth is 15 percent higher than the Federal Bureau of Labor statistics for the Southeast region. Barton said the actual growth rate in Duval County in 2005 was 13.7 percent higher than the region.
He also reported a $76.5 million increase in county taxes since 2004, placing current assessments at 62 percent of the 2010 target for a $123.5 million increase.
When asked if the JEDC has any goals for the performance of its Sports and Entertainment division – for example, bringing any more professional sports franchises or major events to Jacksonville – Barton said, “We don’t have the same type of visioning for sports and entertainment that we have for other areas.”
He added that a focus on sports and entertainment is on the agenda for 2007.
”We need to write a business plan and establish an evaluation process,” said Barton. “We need to carry ourselves to the same accountability targets in that area as we are in other areas.”