Back in the early 1980’s, the PGA Tour had already set up its headquarters in Ponte Vedra, and Deane Beaman was PGA Commissioner.
The impact of the PGA was tremendous. Having one of the world’s premiere golfing operation located right next door to Jacksonville created a new interest and focus on this area. The PGA was a catalyst in putting the First Coast on the map.
Shortly after, we begin hearing that the world famous Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic was looking at Jacksonville as the location for its very first satellite clinic. That was extremely exciting news.
Winn-Dixie icon J.E. Davis and the Davis family, along with Doug Milne, Sr. and some others were recruiting Mayo to locate here. The Jacksonville leaders were regular visitors to Mayo at Rochester, Mi. for an annual checkup and other medical issues. They probably figured having Mayo in warmer Florida weather would be a good thing. The Davis family owned land where the Mayo Clinic is now located and had offered to donate the property if Mayo would make the move.
But, Mayo’s move to Jacksonville wasn’t automatic. A political battle broke out when members of the local medical community put up some opposition.
Mayor Jake Godbold had sided solidly with the Davis family to bring Mayo to Jacksonville.
This is where Deane Beaman, the PGA commissioner comes in. Some insiders say he sent a strong and important message to Mayor Godbold.
Keep fighting. Bring Mayo to Jacksonville.
Beaman’s reasoning was pretty simple. Back then, he said, many of the world’s top executives flew into Rochester each year for their annual physical. When they go there, the executives get in and get out of town as fast as possible. Rochester was not very inviting for a long stay.
But, if Mayo puts a clinic in Jacksonville, it would not only bring a world class medical facility to Jacksonville, it would bring a lot of those captains of industry who make big decisions about investments and jobs, Beaman said.
Beaman said that with the PGA Tour and, the new TPC course, along with other area golf courses and our beaches, the executives would not be in hurry to get in and out town like they do in Rochester. Instead, they’ll bring their families and spend some time playing golf, fishing and hanging out on the beach. If they have children, it is only a short drive to Disney World.
Then, Beaman said, these executives will keep coming back here for vacation stays. Many will start buying property, and some will even move their businesses here, he said.
Well, guess what. Commissioner Beaman was right.
The point of all of this is that it does not have to be the PGA Tour or the Mayo Clinic to make an important economic impact. Every time a company moves its offices to Jacksonville, jobs are created, local businesses are infused, and the real estate market gets a shot in the arm.
In the last six months of 2008, we had some big announcements. Mitsui, Hanjin, Duetsche Bank and Alenia all said they are going to create more than 12,000 jobs, and make investments in the hundreds of millions of dollars that will create billions of dollars in economic activity.
In April Fidelity announced it has acquired Metavante Technologies which will make Jacksonville’s Fidelity the world’s biggest provider of technology services to financial institutions.
These new economic developments will mean billions of dollars of investments and thousands of jobs that will make a huge difference for us over the long haul.
People will be moving to Jacksonville, and many will be making very good wages. These people will need places to live.
There is tremendous opportunity for economic growth in this region over the next decade, but it won’t come automatically.
We have to provide leadership. We need a good strategy. We have to work hard. And, we must work together.
That’s why Mayor John Peyton selected an economic development professional like Ron Barton to lead the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. And, it’s why Jacksonville is fortunate to an industry-seeking force like Jerry Mallot at the Chamber of Commerce.
And, it is important for us to understand that what they do is so valuable to realtors and builders.
By focusing on seven target industries-advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, distribution and logistics, finance and insurance services, life sciences, information technology, and headquarters relocation-Barton and Mallot work 24-7 to bring investments and jobs to Jacksonville against stiff competition from other cities in America and around the world.
When they are successful, it makes the cash register ring for all of us, and it helps create a very bright future for Jacksonville.
- Jim Bailey is president of Bailey Publishing & Communications and publisher of
Realty/Builder Connection.