Managing Editor
Economic developers are eager to start announcing jobs again.
The recession that started in December 2007 resulted in layoffs throughout most industries and it stalled or dashed many corporate decisions to expand or relocate.
City and Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce leaders say more companies are considering the area for jobs.
The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission reports that more jobs have been announced so far this year than all of last year.
As of this week, the chamber’s Cornerstone Regional Economic Development Partnership reports 17 projects have been announced this year that would add 1,275 jobs and retain 80 jobs.
“We are hopeful that job creation announcements will continue for Jacksonville. I can certainly attest that inquiries are up,” said Lindsey Ballas, JEDC business development chief.
Chamber Senior Marketing Manager Lisa Daniel said the chamber is working with more than 50 prospects, a better number than the past few years. “We’re feeling optimistic,” she said.
Chamber Chair Kelly Madden said this week that the chamber was closing in on several deals to be announced in the next few months, including some in the financial services area. She did not specify Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group, which is looking at staffing a Southside building.
Of the 17 announcements by the chamber through this week, several were approved for City assistance, primarily tax refunds tied to job creation. The Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program rebates companies after jobs are created. The state pays 80 percent and the city pays 20 percent.
According to the JEDC, those are:
• SSE Inc. for 60 aviation defense software jobs, with the city paying $64,000.
• Lender Processing Services for 350 financial services jobs, with the city paying $595,000.
• Digital Risk for 175 financial services jobs, with the city paying $105,000; Digital Risk subsequently raised its projection to 300 jobs.
• Aviation Systems Engineering Co. for 10 aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul jobs, with the city paying $10,000.
• Xorail for 55 transportation equipment manufacturing jobs, with the city paying $33,000.
• Eurofins for 12 biotechnology jobs, with the city paying $20,400.
• The city also approved a bond issue for North Florida Shipyards, which projects 246 new jobs over several years.
North Florida Shipyards was working through the city and was not included on the chamber’s project announcement list.
Ballas said that several projects, including North Florida Shipyards, are tied to national defense, which has remained stronger than other industries.
“The strong military presence in Jacksonville has really been a buoy for our economy during this recession,” said Ballas.
She said that SSE, Aviation Systems Engineering Co. and the Shipyards “all found themselves expanding because of increased business from the military.”
“The military has also contributed to the economy because they have kept building during the recession. Prospects have a high opinion of the Jacksonville labor force because they know that there are many who are former military or who they will be able to recruit as they exit the military,” she said.
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