by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Thomas provides Cornerstone update, moving Rayonier to Southbank
More than 550 people packed into a Hyatt ballroom on Tuesday to hear from Cornerstone Chair Lee Thomas and University of North Florida President John Delaney, who talked about the role state universities can play in serving as an economic driver for the state.
Before Delaney’s presentation, Thomas, president, chair and CEO of Rayonier, told the group that Rayonier would relocate its headquarters from the Bank of America Tower on the Downtown Northbank to Riverplace Tower on the Downtown Southbank.
Rayonier moved its headquarters to Jacksonville in 2000 and leased space in the Bank of America Tower. He said the company has about 100 employees and will add jobs.
“That has prompted us to look at additional space,” he said. “We are moving to Riverplace Tower and we will keep our headquarters in Downtown.”
Thomas said after the meeting that Rayonier will relocate to the 22nd the 23rd floors of Riverplace Tower in October. He said the company would add up to 40 jobs within a year.
Delaney pitched a proposed $1.75 billion budget increase for the state’s 11 public universities to help create “knowledge jobs.” Universities would focus on research and creation of science, math, engineering, technology and related fields. The Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership, the economic development arm of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, is pursuing those types of jobs.
The plan is called “New Florida: Building Florida’s Knowledge Economy” and was endorsed by both the Board of Governors of the state’s public universities and Gov. Charlie Crist.
Thomas said Cornerstone was on a “good note despite the challenges” the economy presented. He said Cornerstone is pursuing 58 prospects.
One initiative Thomas started Tuesday was to feature one of the seven counties represented by the chamber. He started with Nassau County, which consists of 652 square miles, has two major railroad lines and a deep-water port and is within an eight-hour drive of 45 million people.
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