by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Another Downtown employer is moving to Southside.
The Flagler commercial real estate company said Monday that it signed an 11-year deal with Fortegra Financial Corp., based Downtown, to lease 58,000 square feet of space at Flagler’s Deerwood South business park at 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd.
“We chose to relocate our corporate headquarters to Flagler’s Deerwood South business park because of its convenient location, quality space offerings and world- class corporate setting,” said Fortegra Financial President and CEO Richard S. Kahlbaugh in a statement.
“We look forward to expanding our business in the Jacksonville community and delivering the highest level of service to our customers,” he said.
Fortegra was formerly known as Life of the South and is based at 100 W. Bay St. It did not say how many employees will be involved in the move or when it will move.
Fortegra is a neighbor to the Modis Building, whose anchor tenant, Adecco Group North America, is leaving Downtown in the spring, also for 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Adecco will move into Building 200 at the Deerwood South park. In July, Adecco Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Tyra Tutor said the decision was made after a “careful review of a variety of strong options here in Jacksonville.”
She said the decision was based on reasons that included proximity and convenience for employees, “an efficient building layout and the ability to create the best possible working environment.”
Adecco, a Zurich-based temporary staffing and employment services company, bought Jacksonville-based MPS Group in January.
The Jacksonville operation has been at the Modis Building Downtown for 12 years, but following the sale, Adecco made the decision to move to Deerwood South.
Adecco signed a long-term, 78,292-square-foot lease, but Flagler did not disclose the length of the lease. Adecco will lease all of the third and fourth floors and part of the first floor and the company has the right for signage on the building.
The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission recently approved a Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund for Adecco to add 100 full-time jobs to its Jacksonville operation, expanding from 236 jobs to 336 as it consolidates the professional services side of the business.
Jacksonville-based Fortegra Financial reports that it is one of the nation’s leading financial insurance services companies serving banks, financial institutions and retailers across the country.
Flagler’s Senior Director of Leasing Ross Carrier represented Flagler in the transaction. Craig McCaw and Andy Davidson of MB Real Estate and Brad Chrischilles of CNL Commercial Real Estate represented Fortegra Financial.
Fortegra Financial is described by Bloomberg Businessweek as an insurance services company that provides insurance-related products and distribution and administration services in the United States.
The Jacksonville-based company was formerly known as Life of the South Corp. and changed its name to Fortegra Financial Corp. in 2008. Fortegra Financial was incorporated in 1981.
The Deerwood South park, at Southside and Butler boulevards, contains four Class A buildings totaling 521,971 square feet of total office space with parking space.
“We are pleased Fortegra Financial has selected Deerwood South for its new corporate headquarters, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with them,” said Karl Hanson, Flagler vice president and market officer for North Florida.
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