JAXUSA Partnership Chair Robert Hill told about 530 JAX Chamber members and guests last week that 51 active economic development prospects are in the pipeline and eight are near the final stages of decision.
The eight "could create thousands more jobs" in the area, Hill said.
Hill, president and CEO of Jacksonville-based Acosta Sales & Marketing, said the JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development division of the JAX Chamber, has reported 2,400 new jobs so far this year, near its 2,500-job goal.
"I definitely expect we will reach our goal," he said at the partnership's quarterly meeting Thursday at the Hyatt Downtown.
Hill also announced University of North Florida President John Delaney will chair the JAXUSA Partnership next year. The partnership covers Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
Florida Blue Chairman and CEO Pat Geraghty was the keynote speaker and discussed the health care system.
The partnership presented its annual international awards, sponsored by BBVA Compass Bank.
• Deutsche Bank was recognized as "International Business Leader of the Year – Large Company." The chamber said the company, based in Frankfurt, has created more than 1,200 jobs and invested more than $30 million in its Gate Parkway campus since opening a global technology and operations center there in 2008. Deutsche Bank announced a $10 million expansion project that will create an additional 260 high-wage jobs in the region.
• 2G - Cenergy Power Systems Technologies Inc., which operates in St. Johns County, was recognized as "International Business Leader of the Year – Small to Medium-size Company." This year, the German-based advanced manufacturing company transitioned from importing its products to manufacturing them in a 60,000-square-foot facility in St. Johns County. The company has grown from two employees to nearly 40 and expects to employ more than 100 workers by 2014.
• Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson was named "International Business Leader of the Year." The chamber said under his leadership, JaxPort has become the largest cargo container port in Florida. It said he led lobbying to secure $30 million in state and federal funds for the construction of a railroad yard at the Dames Point terminal that will transfer cargo containers between trains and ships, and he has been instrumental in the partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to correct the navigational challenges at Mile Point. However, Anderson has been offered the job as CEO of the Tampa Port Authority and said after the meeting he would decide soon about the position.
After the event, the chamber issued news releases announcing chamber President Wally Lee will retire in March and will step down as CEO Dec. 31 after 23 years at the job.
JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot will serve as interim president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.
The chamber's board is forming a search committee to hire a president and CEO. The committee is chaired by Wells Fargo North Florida Wholesale Regional President Kelly Madden. The vice chair is Ed Burr, president and CEO of GreenPointe Holdings LLC. Both are former chamber chairs.
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