The JAXUSA Partnership division of the JAX Chamber reported this week that more than 1,400 new jobs were announced so far this year.
JAXUSA Partnership, the chamber’s economic development arm, reported that Citibank will add 400 jobs at its Southside campus. Those jobs include back-office services and underwriting positions.
“These projects involved the creation of new jobs and investment in our city and region and are evidence of an economy that is greatly improving,” said JAXUSA Partnership Chair Robert Hill in a news release.
“Residents and businesses are seeing the positive changes and we anticipate continued optimistic announcements in the days and weeks ahead,” said Hill, who is president and CEO of Jacksonville-based Acosta Inc.
Hill said the chamber has 54 active qualified prospects in the pipeline that could create another 1,000 jobs in the region.
The partnership also reported that organizations announced capital investment of about $117 million during the first half of the year.
During 2011, JAXUSA Partnership announced 14 projects with more than 2,300 jobs and capital investment of more than $100 million.
JAXUSA Partnership reported that the region’s unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in April, down from 9.1 percent in January and 9.8 percent in April 2011.
The strongest growth industries are health care, information technology, aviation and aerospace and financial services, said the partnership.
Job announcements included:
• National Healing Corp. — 69 new jobs, 89 retained jobs.
• Web.com — 200 new jobs.
• BI-LO and Winn-Dixie — 200 new jobs, 891 retained jobs.
• GE Capital — 220 new jobs.
• Citibank — 400 new jobs.
• Novitas Solutions — 250 new jobs.
• 2G-Cenergy Power Systems Technologies Inc. — 125 new jobs.
• Latitude Software — 30 new jobs, 41 retained jobs.
• Caterpillar Work Tools — 39 new jobs, 77 retained jobs.
• Definitive Design — 30 new jobs.
• KCI Aviation — 30 new jobs.
• Mayo Clinic — 400 new jobs.
“Our continued focus is to accelerate job growth and economic development,” said Jerry Mallot, president of JAXUSA Partnership.
JAXUSA Partnership is the regional economic development organization comprising almost 200 investors in Northeast Florida, including the JEA, the Jacksonville Port Authority, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, WorkSource and the regional county partners of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns.