Greencore USA, a subsidiary of Ireland-based Greencore Group, is seeking up to $296,500 in taxpayer funds to create up to 283 full-time jobs with a $10 million expansion of its North Jacksonville operations.
The food-preparation company makes sushi, sandwiches, salads and other ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook entrees for clients like 7-Eleven, Trader Joe’s, Publix Super Markets Inc. and others.
Dubbed “Project Oatmeal,” legislation filed Wednesday states the company is evaluating its convenience food division for expansion as it re-evaluates its supply chain, real estate and overall business strategy because of the competitive landscape.
Other than the site near the Jacksonville International Tradeport, existing sites in Fredericksburg, Va., and Salt Lake City also are being considered for the expansion that must be able to “respond quickly” to the customer base demands.
According to the summary, the Jacksonville facility has a “major disadvantage” in that the site is landlocked and wouldn’t allow opportunities for the company to expand.
If Jacksonville is selected, the project would include renovating existing space at its 13949 Alvarez Road location, expanding its real estate and buying additional equipment. The company in recent days received a building permit worth almost $100,000 to expand its existing tenant footprint.
The jobs would have an average wage and benefit package of $28,333, which is below what the state requires to offer state incentives. Instead, the $296,500 in local funds would come from:
• A $155,000 Recapture Enhanced Value grant paid out over seven years. The timeframe will require a waiver from the city. The grant is a refund on taxes, properties and investments the company will make.
• $141,500 from the city’s Countywide Economic Development Fund. The funds will be used to provide training for new employees and additional training for existing staff.
As for capital investment, Greencore would spend $5.5 million, of which $1 million is leasehold improvements, and another $4.5 million in additional machinery and equipment purchases.
In late January, JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot said the company’s pledged expansion was one of several announcements that will result from the trip JAX Chamber and political officials took to London in October.
The company has 259 local employees, according to the project summary, and would add the 283 jobs by Dec. 31, 2015.
“It is exciting to see this Irish company expand in Jacksonville when they had so many other choices,” Mallot said Wednesday.
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