Jacksonville is competing with Savannah, Georgia, to attract an international meat processor looking to establish a $28 million packing plant in the Southeast, a city official said July 21.
Ed Randolph, executive director of economic development, told the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee that the company, code-named Project Pan in city documents, will be a heavy port user that will bring in meat products from several overseas nations, including Australia.
JaxPort and the Port of Savannah are both options for the company, he said.
The MBRC authorized Randolph to file City Council legislation to seek a six-year, 50% Recapture Enhanced Value Grant of up to $800,000 for the new facility.
A REV grant is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development or property enhancement. It can apply to property and tangible personal property.
The Office of Economic Development, In a project summary, says Project Pan plans to create 100 jobs in Jacksonville at an average wage of $59,211, plus a benefits package of $16,000 per employee.
It is seeking to build-out a meat processing facility in a vacant refrigerated warehouse block building in Northwest Jacksonville, the summary says.
The warehouse would provide 50,000 square feet of production space. The company plans to operate four meatpacking production lines, processing more than 1 million pounds per week of finished products.
Work to prepare the warehouse for the facility would begin in December 2025.
OED staff calculate a return on investment of $3.50 for every $1 of incentives.
Economic development agreements often use code names, which are allowed by state law.