Two Northeast Florida economic development projects with a combined investment of $245 million and 550 planned jobs were honored as “Deals of the Year” by the Florida Economic Development Council.
A May 21 news release from JAX Chamber said the awards were announced last week at the FEDC annual conference in Port Charlotte.
JAXUSA Partnership received the Regional Deal of the Year award for Holon, a planned 500,000-square-foot autonomous vehicle manufacturing facility.
St. Johns County received the Urban Deal of the Year award for the Publix central pharmaceutical facility that will fill 500,000 prescriptions a week when it opens and up to 1 million weekly at full capacity.
“These are two prime examples of the growth we’re seeing in Northeast Florida and how companies see the value in our business-friendly climate and strong regional partnerships,” JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace said in the release.
Holon, a subsidiary of the global automotive supplier Benteler Group, is a manufacturer of autonomous, electric shuttles purpose-built for shared mobility and sustainable transportation.
In September 2024, the company announced plans to construct its facility in Jacksonville. The $100 million plant is expected to initially create 150 jobs.
Publix project
The Publix project is scheduled to be operational in 2026 in a 168,480-square-foot building within the industrial park at Legend Point Logistics Crossing.
The company plans to invest $145 million in the facility and employ 150 people when it opens, with plans to grow to 400 employees.
“Economic development is a team sport, and the Publix project highlights the power and importance of working collaboratively to find creative solutions that benefit our community,” St. Johns County Senior Project Manager Sam Camp said in the release.
JAXUSA Partnership, a division of JAX Chamber, is Jacksonville’s regional economic development organization.
Its mission is to recruit new companies and expand existing businesses to increase high-wage job growth, private capital investment and a skilled talent presence in the seven counties that make up Northeast Florida.