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Regional partnership presents JAXUSA outreach, cites Amazon example and $3.3M budget
Summary
Representatives from the regional economic development partnership described how they market Northeast Florida to site consultants and companies, highlighted a multi‑year strategy and cited Amazon as an example of a complex deal the region closed after coordinating roadwork and incentives.
Representatives from the regional economic partnership told Clay County commissioners at a workshop that coordinated, long‑term outreach is critical to attracting large employers.
"We're delighted to join you," Jerry said at the start of his presentation, outlining the partnership's history and structure and noting, "Our total budget's $3,300,000." He described the group's work with site consultants, corporate real estate executives and trade organizations to recruit target industries including advanced manufacturing, aviation and logistics.
Jerry recounted a confidential, large distribution project in which site obstacles threatened the timetable: "There was, no 1 knew that there was a Comcast line going through the site," he said, and a curved access road had to be straightened. State and city partners agreed to share the cost of what he described as "about a $4,000,000 deal," which removed a critical barrier and allowed the developer to begin construction on the sponsor's schedule.
Kathy Chambers, who described herself as a Clay County resident on the partnership team, summarized the marketing and research work that supports prospecting. "We have an ad advertising campaign called Jax Marks the Spot," she said, and noted the partnership runs a website called Find Your JAX intended to help prospective employees and relocations. She also described a business‑intelligence budget of roughly $70,000 a year to provide customized data for prospects.
The presenters emphasized that large projects frequently require creative local solutions—training programs, tax‑refund structures or road investments—to reduce developer risk. They recommended that county staff and elected officials identify clear, specific items the county can deliver to support regional recruitment efforts.
The workshop closed without a vote; commissioners asked for follow‑up data on historical job trends and for concrete recommendations the county could act on in the coming months.
