Nassau County highlights $8.45 million infrastructure investment, RAO designation to spur local jobs
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Summary
Nassau County officials said the county received a Rural Area of Opportunity designation and a $6.25 million jobs growth grant, combined with a $2.2 million private contribution, to fund infrastructure near US‑301/I‑10; staff projected about 1,250 near‑term jobs and up to 4,700 at full build‑out.
Kathy Freeman, Nassau County’s Economic Resources Manager, told the Board of County Commissioners the county recently received a $6,250,000 jobs growth grant and a Rural Area of Opportunity (RAO) designation that together with a $2,200,000 private developer contribution represents an $8,450,000 infrastructure investment aimed at unlocking industrial and commercial development near the US‑301 and I‑10 interchange.
"This is a big deal for Nassau County," Freeman said, summing up the grant and designation. She described the funds as targeted to design and development work to create a "shovel‑ready" site and a workforce pipeline tied to regional logistics assets.
Freeman said the county’s CRS class‑7 rating provides about a 15% discount to eligible NFIP policyholders and that the RAO designation and incentive package will make Nassau more competitive for prospective employers. She outlined a projected employment impact of roughly 1,250 jobs in the near term (0–10 years) and up to 4,700 jobs at full build‑out, and described a public‑private partnership that produced the package.
County Manager (Mr. Pope) and commissioners praised the development team and said the designation validates county efforts to diversify revenue beyond residential growth. Freeman named partner organizations and stakeholders involved in preparing the business case, including JAXUSA Partnership, the North Florida Economic Development Partnership, the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Board, the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, and the Florida SBDC.
Freeman said the RAO designation ties to state tax‑credit incentives — she described the rural job tax credit as allowing a company to claim up to $150,000 a year in tax credits (income‑tax or sales‑and‑use credit) for qualified jobs — and stressed the package was intended to keep jobs in the county.
When asked about a construction timeline, Freeman said the funding is for design and development and that a firm groundbreaking date is not set. The county manager added the next step is negotiating an agreement with the state and that details and a construction schedule will emerge in the coming months.
The commissioners did not take a formal vote on the economic package during the meeting; the presentation was informational and the board expressed support and thanks to staff.