Discover Jacksonville 2017

BUSINESS
manufacturers located in Northeast
Florida, plays a big part in helping these
businesses in the areas of government
relations and workforce development.
In 2016, FCMA passed a permanent
sales tax exemption for manufacturing
equipment in Jacksonville. This benefits
both those relocating their company to
the area as well as those already here
who are upgrading their equipment.
An eager, educated workforce is also
attracting manufacturers. FCMA is
focused on providing manufacturing
companies a skilled workforce in
Jacksonville. University of North Florida,
Jacksonville’s public university, works
closely with FCMA to develop programs
that will provide a workforce during a
time where there is a national shortage of
skilled workers.
FCMA created a managers training
program in partnership with the
university to provide hands-on training
with targeted results. The program
began last year, and has already had
success.
“We completed our fifth program
[in 2016]. We have a standard of about
24 to 25 students in one of our classes
and it has been very exciting and very
successful,” First Coast Manufactures
Association President Lake Ray said. “We
have programming for next year filled
up for four more classes to go through in
2017. Basically, another 100 employees
are about to go through.”
As the industry thrives, the positive
impact spills over to other areas of
business and development, as well as
economic growth throughout Northeast
Florida.
Ray said plans are underway to teach
the community more about Jacksonville’s
manufacturing industry.
“We are working on a promotion of
manufacturers to get the public informed
about what is made here,” Ray said.
He stressed it’s important for people
to support our manufacturing industry
because it leads to other business
opportunities.
“For every job that is created in
manufacturing, it’s like creating three
jobs,” Ray said. “We are working on all
different levels in order to help support
our manufacturers and attract them into
the region.”
Corporate headquarters on the First Coast
Jacksonville is home to three Fortune 500 companies, including CSX, Fidelity
National Financial and FIS. Major companies flock to the area because of the
competitive cost of living and doing business, as well as a diverse and educated
workforce. Look at some of the major employers in the area.
The top employers with headquarters on the First Coast (number of employees)
1. Florida Blue (6,000)
2. Southeastern Grocers (5,700)
3. CSX Corporation (3,600)
4. GATE Petroleum Company (3,125)
5. Black Knight Financial Services (2,400)
6. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (2,000)
7. Brooks Rehabilitation (1,606)
8. EverBank (1,400)
9. VyStar Credit Union (1,300)
10. GuideWell Source (1,300)
11. Stein Mart Inc. (1,000)
12. Web.com (1,000)
13. Crowley Maritime Corporation (925)
14. Landstar System Inc. (833)
15. Allstate (800)
16. W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor Inc. (750)
17. Suddath Relocation Systems (750)
18. Interline Brands Inc. (700)
Key industries with high-growth potential:
Financial Services, including professional services
Health and Life Sciences, including health care technology
Logistics, including supply chain management/IT
Aviation and Aerospace, including aviation and aircraft components
Advanced Manufacturing
Information Technology
Source: Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
19. Venus (700)
20. Unison Industries (650)
21. Stellar (639)
22. Ring Power Corporation (630)
23. PGA Tour (620)
24. Beaver Street Fisheries Inc. (600)
25. Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (600)
26. Advanced Disposal (600)
27. ERC (600)
28. Acosta Inc. (500)
29. Logistics Services International (LSI) (500)
30. Fidelity National Financial Inc. (500)
31. Fanatics (500)
32. NGA Human Resources (450)
33. Haskell (420)
34. FIS (400)
35. Adecco Group North America (400)
Source: JAXUSA
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